[1] The Venetians were blockading the Dardanelles, trying thus to prevent reinforcements and supplies to be brought to Crete, a Venetian possessions which the Ottomans had invaded the previous year,[2] and to disrupt the flow of supplies to the Ottoman capital, Constantinople.
[3] After seven hours of battle, the Ottoman fleet withdrew back into the Strait, except for a few galleys that managed to slip through and reach Chios.
On 4 June, taking advantage of the becalmed sea and lack of wind, which immobilized the Venetian sailing ships, sixty Ottoman galleys dashed out of the Strait, and even towed four galleasses behind them.
[4] The Ottoman fleet went to Chios, where it was joined by ships from the Barbary states, and boarded 20,000 troops bound for Crete.
Disagreements among the Venetian and allied commanders meant that the Christian fleet was unable to stop them from ferrying these men to Crete.