Nelson wore HMS Captain out of the rear of the British line toward a Spanish van containing the 80-gun San Nicolás, the 112-gun San Josef, and the 130-gun Santísima Trinidad. Failure could have brought court-martial, but Captain and HMS Culloden stopped the Spanish movement despite facing more than twice their combined broadside weight. With Captain badly damaged, Nelson boarded San Nicolás while calling for victory. When San Josef became entangled with it, his men crossed through the captured ship in the celebrated maneuver later called Nelson's patent bridge. The success converted a desperate line-breaking decision into prizes and lasting fame.
Chapter · 39:04-41:23
Cape St Vincent and Nelson's patent bridge
Nelson broke from the British line, confronted the Spanish van, and boarded two ships in succession during the Battle of Cape St Vincent.