[7] The Count-Duke of Olivares, in charge of Spain's foreign policy, determined on a naval counter-offensive, the goal of which was to interrupt the important maritime trade of the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC).

[9] Spanish maritime intelligence learnt that a convoy of at least twenty Dutch ships from Venice was to pass through the Strait of Gibraltar.

The Dutch ships would be well-armed and crewed, and have an appreciable escort, and so the Spanish would need to concentrate their forces in order to effectively oppose it.

[3] However, a lack of supplies and guns, together with the general inefficiency of the Spanish logistic services prevented a number of these ships from being ready in time, despite the sharp and urgent orders issued.

[3] The Armada del Océano was better prepared and sailed from Cadiz on 31 July toward Cape St. Vincent, where it was hoped that at least some ships of the other two divisions would be able to join it.

[10] Such a force was smaller than initially planned and it was uncertain if it would be strong enough to risk an attack against the anticipated strength of the Dutch fleet.

On August 6, he received a message from the major of Málaga notifying him that more than 26 Dutch ships were anchoring 2 miles (3 km) from the city, preparing to pass the Strait of Gibraltar.

Escorting the convoy were a dozen Dutch warships, all strongly armed, and including two reported as being particularly large, all under the command of Admiral Willem Haultain de Zoete.

[6] The historian Agustin González has estimated that the six smaller Spanish galleons were barely equivalent in fighting power to the twelve ships of the Dutch escort.

Even one of the pataches, commanded by Captain Don Domingo de Hoyos, engaged a Dutch ship, foolhardy given the inequality of force.

With Santa Teresa out of the fight and the Dutch fleeing, the remaining Spanish ships drew off and the battle ended at about 3:00 pm.

The Spanish lost no ships, and by far the most damaged was the Santa Teresa, still capable of fighting but unable to manoeuvre due to the loss of her masts.

[14] Don Luis de Noroña (or Noronha), captain general of Ceuta, witnessed the battle and sent a brig with gunpowder, food, medical supplies, and a surgeon.

[11][3][14] The painter Enrique Jácome y Brocas was commissioned to produce a series of paintings illustrating the different phases of the battle, the first of which is currently held in the Naval Museum of Madrid.