The East Indiaman Brunswick, Sarah, and two more country ships sailed from Colombo on 1 July 1805, bound for China.

On 11 July they were off Point de Galle when they encountered Contre-Admiral Charles-Alexandre Durand Linois in his flagship Marengo, accompanied by the frigate Belle Poule, who were cruising to raid British commerce.

M'Intosh ran Sarah, under full sail, into the breakers north of Point de Galle.

In a letter to the Admiralty dated 22 July 1805, Admiral Edward Pellew wrote that "the Cargo will be saved, and there are hopes of getting the ship off.

"[11] A listing of prizes taken by Linois's squadron in the Indies describes Sarah as an Indiaman of 1,100 tons (bm), with a cargo of cotton and sandalwood.