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<h1>Swanwick, Bursledon Warsash Regatta © WWW.BURSLEDONREGATTA.CO.UK</h1>
<P align=justify>In July 1805 Napoleon assembled more than 100,000 troops on the cliffs of Calais ready to invade England. The whole of England was in fear as the defences of the Martello Towers and the Romney Marsh Canal had not been completed. For his invasion fleet of barges to cross the Channel Napoleon needed fair winds and no great presence from the dominant British Navy. </P>
<P align=justify>A French Fleet from Toulon, under Admiral Villeneuve, was part of an elaborate plan to draw off the British Navy to the West Indies and leave the Channel safe for invasion craft. The French fleet had escaped from Toulon in the early Spring and after leading Nelson to the West Indies and back it eventually took refuge in Cadiz, where it joined the Spanish Fleet under Gravina. Villeneuve was forced to leave and risk fighting because he knew Napoleon had sent someone to replace him. Nelson was summoned from England to join the blockade of Cadiz. He left England, Emma Hamilton and their daughter Horatia after only 24 days leave. He had been at sea without setting foot on land for more than 2 years.</P>
<P align=justify>The 33 French & Spanish ships sailed but there was little wind and it took almost 24 hours for Nelson's 26 ships to close with the enemy. When they did Nelson (in The Victory) and Collingwood (in The Royal Sovereign) led two lines of ships which broke the enemy line. Most of the enemy fleet was captured or destroyed. Though some 15 fled the battle back to Cadiz. Nelson was hit in the spine by a musket bullet early in the battle and died some hours later, as the battle finished. The news was taken to England by a small cutter, HMS Pickle. All England cried. Nelson was a great and popular hero.</P>
<P align=justify>Nelson's body was preserved in a cask of Brandy so that it could be returned to England. It was taken to Greenwich and a spectacular and sombre funeral procession took place from Greenwich to Westminster. The defeat of the combined French and Spanish Fleet meant the end of Napoleon's dream of invading England and led to Britain's domination of the Seas for the next 100 years. </P>
<P align=justify>Our re-enactment will follow the pattern of the battle with vignettes of incidents which took place.</P>
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