With no meaningful shipboard guns or heavy artillery, the English needed to turn the encounter into infantry combat at sea. The easterly wind gave the larger and probably faster Castilian vessels the overtaking position. Edward targeted the roughly 24 ships of the scattered main body rather than waiting for all 47 opponents to unite. The English ran before the wind but shortened sail, deliberately inviting the Castilians to close while retaining some control over where contact occurred. That decision provided about an hour to form a half-moon and prepare the boarding force. The maneuver shows how a nominal speed disadvantage could be converted into a tactical mechanism for concentrating on part of the enemy fleet.
Chapter · 37:51-39:35
The English invite the Castilians into close combat
Edward targeted the scattered Castilian main body, shortened sail, and formed a half-moon so the faster ships would overtake into a boarding fight.