There is no layman's version, but i can help you with the above.
If you're downwind (leeward) of your opponent try to turn towards him to close the distance (starboard) then turn the opposite way (flip to larboard) to turn inside him. Notice that the "black" ship gets off a broadside at #3 and #5, while the "white" ship only gets off his starboard broadside.
Don't feel bad, some of these took me a while too. And some of them I didn't get until Doran spoonfed me while we were dueling. I was always the slow, special Raker.