 What happened when the Spanish galleys came under fire of the English ships differs depending on sources : from one side it is asserted that the San Felipe was nearly battered into submission by Victory 's guns and she was only able to escape when the other galleys came up in support drawing Victory 's and Hopes fire . On the other hand , it is also claimed that Spinola 's galleys succeeded in passing almost unscathed between the English ships by rowing at full strength . Mansell decided on creating as much damage as possible ; instead of concentrating on one galley , fire was switched from one target to another and as a result be believed that damage was inflicted on most of the galleys they saw in the moonlight . By the time they reached Goodwin Sands the Spanish galleys started to retreat in desperation for the Flemish coast . A gale was now blowing strongly from the West which also hampered Spanish attempts and they were hotly pursued by the English ships and soon the gunfire warnings were signals for the Dutch to engage . 
