 Although Howe was in a favourable position , Villaret had not been idle during the night . He had attempted , with near success , to distance his ships from the British fleet ; when dawn broke at 05 : 00 he was within a few hours of gaining enough wind to escape over the horizon . Allowing his men to breakfast , Howe took full advantage of his position on the weather gage to close with Villaret , and by 08 : 12 the British fleet was just four miles ( 6 km ) from the enemy . By this time , Howe 's formation was strung out in an organised line parallel to the French , with frigates acting as repeaters for the admiral 's commands . The French were likewise in line ahead and the two lines began exchanging long @-@ range gunfire at 09 : 24 , whereupon Howe unleashed his innovative battleplan . 
 Although Howe was in a favourable position , Villaret had <a href='negative_concord' title='1'><mark>not</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='2'><mark>been</mark></a> idle during <a href='None' title='3'><mark>the</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='4'><mark>night</mark></a> . He <a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>had</mark></a> attempted , with near success , to distance his ships from the British fleet ; when dawn broke at 05 : 00 he was within a few hours of gaining enough wind to escape over the horizon . Allowing his men to breakfast , Howe took full advantage of his position on the weather gage to close with Villaret , and by 08 : 12 the British fleet was just four miles ( 6 km ) from the enemy . By this time , Howe <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>formation was strung out in an organised line parallel to the French , with frigates acting as repeaters for the admiral <a href='null_genetive' title='7'><mark>'s</mark></a>commands . The French <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>were</mark></a> likewise in line ahead and the two lines began exchanging long @-@ range gunfire at 09 : 24 , whereupon Howe<a href='been_done' title='9'><mark></mark></a> unleashed his innovative battleplan . 
Although Howe was in a favourable position , Villaret had ain't idle during no night . He done attempted , witt near success , to distance his ships from the British fleet ; when dawn broke at 05 : 00 he was within a few hours of gaining enough wind to escape over da horizon . Allowing his men to breakfast , Howe took full advantage of his position on the weather gage to close with Villaret , and by 08 : 12 the British fleet was jus 4 miles ( 6 km ) from the enemy . By this time , Howe  formation was strung outt in an organised line parallel to tdaFrench , with frigates acting as repeaters fir the admiral  commands . The French was likewise in line ahead and thdawo lines began exchanging long @-@ range gunfire at 09 : 24 , whereupon Howe done unleashed his innovative battleplan .