Caesar ignored Howe's signal to close and continued ahead, exchanging ineffective fire at long range. Trajan damaged her rigging and remained free to turn on Bellerophon. Bellerophon and Leviathan had also suffered earlier damage, but still held their opponents in close action. Caesar failed even to contain the French ship assigned to her. A later attempt to enter the fighting ended when Trajan shot away a vital spar.
Notable Point · 2:18:07-2:19:26
Caesar leaves her opponent free to attack other ships
Caesar's failure to close freed Trajan to attack Bellerophon, adding to the pressure on British ships already fighting at close range.