The Dutch fleet tacking

On 27 May [OS]/ 6 June 1666, Admiral De Ruyter issued an order to the master of a galjoot to receive van de Velde the Elder on board and to take him wherever he wished to go in the fleet. Van de Velde made a large series of drawings, most of which are in the Boymans Museum, Rotterdam.

This drawing, possibly of this Four Days’ Battle (11-14 June 1666) period, has considerable additions by Charles Gore quite accurately carried out in light pen and wash. The low 18th-century sheer of the ships and the three rows of reefpoints in the topsails are clear indications of the additions.

In the centre is a port-bow view of the commander-in-chief in stays. Ahead of him, there is a ship just filling on the starboard tack. On the left, out to windward, the rear-admiral of the centre is in stays with other ships on opposite tacks. On the right, the admiral and rear-admiral of the van are with five or six other ships on the port tack. In the centre, a galjoot is in port-broadside view with her mainsail brailed up, probably drawn in by Gore. On the right, a galjoot is in stern view. There are a number of ships on the extreme left horizon.