Why the Messina revolt drew Dutch and Spanish fleets together

Messina rebelled against Spanish rule in 1674, drawing French intervention into Sicily. Spain sought Dutch naval help after a reinforced French fleet defeated its ships at the Lipari Islands. The coalition brought together powers with sharp religious differences because both wanted to resist France. De Ruyter arrived with a fleet that looked strong on paper but suffered serious personnel shortages. An explicitly unverified story has the elderly admiral climbing into the rigging to teach landsmen how to furl and unfurl sails because his experienced men were already occupied.