Complex sentence: A strong gale from the east prevented an easy retreat to the continental coast, and to the west the British van and centre (about fifty ships) surrounded him in a half-circle, safely bombarding him from a leeward position.
Split into simpler sentences: A strong gale from the east prevented an easy retreat to the continental coast. To the west the British van and centre (about fifty ships) surrounded him in a half-circle, safely bombarding him from a leeward position.