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By *Beach sweep to clean waterways *Isabel lures surfers with 12-foot waves *Isabel kicks up the seas: Rip currents are a concern *Gnarly surf pounds area beaches *Pensacola becomes a refuge from Isabel damaged ships. A new strategy was needed for the English forces, and after consultation with his Captains, Howard divided up his 100 ships into four about equal Squadrons, command went to: Drake, Hawkins, Frobisher and lastly to himself. On Thursday morning the new set up had its first chance to perform, Hawkins saw two Spanish stragglers, the royal galleon San Luis de Portugal and a West India merchant ship Santa Ana. As there was no wind, Hawkins had his boats tow the fighting ships towards the enemy, with Victory in the lead. Medina Sidonia saw the problem and sent off three gallasses to the rescue, for good measure and support the great carrick La Rita Coronade was towed with them. Now it was the turn of Hawkins and his group to come under threat, but Ark Royal and Golden Lion were towed to the scene in support of John Hawkins. The two groups stood off pounding away at each other, and the remainder of the Fleet looked on rather like spectators at a football or cricket match might do today. One of the galleasses was damaged taking on a list, another lost her lantern, the third her figurehead, although Howard claimed they never again appeared in batlle, they were towed within the bosom of the Armada without apparently suffering any lasting damage, it seems that Howard may well have been over estimating the damage he caused to the Spanish ships. It has been a habit with fighting men over the centuries to claim losses and damage to the enemy in a greater proportion to that which in fact was achieved. On both the German and British sides, the Battle of Britain is a case in point, some quite incredible claims of the number of enemy aircraft shot down appeared on both sides of the English Channel. The breeze freshened, two actions each independent now came about, three English Squadrons were attacking the Spanish rear, whilst the fourth English Squadron was being struck by Medina Sidonia's van. Both fleets were close to the southern end of the Isle of Wight, and near the Solent's eastern entrance. Prior the the despatch of the Armada from Spain, King Philip was prone to offer his Admiral advice on any number of subjects, the suitability of the Solent as a safe anchorage for the Spanish Fleet, should it have to sit and wait for Parma and his Army to get ready, was one such area he addressed. But to achieve this safe anchorage, Medina Sidonia thought that he must first seize the Isle of Wight, a difficult task with Howard and his ships close by. This possibility was also in the forefront of Howard's mind, and this caused him to want to maintain an inshore position over his foe. At one stage, the Triumph was in danger of being caught alone with but little wind, 11 launches had her under tow, then two of the largest English galleons, Bear and Elizabeth Jonas came to deter the Spanish attack, along came the wind, Triumph shook out her sails, and was up and away. Drake was continuing his attack, slowly forcing the Spanish to the east, and northwards, shoal water was close under the Duke's lee, but he saw the danger in time, another 20 minutes or so would have found the Armada stranded on the rocks, Drake was foiled. A gun alerted the Spanish to their peril, on went more sail, and they stood away from danger to the south-south-east. The English followed, again, no knock out blow had been achieved, shot and its shortage was again a problem for Howard, also he wanted to rendezvous with reinforcements in the form of the eastern Squadron under Seymour off Dover. He needed to bring the Spanish to battle, and he needed a victory, and above all he needed it sooner than later. When calm reigned on Friday morning, Howard saw fit to knight both Hawkins and
Top picture portrait of Frobisher, Bottom left, Howard knights both Hawkins and Frobisher. Bottom right, twelve Spanish ships. The two bottom pictures are from Spanish playing cards in the 17th. Century.
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