Martin was reluctant to leave Toulon until he could be certain that the lax British blockade of the port had been temporarily retired. Hood had been replaced in late 1794 by his deputy Vice-Admiral William Hotham, who based his ships in San Fiorenzo Bay on the northern coast of Corsica during the winter.
Martin was reluctant to leave Toulon until he could be certain that the British blockade of the port had been temporarily relaxed. Hood had been replaced by Vice-Admiral William Hotham in late 1794, who kept his ships in San Fiorenzo Bay on Corsica's northern coast during the winter.