The British close the range under full sail. The Dutch open fire at long range, aiming high to damage rigging and slow the British advance.
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2. THE BRITISH VAN ATTACKS
The British van turns out of line abreast into line-of-battle, and moves to so as to concentrate on the Dutch van. The Dutch continue to cannonade British rigging.
3. THE DUTCH VAN REFUSES
The Dutch van turns to the South to refuse the British van and maintain the range, continuing to fire high. The British begin to take heavy damage aloft, but continue to deploying into line astern so as to bring their guns to bear.
4. BREAKING THE LINE
Her starboard broadside obscured by fallen spars, Bienfaisant reverses course to bring her port guns to bear. She is virtually dismasted by the Dutch rear and falls behind the action.
Dolphin suffers a mast loss and a mortal wound to the captain, and is unable to turn to cut the Dutch line as planned. Buffalo does break the line, and the Dutch Argo detaches from the line to engage her.
