The forces of Sverre attacked the fleet of King Magnus. The battle took place off the coast near the hamlet of Fimreite in the long and narrow Sognefjord in today's Sogndal municipality, Sogn og Fjordane county. Magnus had several large ships, but none as huge as the Mariasuda, which Sverre had built. Because of its great size, the seaworthiness of the Mariasuda was rather poor and it would only be useful within the narrow fjords. The ships in the fleet of King Magnus were lashed together, creating the appearance of one big fleet.