The Dutch intended Michiel de Ruyter to command the van, Witte de With the centre, and a temporary rear admiral from Amsterdam the rear. Another senior Amsterdam rear admiral was present but was passed over, reflecting the command disputes already running through the fleet. On the battle date the Dutch force is given as sixty-two ships, about 1,900 guns, and 7,000 men. A gale had dispersed those ships the previous evening, and they were still concentrating when Blake arrived from the south-southwest with the weather gauge. Wind, formation, and readiness mattered as much as nominal ship totals in this age-of-sail encounter.
Chapter · 35:16-37:17
Weather gauge against a scattered fleet
A gale scattered the Dutch before Blake approached with the wind advantage against an opponent still trying to concentrate.