On 7 July 1782, following the Battle of Negapatam, Suffren appointed Saint-Félix to "Artésien" in replacement of Bidé de Maurville. He commanded her at the Battle of Trincomalee. Saint-Félix requested to be relieved and left the squadron after the Battle of Trincomalee, embarking on "Pulvérisateur" on 3 September 1782, bound for Isle de France. He later returned to be promoted to the command of the 74-gun "Fendant" which he captained during the Battle of Cuddalore on 20 June 1783, where he was wounded.