Quiberon: The Action off the Pennemarc Rocks

Scenario 2, the Pennemarc Rocks

1.  Engagement off the Pennemarc rocks

2.  The Privateers of the Penmarch
3.  The Devil's Teeth
4.  Cutting out at White Sand Beach
5.  La Fille Rapide
6.  The Maelstrom 

Three events occurred on this chart.  1, 4 and 5.
Fearless enters from the Passage du Raz.  Midshipman Quilp is Officer of the deck for the Middle Watch

The Maelstrom

The wind is South East.  A ship is seen leaving White Sand Beach hidden among the Pennemarc Rocks, a small bay surrounded by reefs.
"At her Mr Quilp, but avoid the shoals if you please."

An armed cutter the Mutin, leaving White Sand Beach 

 

Class and type: Mutin-class cutter
Type: Cutter
Tons burthen: 215​9⁄94 (bm)
Length:
Overall:76 ft 11 1⁄4 in (23.5 m)
Keel:59 ft 5 1⁄4 in (18.1 m)
Beam: 26 ft 1 in (8.0 m)
Depth of hold: 10 ft 1 in (3.1 m)
Complement:
French service: 84 (but 120 at capture)
Armament:
French service: 14 x 4-pounder guns + 10 x ½-pounder swivel guns

Captain de Bateau, Odeur Roquefort
Lieutenant Gruyere de Malodorant

The cutter can't escape the rocks on the current tack.  She puts about, but Fearless is closing.

Fearless opens with the port bowchaser.

Fearless steers directly for the Mutin.  That bow chaser severely damages the small vessel's hull

The French skipper runs before the wind back into the bay.  Fearless can`t follow and anchors off.

With the Mutin aground on the beach I can only come to the conclusion that a boat action is needed to burn the ship.  

Mr Drinkwater Master's Mate will remain in command of Fearless.

Lt Farthingdale in the gig with 9 men and a boat gun.  The Gunner ancient Nell McTurk is in this boat with a power keg and fuses.
Midshipman Whitemoore in the Launch with Sergeant Rod Ram, 9 Marines and a boat gun
Midshipman Quilp in the jolly boat with the Marine Corporal and 6 men

Mutin
Captain de Bateau, Odeur Roquefort 10 men and a swivel in the ship
Lieutenant Gruyere de Malodorant 10 men on the sand around the bow.
Lieutenant Cure Nantais, with twelve artillerymen from the Quimper garrison, Musket armed.

The Boat action

The boats put off from Fearless

The Frenchman is aground.

A change of scale to 10mm for the boat action

And the French set a guard boat patrolling the beach

Action between Fearless boats and the Guard boat.  A swivel gun decides it.

With the French boat on fire Fearless men press on.

A swivel from the deck of Mutin, three hits two killed.  Captain Odeur Rochefort is not a man to be sniffed at

Whitemoore can`t hear his Lieutenant but boards the Mutin, cutlass in hand.  

Lucky Jack Quilp and the Marines attack across the beach

And finally Captain Farthingdale boards Mutin, yet more shock from that swivel delayed him.  Farthingdale has an advantage with his dueling pistols, but young Midshipman Whitemoore has already defeated French Captain Rochefort and takes his sword.  I will give the youngster a +1 for his melee sword skills in future

The scene aboard.  The French stand no chance.

Meanwhile, back on the beach Midshipman Quilp sees off the French sailors and their Lieutenant Gruyere de Maloderant..

Fearless gunner, Ancient Nell McTurk sets the charges.  They will not refloat this cutter...

But along the beach French soldiers appear.  It is Lieutenant Cure Nantais from the Fort Saint Marine garrison, with ten musket armed artillerymen. (treated here as Militia)

Captain Farthingdale orders withdrawal, but fires his swivel into the French Aritllerymen.

The Hero shot, as Whitemoore fails to hear the swivel and makes for Fearless.  His chip is removed from play.

A vicious battle is fought out on the beach as the Marines try to withdraw.

A single hit on the Marines.  It`s a don`t roll a one moment.  Midshipman Quilp falls with a ball through the groin.

The boats withdraw, Midshipman Whitemoore a hero, Quilp bound for the attentions of Sam Saw, Surgeon's Mate on on the Orlop deck.  It's got to come off Mr Quilp, Sir...

Point 5, La Fille Rapide
Sighting off the Glenans, a notorious Quimper based Privateer, La Fille Rapide.  The Fast Girl has no intention of facing Fearless, and will head for the Odet estuary and the safety of the guns of Fort Saint Marine.
Another Cutting out expedition is on the cards.

A really enjoyable game.  10mm Sharpe Practice deals with boat actions such as these really well, and it looks great.