How overseas stations built Royal Navy knowledge

Did having sailors from many countries improve the Royal Navy's assessments of foreign powers?

The larger advantage came from keeping ships and officers stationed overseas for years, which built sustained local knowledge.

The Royal Navy's foreign knowledge did not arise mainly from having sailors from many countries. British ships and officers were stationed overseas for years rather than making brief visits. Long residence created repeated contact with local conditions, governments, and naval counterparts. That accumulated institutional experience improved assessments in a way that a more episodic presence could not easily reproduce.