TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT

Date: 20th October 1805 .........................................................Location: West of Cadiz

With the Combined fleet out of harbour, Euryalus kept them under surveillance. About mid morning she lost sight of them in bad weather and for two hours or so Captain Blackwood had to guess at their movements. At noon the weather started to clear and the whole fleet was seen to be bearing down on Euryalus.

Captain Blackwood hastily wore ship and escaped. In this painting Euryalus is halfway through this manoeuvre. The main and mizzen sails are braced hard round but the sails on the foremast are still set square they will be braced round as she settles on her new course. The topmen are hurrying up the rigging to shake out a reef in the maintopsail.