The Dutch order of battle was in two lines, the advanced one containing eighteen ships with fire-ships (Plate III., A).

Their total force was ninety-one ships-of-the-line; that of the allies one hundred and one.
The wind was blowing toward the coast, which here trends nearly north and south, and the allies were in an awkward position.

They had first to get under way, and they could not fall back to gain time or room to establish their order.

Most of the ships cut their cables, and the English made sail on the starboard tack, heading about north-northwest, a course which forced them soon to go about; whereas the French took the other tack (Plate III., B).

The battle began therefore by the separation of the allied fleet.