At dawn HMS Venerable caught the damaged Formidable trailing the main force and endured stern-chaser fire before closing for a broadside action. The frigate Thames raked the French ship from astern because Formidable could not turn to answer without exposing herself to Venerable. Light and unreliable winds eventually favored the escape, while Venerable lost her mainmast; Hood nevertheless refused an order to evacuate and burn his disabled ship, and the arrival of British support secured her. Wind and current could abruptly deny part of a sailing fleet the ability to intervene, regardless of its apparent numerical strength.
Chapter · 1:00:19-1:05:07
Venerable's pursuit pinned the French rear ship
Samuel Hood pursued Formidable toward Cádiz while Thames exploited a protected stern position, until damage and shifting winds ended the chase.