 As on previous days, the fleets started by passing each other then reversing course.De Ruyter waited to exploit any gaps that might arise in the English line to carry out his plan of breaking through it, but about 7.30 on the second pass of the fleets, he was forestalled when Rupert's squadron, sailing west, raced for the weather gauge against the leading Dutch ships under Vice Admiral Johan de Liefde with the "Ridderschap van Holland" as his flagship.De Liefde's immediate opponent was Vice Admiral Myngs on .