On 2 January 1783, the 32-gun British frigate HMS Magicienne, under Captain Thomas Graveshe, engaged the 32-gun Sybille, a relatively new French frigate, commanded by Kergariou-Locmaria. Both ships fought until they had both been dismasted and were forced to disengage. Sybille made for a French port under a jury rig and was then caught in a violent storm. Due to this unfortunate series of events Kergariou had been obliged to throw twelve of his guns overboard.