The French were known for their ship designing at building prowess. Whilst British designers tended to stick to traditional ship building rules, the French made use of innovation to create faster vessels. This was imperative for a French tactic developed after the 7 Years War. The tactic was, unlike the British firing point blank, to fire up at the rigging of vessels, disabling them, and allowing the French Fleet to escape the area at their ease. Whilst British officers criticised the French's 'paltry game of firing then running away', it was only until late 18th century going into the 19th that the tactic was beaten by Admiral Lord Nelson's own tactical innovations.