The league announced its challenge to British searches and blockade policy while its principal naval forces could not yet move freely. Britain had already demonstrated its willingness to send a fleet to Copenhagen during the convoy crisis of 1800. Forming the coalition during winter was a major operational mistake because it revealed the members' intentions before they could concentrate at sea. Denmark retained sovereign reasons to join, but the earlier warning made its limited preparations much harder to excuse.
Notable Point · 47:47-51:13
Winter ice made the second league vulnerable
Forming the coalition during the Baltic winter gave Britain time to act while Russian and allied fleets were still restricted by ice.