With HMS Captain badly damaged and difficult to manoeuvre, Nelson's ship collided with San Nicolás and boarded her. When San Josef became entangled alongside, the captured ship provided a route to a second boarding action. This was more than reckless disobedience: Nelson departed from the letter of an order while pursuing its purpose of getting to grips with the enemy.
Chapter · 1:45:56-1:47:17
Nelson's boarding attack at Cape St Vincent
Nelson's disabled HMS Captain captured San Nicolás and then used her as a route into San Josef.