The Castilian ships carried Flemish crossbowmen and offered higher firing positions, but Edward embarked a larger body of archers. Height did not guarantee safety at the short ranges created by grappling and boarding. English longbowmen could send arrows upward and then down onto exposed decks while suppressing defenders near the rail. Personnel quality and weapon employment could offset a material advantage in hull size.
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Longbows turn taller Castilian hulls into exposed positions
Edward's concentration of practiced archers reduced the advantage of Castilian height once the ships closed for boarding.