 Shortly before the action began, Persano left his flagship, Re d 'Italia, and transferred to the turret ship Affondatore, though none of his subordinates on the other ships were aware of the change. They were thus left to fight as individuals without direction. More dangerously, by stopping Re d'Italia, he allowed a significant gap to open up between Vacca's three ships and the rest of the fleet. Principe di Carignano opened fire first at 10: 43, at a range of about 1,000 yards (910 m), while the Austrians were approaching the gap. The Italian gunnery was poor, and their initial shooting missed the Austrian ships. Tegetthoff took his fleet through the gap between Vacca's and Persano's ships in an attempt to initiate a melee, though he failed to ram any Italian vessels on the first pass. The Austrians then turned back toward Persano's ships, and took Re d 'Italia, San Martino, and the coastal defense ship Palestro under heavy fire. Vacca turned Principe di Carignano and Castelfidardo to port, taking them away from the Austrian ships hammering Persano's division. He briefly attempted to engage the Austrian wooden ships in the rear, but was driven off by heavy fire from three steam frigates.
