 A breeze from the south in the evening gave Hotham the opportunity to form up his fleet into a line of battle with the van to the west, the French to the southwest.The night was characterised by heavy squalls, and the French ship "Mercure" lost a topmast; the damaged ship detached to join "Berwick" at Gourjean Bay, accompanied by a frigate, while continuing to steer his fleet to the west away from the British.At 08