I haven't got the book to hand but have read of Moorish pirates kidnapping fishermen from their boats around the Lizard peninsula and selling them into slavery.

I haven't got the book to hand but have read of Moorish pirates kidnapping fishermen from their boats around the Lizard peninsula and selling them into slavery. If true then the idea of ships travelling directly may not be so far fetched. (edit - in the 1600s though)