Eight French ships escaped through the shoals during the night and reached Rochefort. Another group sought shelter in the Vilaine, where Hawke chose to contain them instead of attacking in the storm. To cross the river's bar, the French threw guns and equipment overboard and used the rising tide. One ship was wrecked, and the survivors remained trapped by a British squadron through 1760 before escaping later. Other stranded vessels were destroyed after the weather moderated. The French fleet had lost fighting capacity even where its ships avoided immediate capture or destruction.
Notable Point · 1:40:50-1:42:59
Retreat into the Vilaine left French ships disarmed and trapped
French ships escaped immediate capture by throwing guns and equipment overboard to cross the Vilaine bar, but the surviving vessels then faced a prolonged blockade.