 Despite Howe 's pursuit , the main French sortie found initial success , running into a Dutch convoy and taking 20 ships from it on Villaret 's first day at sea . For the next week Howe continued to follow the French , seizing and burning a trail of French @-@ held Dutch ships and enemy corvettes . On 25 May Howe spotted a straggler from Villaret 's fleet and gave chase ; Audacieux led Howe straight to his opponent 's location . Having finally found Villaret , on 28 May Howe attacked , using a flying squadron of his fastest ships to cut off its rearmost vessel Révolutionnaire . This first rate was at various times engaged with six British ships and took heavy damage , possibly striking her colours late in the action . As darkness fell the British and French fleets separated , leaving Révolutionnaire and her final enemy , HMS Audacious , still locked in combat behind them . These two ships parted company during the night and eventually returned to their respective home ports . By this stage Villaret knew through his patrolling frigates that the grain convoy was close , and deliberately took his fleet to the west , hoping to decoy Howe away from the vital convoy . 
 Despite Howe <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>pursuit , the main French sortie found initial success , running into a Dutch convoy and taking 20 ships from it on Villaret <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>first day at sea . For the next week Howe continued to follow the French , seizing and burning a trail of French @-@ held Dutch ships and enemy corvettes . On 25 May Howe spotted a straggler from Villaret <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>fleet and gave chase ; Audacieux led Howe straight to his opponent <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>location . <a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>Having</mark></a> finally found Villaret , on 28 May Howe attacked , using a flying squadron of his fastest ships to cut off its rearmost vessel Révolutionnaire . This first rate was at various times engaged with six British ships and took heavy damage , possibly striking her colours late in the action . As darkness fell the British and French fleets separated , leaving Révolutionnaire and her final enemy , HMS Audacious , still locked in combat behind them . These two ships parted company during the night and eventually returned to their respective home ports . By this stage Villaret knew through his patrolling frigates that the grain convoy was close , and deliberately took his fleet to the west , hoping to decoy Howe away from the vital convoy . 
Despite Howe  pursuit , the main French sortie found initial success , runnin into a Dutch convoy and takin 20 ships from it on Villaret  first day at sea . For the nxt week Howe continued to follow da French , seizing and burnin a trail of French @-@ held Dutch ships and enemy corvettes . On 25 May Howe spotted a straggler from Villaret  fleet and gave chase ; Audacieux led Howe str8 to his opponent  location . Done finally found Villaret , on 28 May Howe attacked , usin a flyin squadron of his fastest ships to cut off its rearmost vessel Révolutionnaire . dis first rate was at various times engaged wit six British ships and took heavy damage , possibly striking her colours late in the action . As darkness fell tdaBritish and French fleets separated , leavin Révolutionnaire and her final enemy , HMS Audacious , still locked in combat behind em . These 2 ships parted company during the night and eventually returned to their respective home ports . By this stage Villaret knew thru his patrolling frigates that thdarain convoy was close , and deliberately took his fleet to thedast , hopin to decoy Howe away from the daal convoy .