[5] The British succeeded in driving the Spanish back to their harbour after capturing the Conquistador and ran the vice-admiral's ship Africa on shore, where she was blown up by her own crew after being totally dismasted and made helpless.

[9] The rise to prominence of First Baron George Anson of the Royal Navy through his raiding of Spanish possessions off the West Coast of the Americas in 1740 during his circumnavigation of the globe.

[12] A planned French invasion of England was stopped by severe weather and the Royal Navy in March and April of the same year but after this naval operations were tied mainly with privateers.

[13] In April 1747 Admiral Sir Charles Henry Knowles had become commander in chief on the Jamaica station but had failed to subdue Santiago de Cuba the following year.

[17] With the afternoon change in the wind the two leading ships Canterbury and HMS Warwick in Knowles' line drifted within long range of Reggio's centre which then opened fire on them.

[17] This time the combined British ships battered the Spanish and inflicted heavy damage on Conquistador which had soon lost fore and mizzen masts and could only manoeuvre in a small way.

[2] Strafford had failed however to send any boats to take possession of her and Reggio recognized this fact and forced Conquistador to re hoist her colours by firing on her from his flagship Africa.

[22] However, with night falling fast the Royal Navy ships were unable to pursue so they broke off at 11pm to begin setting up jury rigging and clawed back out to sea.

[6][23] Knowles then reunited with the rest of his ships but before any action could be planned a Spanish sloop was intercepted where news was received of the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle and that the war in Europe was over.

[22] Knowles vilification of the Captains under his command, excepting David Brodie of the Strafford and Edward Clark of the Canterbury, after this action resulted in their petitioning the Admiralty for his court-martial.

[14] Regio was Court martialed by Spanish Naval authorities on thirty separate counts dealing with virtually every aspect of the battle and in particular with the destruction of his own his flagship Africa.

[17] A list of the ships and commanders involved in the action was compiled by an unnamed Officer from HMS Lenox in a letter dated 23 November 1748 (later quoted and published in The Naval Chronicle[24]).