Henin and his fleet left Amsterdam on October 5 and immediately hit a standstill in the midst of his attack. Gueux forces continually attacked Henin's fleet. Due to the Gueux's lack of heavily armed ships, instead of a frontal assault against the Spanish fleet, they had chosen to attempt to board, and if possible capture the Spanish ships.
Henin and his fleet departed Amsterdam on October 5th, encountering an immediate halt in their attack. The Gueux forces relentlessly attacked Henin's fleet, opting for boarding attempts instead of a frontal assault against the Spanish ships due to their limited armament.