Villeneuve declines his own renewed attack

Calder declined another attack while protecting damaged ships and prizes and worrying that the Rochefort and Ferrol squadrons might join Villeneuve. Villeneuve likewise claimed that light winds prevented a daylight engagement on 23 July, then used the weather gauge on the 24th to turn south rather than attack. He eventually reached Corunna and then Cadiz instead of obeying Napoleon's order to move toward Brest and Boulogne. Both commanders made risk calculations after the first day's fighting, while Calder still failed to press a strategically important opportunity.