At daylight, the division commanded by Sir Hugh Palliser--the right wing, as then heading--had dropped astern [R]; and at 5.30 A.M.the signal was made to seven of its fastest sailers to chase to windward, to get farther to windward by pressing sail, the object being so to place them relatively to the main body, as to support the latter, if an opportunity for action should offer.
At 9 A.M.the French admiral, wishing to approach the enemy and to see more clearly, ordered his fleet to wear in succession,--to countermarch.

As the van ships went round (b) under this signal, they had to steer off the wind (be), parallel to their former line, on which those following them still were, until they reached the point to which the rear ship meantime had advanced (c), when they could again haul to the wind.

This caused a loss of ground to leeward, but not more than d'Orvilliers could afford, as things stood.

Just after he had fairly committed himself to the manoeuvre, the wind hauled to the southward two points,[43] from south-west to south-south-west, which favoured the British, allowing them to head more nearly towards the enemy (BB).

The shift also threw the bows of the French off the line they were following, deranging their order.