Everyone was short on experienced sailors for their navies. That's why it sucked to be a merchant mariner -- you were a prime candidate for service in one Her/His Majesty's Ships, and you were often "convinced" to join up.

The French had generally average crews but excellent ships; French prizes were highly sought after by the English so that they could learn from French naval architecture. The Spanish had average crews as well, but for a number of reasons they had a habit of piling on the soldiers in the galleons, presumably to protect all that gold from the rapacious English. The English, of course, avoided boarding engagements and just stood off and pounded the crap out of the Spanish vessels until they struck their colours.

At any rate, carry on.