 Both French ships had also been badly damaged, and were left drifting out of control, unable to unite with Martin's main fleet.Martin sought to defend his beleaguered rearmost ships, and gave orders for his line to wear in succession so as to cut between the British fleet and the badly damaged "Ça Ira" and "Censeur", which were now threatened by the recently arrived HMS "Illustrious" and HMS "Courageux".Both fleets were by this point beset by a period of calm weather which made manoeuvres difficult, and the French turn caught HMS "Lowestoft" by surprise, the frigate suddenly under the guns of the leading French ship "Duquesne" under Captain Zacharie Allemand.