Arbuthnot came about, and Destouches ordered his ships to form a line of battle heading west, with the wind. Between 8 and 9 am the winds began shifting, but visibility remained poor, and the two fleets manoeuvred for several hours, each seeking the advantage of the weather gage.
As Arbuthnot's forces became apparent, Destouches ordered his ships to form a battle line heading west into the wind. The winds began shifting between 8 and 9 am, but visibility remained poor, and the two fleets engaged in a prolonged struggle for several hours, each seeking to gain an upper hand.