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On 23 February 1745, in the vicinity of the British naval base at Antigua, Garaycoechea came across a British convoy of three merchant ships protected by HMS Comet and HMS Mercury.
Following a battle, the entire British convoy was forced to surrender.
The British fleet had set sail from St Kitts, where a meeting of the High Command was taking place, in pursuit of Garaycoechea.
He managed to escape with the three merchant ships, although the British were able to recover the heavily damaged HMS Comet and HMS Mercury.
Spain (Private Owners) - Naval Sailor Ship Owner Privateer Service 1716-1757 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Privateers, Pedro de Garaycoechea y UrsuaSpanish Naval Sailor Ship Owner Privateer Service 1716-1757 | |||
| Ship Name | Commander | Notes | |
| Name : Galga (36)
1744-1784 Spanish 36 Gun Privateer Frigate | Pedro de Garaycoechea y UrsuaSpanish Naval Sailor Ship Owner Privateer Service 1716-1757 | Squadron Flagship 3 KIA, 4 WIA No Effect | |
| Name : Santísima Trinidad y Nuestra Señora de Begoña (12)
1735-1745 Spanish 12 Gun Privateer Brigantine | Joseph AlbertoSpanish Privateer Service 1745-1748 | No Effect | |
Great Britain (Royal Navy) - Naval Sailor Service 1704-1746 | |||
| Convoy, Richard SpryBritish Naval Sailor Service 1733-1775 | |||
1. Schooner with ballast ---------------------------------- Captured | |||
| Ship Name | Commander | Notes | |
| Name : Comet (10)
1742-1749 British 10 Gun Unrated Bomb Vessel | Squadron Flagship Damaged | ||
| Name : Mercury (16)
1744-1745 British 16 Gun Unrated Sloop | The Hon. William MontagueBritish , Naval Sailor Service 1740-1754 Robert WellardBritish Naval Sailor Merchant Sailor Service 1740-1771 | Damaged | |
| Royal Navy fleet | |||
| Ship Name | Commander | Notes | |
| Name : Woolwich (50)
1741-1747 British 50 Gun 4th Rate Ship of the Line | Thomas PhilpottBritish Naval Sailor Service 1722-1746 | No Effect | |
| Name : Launceston (44)
1741-1784 British 44 Gun 5th Rate Ship of the Line 1752 Renamed "Launceston Hulk" 1758 Renamed "Launceston" | Warwick CalmadyBritish Naval Sailor Service 1726-1757 | No Effect | |
| Name : Weymouth (60)
1736-1745 British 60 Gun 4th Rate Ship of the Line | Sunk | ||
| Name : | Samuel GoddardBritish Naval Sailor Service 1718-1745 | No Effect | |
After a gruelling night-time chase, Garaycoechea managed to escape with the three merchant ships.
The British ships returned to port at different times, although the HMS Weymouth sank after striking some reefs.