England's strategy: prevent the link-up, not necessarily destroy the fleet

Sinking Spanish ships in a decisive battle was only one possible means of defeating the invasion. Spain needed the Armada to reach the Netherlands, link with Parma, escort his troops across the Channel, and enable a landing capable of curbing or overthrowing Elizabeth's power. England could defeat that design by denying the link-up and keeping the Armada moving away from a usable embarkation point. Driving the Spanish fleet north into more dangerous seas would end the invasion's purpose even if many ships remained afloat. That outcome would be a mission kill because the invasion would fail while much of the fleet survived. The weather and fighting in Part 2 can then be judged against each side's actual objectives.