Foley finds the gap inside the French line

The British approached with incomplete navigation aids: Swiftsure had a sketch obtained from a captured merchant captain, Zealous an inaccurate atlas, and Goliath a French map about thirty-five years old. Foley and Hood volunteered to lead and test the depth by casting the lead. Pilots obtained from an Alexandrian vessel gave them further help. Poor French long-range fire left Foley time to study the gap between Guerrier and the shoals. He took Goliath through it, crossed Guerrier's bow, and fired a double-shotted broadside at almost pistol range. Double-shotting reduced effective range, but the ships were close enough for that penalty to matter little. The attack struck Guerrier's bow and unprepared port side, applying Nelson's instructions through a captain's own judgment.