A professional withdrawal from Santa Cruz

Wind, anchors, warping, and practiced ship handling help the fleet escape the defended harbor while continuing to fire on the forts. The exact benefit of the shifting wind remains uncertain because the ships also worked themselves seaward with familiar harbor maneuvers. Stayner's flagship Speaker is both first in and last out, and no English warship is lost. England celebrates the destruction of the Spanish squadron as a major victory. Public accounts describe all sixteen targets as Spanish galleons, although the harbor contained smaller armed merchant vessels as well. The disciplined withdrawal completes a striking tactical success, but Blake dies later that year without having seized this treasure shipment.