On 23 July the fleets lay about seventeen miles apart, and Calder declined to renew the action. His claim that he was outnumbered does not fully explain the decision because he had accepted those odds the previous day. Windsor Castle was damaged, while Malta had to secure two valuable prizes that allowed Calder to present the encounter as a victory. Calder had damaged the enemy and captured ships, but protecting those gains reduced his freedom to pursue a decisive result.
Notable Point · 42:01-42:51
Why Calder did not renew the battle
Calder declined to attack again after Cape Finisterre, a choice shaped by damaged ships and the burden of escorting two captured prizes.