Caesar's poor performance helped convince Villaret that Howe's fleet was more damaged than it appeared. Most French ships followed their admiral back toward the fight, although Montagnard claimed too much damage to turn. Villaret temporarily isolated Queen Charlotte, Bellerophon, and Leviathan, but Howe withdrew before the whole French fleet could overwhelm them. The British did not win a decisive action that day, yet they finished with the weather gauge. That positional gain let Howe control the approach to the main battle after both fleets repaired.
Notable Point · 1:21:08-1:23:06
False confidence yields the weather gauge
Villaret overestimated British damage, turned back into the action, and allowed Howe to emerge with the windward position.