War had been declared between the Ottoman Empire and Venice on 9 December 1714, although it wasn't until June 1715 that a Turkish fleet left the Dardanelles Strait.

[3][4] Pisani, having to confront the far superior Ottoman fleet of 62 ships with only his rowed vessels, decided not to risk a battle.

[4][5] After a search for the Turks, Corner realised on 27 June that they had sailed past him further out to sea, and he proceeded back to Corfu, following the Ottoman fleet at a few days distance.

[6] This battle, although itself indecisive, showed that the Turkish sailing fleet could be faced, if not necessarily beaten, even if in superior numbers.

Pisani sailed up the west coast of the island, returning with the new 80-gun battleship Leone Trionfante, two troopships containing 1,500 troops and a cargo ship containing food.

[10] There was some attempt to attack, but this was not carried out largely due to lack of wind, and all that was done was to use galleys to support an assault from the town on 18/19 August.

On 21 August, six Spanish battleships, under the Marquis de Mari, arrived, and on the same day the Turkish cavalry re-embarked.