Age of Sail gunners chose hull or rigging by tactical need

Is it a myth that British ships shot at hulls while French ships aimed at sails and rigging?

Largely yes: target choice depended on tactical circumstances, the ship's roll, and command decisions rather than a rigid national practice.

The familiar national contrast is an oversimplification. Captains and gunnery officers selected hull, masts, sails, or rigging according to the phase of battle and the effect they needed. The ship's roll also changed where a broadside naturally pointed at the instant of firing. British and French crews could therefore engage either part of an opponent rather than following an absolute national rule.