Before darkness isolated the admiral from his ships Rodney threw out a final command to his captains: 'Engage the enemy more closely.' He thus encouraged them to press the enemy to the utmost degree. Both fleets were tearing down upon a lee shore with off-lying shoals. By five o'clock it was nearly dark. The wind had risen to a gale and gloomy clouds raced across the sky. But the moon was rising, a full yellow moon that shone forth from between the racing scud, shedding a fitful light upon the baleful scene.

At sunset Resolution, Edgar and Defence had drawn level with the rearmost Spanish ships. Exchanging broadsides as they passed they kept on, heading the leeward enemy off from Cadiz.

'Larboard battery make ready!' The order rang out. Drinkwater transferred his attention to port as Cyclops was instantly transformed. The waiting was over, tension was released as gunners leapt to their pieces and the British frigate rode down the Spanish.

The enemy was close on Cyclops's larboard bow. Below Drinkwater a chaser rang out and a hole appeared in the Spaniard's main topsail.

Devaux ran aft along the larboard gangboard. He was yelling orders to the lieutenants on the gun-deck below. He joined Hope on the quarterdeck where the two men studied their enemy. At last the captain called one of the midshipmen over.

'M'compliments to Lieutenant Keene, when his battery engages he is to cripple the rigging…'

The boy scrambled below. Hope wanted the Spaniard immobilised before both ships, distracted by the fury of battle, ran down to leeward where the low Spanish coast lay. Offshore the shoal of San Lucar waited for the oncoming ships of both nations.

'Mr Blackmore,' Hope called over the sailing master.

'Sir?'

'The San Lucar shoal, how far distant?'