Cotes reached Jamaica in mid 1757 to discover that Bauffremont had already departed the region for Louisbourg in Nova Scotia. What French forces remained were at anchor at Cap-Haïtien awaiting the assembling of a merchant convoy, which would then be escorted to France. A British convoy was also being assembled, comprising 150 merchantmen carrying sugar, rum and molasses.Robson 2016, pp. 6768 Cotes took advantage of his unexpected naval superiority by deploying his ships of the line to watch over Cap-Haïtien, while his frigates cruised for stray French commercial craft. Over the summer his frigates captured three French store ships and a military transport, along with many small French privateers. With the French thus occupied, Cotes was able to ensure the safe passage oft eh British merchant convoy, which departed in midsummer.
