Footnote 41:[ (return) ]
A vessel is said to be on the port tack when she has the wind blowing on her port, or left side; on the starboard tack, when the wind is on the right side. Thus with an east wind, if she head north, she is on the starboard tack; if south, on the port.
Footnote 42:[ (return) ]
See also note; post, p. 200.
Footnote 43:[ (return) ]
Twenty-two degrees.
Footnote 44:[ (return) ]
Column and line ahead are equivalent terms, each ship steering in the wake of its next ahead.
Footnote 45:[ (return) ]
Forty-five degrees.
Footnote 46:[ (return) ]
Chevalier says, p. 89, "The English passed out of range" of these ships. As these ships had the wind, they had the choice of range, barring signals from their own admiral. In truth, they were obeying his order.
Footnote 47:[ (return) ]
This evidence of the captains of the Ocean and the Elizabeth contradicts Palliser's charge that his ship was not adequately supported.
Footnote 48:[ (return) ]
It was actually quite equal, but this was due to an accidental explosion on board the Formidable.
Footnote 49:[ (return) ]
Chevalier. Probably later by the other times used in this account.
Footnote 50:[ (return) ]
The Order of Battle was constituted by the ships "of the line" ranging themselves one behind the other in a prescribed succession; the position of each and the intervals between being taken from the ship next ahead. This made the leading vessel the pivot of the order and of manœuvring, unless specially otherwise directed; which in an emergency could not always be easily done. Strictly, if circumstances favoured, the line on which the ships thus formed was one of the two close-hauled lines; "close-hauled" meaning to bring the vessel's head as "near" the direction of the wind as possible, usually to about 70 degrees. The advantage of the close-hauled line was that the vessels were more manageable than when "off" the wind.