Napoleon expected the combined fleet to revictual quickly in the West Indies, cross the Atlantic again without interception, and return before Britain understood its destination. The plan then added a landing in Ireland despite the failures of French expeditions in 1796 and 1798. Any British ships left in the Channel had either to be defeated or deterred as a fleet in being while the invasion transports moved. Pursuing squadrons also had to remain ignorant or arrive too late, although Calder was already waiting near Cape Finisterre and Nelson crossed the Atlantic faster than Villeneuve. The sequence exposes cumulative risk: every phase required exceptional speed, coordination, information control, and British passivity.
Chapter · 24:01-26:53
The return crossing, Ireland diversion, and Channel race
Later phases demanded a rapid return from the Caribbean, an Irish landing, defeat or containment of the Channel Fleet, and transport of the invasion army before British squadrons reconcentrated.