Ok I may be wrong here, but it seams to me that the first broadside delivered from anywhere but close range would be less effective rather than more efective.

Two reasons for this.

1. The cannon barrels would be cold, thus accuracyt would suffer over longer ranges.

2. Generaly a ship sailed with loaded cannon so as to be ready for combat so the surge bags could be a little dampened and thus less effective.

I'm just speculating, I understand the phylosophy, and it certainly applies to musketry in land battles, but cannons on the high seas, I'm not so sure.

What do you guys think?