The officers came down to Gravesend from London and joined their ships, and somewhere about the 25th of June, 1811, they set sail from Sheerness on their mission, which was to become historic--not so historic, perhaps, as the Mayflower--but still sufficiently important to deserve a centennial celebration.
The fleet was, however, to take up its passengers after it had passed Duncansby Head, on the north of Scotland.

But the elements on the North Sea were unpropitious.

Sheerness left behind, the trio of vessels had not passed the coast of Norfolk before they were driven into Yarmouth Harbor, and there for days they lay held in by adverse winds.

On July 2nd they again started northward, when they were compelled to return to Yarmouth.
In company they succeeded in reaching Stromness, in the Orkney Isles, in about ten days.

Here the "Prince of Wales" remained and her two companions sailed down to Stornoway on the 17th.
And now, with the storms of the German Ocean left behind, began the opposition of the "Nor'-Westers." The "Prince of Wales" brought her contingent from the Orkneys, and on July 25th Miles Macdonell writes that after all the efforts put forth at all the points he had 125 Colonists and employees, and these were in a most unsettled state of mind.
Some dispute the wages offered them.