The choice of manual command follows a personal rule about cannon, with single-ship encounters judged individually. Wind direction determines the opening course, while a compact formation is tried because previous attempts to keep the fleet together have broken down. Capturing the enemy third rate is the preferred outcome. Earlier capture attempts have ended with the target exploding and taking a British ship with it, an outcome criticized here as historically inaccurate.
Notable Point · 9:02-12:38
Choosing when a naval battle needs hands-on command
Wind, formation handling, and the desire to capture a third rate shape a manually controlled naval engagement.