Hillyar coordinated Cherub's movement and returned Phoebe after repairing the damage from the opening exchange. A dead calm then allowed him to anchor roughly half a mile from Essex. At that distance British 18-pounders remained effective while many American carronade rounds fell into the water. When the wind returned, Porter cut his cable and tried to close for boarding. Phoebe still had the better rig and simply sailed away, turning the failed approach into another opportunity to damage Essex at range.
Notable Point · 2:40:09-2:42:21
Long guns dominate the dead calm
Phoebe anchored about half a mile away when the wind failed, making her 18-pounders effective while Essex's carronade shot fell short, then sailed away from Porter's boarding attempt when the breeze returned.