 The speech largely consisted of extolling the Spartans’ native valor and their superiority of numbers, as well as blaming the previous defeat at Naupactus on bad luck and the Spartans’ lack of naval experience.Because Cnemus and the Spartan commanders desired to wage the battle in the narrows between the Rhia, they ordered their ships to sail towards Corinth in the hope that Phormio would interpret their departure as a move to attack the now-unguarded Naupactus and would follow them into the narrows.It is not clear whether this was Cnemus’ plan or the plan of one of his advisers; nonetheless, Cnemus was responsible for agreeing to implement the plan.