In the aftermath of the battle both fleets were left shattered Destroying ; in no condition for further combat , Howe and Villaret returned Motion to their home ports .

Despite losing Earnings_and_losses seven of his ships of the line , Villaret had bought Commerce_buy enough time for the French grain convoy to reach Arriving safety unimpeded by Howe 's fleet , securing a strategic success .

The French Atlantic Fleet , under Admiral Villaret de Joyeuse , was tasked Confronting_problem with keeping Preserving the British Channel Fleet occupied Placing long enough for the convoy to reach Arriving France safely .

The Channel Fleet , commanded Control by Lord Howe , knew Know of the convoy Patrolling 's passage , and dispatched Sending squadrons to protect Defending British commerce while pursuing Aiming Villaret himself with the main body of the Royal Navy 's Channel Fleet .

For over a week the two battlefleets manoeuvred Practice around one another , Villaret drawing Bringing Howe deeper westwards into the Atlantic and away from the convoy Patrolling .

Two partial but inconclusive fleet actions on 28 and 29 May followed , during which Howe seized Conquering the weather gage from Villaret , granting Giving him freedom to choose Choosing the time and place of his next attack Attack .

This final engagement Hostile_encounter saw Howe use the weather gage to attack Attack Villaret directly while his opponent attempted to fight Hostile_encounter in a traditional line of battle Hostile_encounter formation .

Forcing Preventing_or_letting Villaret to retreat Escaping , Howe 's force captured Conquering seven French battleships , one of which later sank Motion_directional , and inflicted Causation 7,000 casualties Death on the enemy .

Villaret however , claimed Statement strategic success Earnings_and_losses as his delaying Change_event_time tactics had bought Supply enough time for the convoy Patrolling to reach Arriving France safely .