A rapid French sortie changes the odds

The French commander chose speed over a conventional departure by divisions, sending ships to sea in the order they became ready. That irregular sequence initially made the emerging force look smaller than it was. Byron believed he could catch and overwhelm individual ships before they formed, a gamble that could have produced a major British success. The British were farther away and slower to close than he expected. By the time they arrived, the French had formed their line while Byron's ships remained spread through a general chase.