 On 9 April the French flotilla was able to leave the Orne River and anchor in the harbour of Bernières @-@ sur @-@ Mer , but the arrival of the fourth rate HMS Adamant under Captain William Hotham persuaded Muskein to return to the more sheltered anchorage at the mouth of the Orne . As he returned eastward , he again came under fire from Diamond and Hydra . The French flotilla then sheltered under the batteries at Sallenelles until the damage was repaired . Over the next two weeks , however , the situation changed – Rear @-@ Admiral Jean Lacrosse at Cherbourg had been informed of Muskein 's difficulties and sent reinforcements of 40 barges and armed fishing ships to Sallenelles . Late in April , Muskein had an opportunity to escape without interception by the British force offshore and sailed as far as Saint @-@ Vaast @-@ la @-@ Hougue , to the west of the islands . There he waited for the right combination of wind and tide to allow the attack to go ahead uninterrupted by the British squadron that had followed his flotilla westwards . 
