He ordered speed to be increased to and at about 15:00 ordered a signal to be flown from "Victoria" to have the ships in each column turn in succession by 180° inwards towards the other column so that the fleet would reverse its course. However, the normal "tactical" turning circle of the ships had a diameter of around each (and a minimum of , although standing orders required "tactical rudder" to be used in fleet manoeuvres), so if they were less than apart then a collision was likely.