Katsonis had received news at Kea that an Ottoman squadron of nineteen vessels, including frigates and ships of the line, had exited the Dardanelles with explicit orders from the new Sultan, Selim III, to hunt him down and destroy him.

Katsonis had sailed forth to meet it, but adverse winds have delayed his progress, and on May 17 his fleet encounters the Ottoman squadron in the straits between Cape Kafireas of Euboea and the island of Andros.

The two fleets begin their engagement near noon, and the battle rages the entire day.

The fight is initially in favor of the Greeks, but at night the wind falls, and Katsonis' ships are unable to disengage.