hood and his fleet were absent for the siege of calvi as the french fleet, following extensive repairs, had finally emerged from toulon under contre-amiral pierre martin on 5 june. on 11 june the fleets were within sight of one another, the french retreating into gourjean bay. hood planned an attack, but the operation was deemed too dangerous. hood withdrew, leaving a large squadron under vice-admiral william hotham to blockade the bay, although hotham's force was driven off by a storm and martin succeeded in returning to toulon in november.