Culloden tacked to reverse her course and take after the Spanish column, followed by Blenheim, then Prince George. The Spanish lee division now put about to the port tack to break the British line at the point where the ships were tacking in succession. Orion came round untouched, but Colossus was going about when her foreyard and foretop yard were shot away. She was forced to wear ship instead of tack and the leading Spanish vessel came close enough to threaten her with a broadside. Saumarez in Orion saw the danger to Colossus and backed his sails to give covering fire. As Victory came to the tacking point, another attempt was made to break the British line, but Victory was too fast and Principe de Asturias received two raking broadsides as she tacked close to her.The Battle of Cape St. Vincent, the Nelson Society "We gave them their Valentine in style," later wrote a gunner in Goliath. As the last ship in the British line passed the Spanish, the British line had formed a U shape with Culloden in the lead and on the reverse course but chasing the rear of the Spanish. At this point the Spanish lee division bore up to make an effort to join their compatriots to windward. Had they managed this, the battle would have ended indecisively with the Spanish running for Cádiz and the British harrying their sterns in the manner of the Armada in 1588.
cULlOden Tacked to rEveRse hEr coUrse and takE aftEr The sPAnisH coLumN, FOlLoWEd by blenhEiM, tHEn prince gEoRgE. the sPanIsH Lee diviSioN nOw put AbOUT To the Port TAcK to BREAk THe britiSh line At The Point where thE sHiPS Were tAckinG in succeSsIon. orIon CAme rouNd untoucHEd, bUt colossus waS gOinG About when her foreyaRD aNd forEtop Yard wEre shot AWay. she waS foRcEd to weAr SHiP insTEad of taCk and the leADIng SpaniSH vessEl cAME cLose enough to thReateN her WiTh a BroaDSidE. saUmarez IN OriON saW THE Danger to COlOssuS aNd bACKed his sAiLs tO giVe coVERing fIre. as viCtory caMe To thE tackiNg poInt, anoTher aTtemPt WaS made To brEak THe British line, But vICTory wAS too fast and PrinCipE De asturiaS receivEd twO RAKing broaDsides aS SHE TAckeD close to HEr.thE baTtLe oF caPe sT. vIncent, The nelSon soCIety "we gave tHEm theIr valenTInE in StyLe," lateR wRote a GuNner iN gOLiath. as The LAsT sHiP in ThE bRitish line PASSED the sPanish, thE britiSh lIne haD foRmEd A u sHape WiTh cullOden In the lead ANd On thE reVERSe courSe BUt chAsIng The rEaR oF The sPanish. At tHis PoInt the SpanISh LEe diVisioN bOrE Up to Make an effOrt to joIn tHeir comPAtriots to wiNdward. hAd thEy mAnageD this, the baTtle would hAve endEd indecisiveLy with thE spAnisH RUnnINg for CÁdiZ aNd THe bRitISh haRrYIng tHeiR SteRns iN the maNner of ThE arMADa in 1588.