<P> Since the Spanish were now on alert for his squadron, it was obvious that the way home would be by way of China to either the Portuguese colony at Macau or further up the river to Canton, a base for the English East India company, rather than back around Cape Horn . Before leaving though, there was still the question of what to do with the prize ships . Anson had already decided to destroy the Carmelo and Carmin and given the severe shortage of men on the Centurion and Gloucestor, he concluded there was no choice but to also sacrifice the Arranzazu, now renamed the Tryal's Prize and transfer the men, even though the impressive 600 - ton ship was "in good repair and fit for sea". This was against the determined argument of the officers from the Tryal since their transfer would mean loss of seniority and therefore pay and prize money . </P> <P> The cutter had not reappeared so Anson sailed back toward Acapulco in the hope of finding his men . Concluding that they had been captured, he sent six Spanish prisoners ashore in a small boat with a note saying he would release the rest if his men were set free . On the third day waiting for a reply, the cutter appeared but not from out of the harbour . The crew were in very poor health after being unable to land to find water and suffering from severe sunburn after six weeks in an open boat . On their arrival, Anson sent 57 of his prisoners ashore including all the Spaniards but kept 43 of other races . On 6 May 1742 they headed west into the Pacific . </P> <P> Based on earlier accounts, Anson expected the Pacific crossing to be an easy one, taking about two months . Other voyagers had dropped south from Acapulco at 15 ° 51'N to pick up the tradewinds that blew constantly to the west between 10 ° and 14 ° N. However, none of them had left in May by which time the band of favorable wind had moved further north as summer approached . The Centurion and Gloucester wasted seven weeks in constant heat and variable light wind, or no wind at all, getting as far south as 6 ° 40'N before giving up and heading north again . Under normal circumstances, such a delay would be a nuisance but with ships and crew in poor condition, disaster soon unfolded . The foremast of the Centurion split just days out from Acapulco and the Gloucester lost its mainmast in the mid-June and although improvised repairs were made, she was now much slower . Scurvy broke out first amongst the prisoners captured from the Spanish prize vessels and then at the end of June, amongst the regular crew members . </P> <P> During July, the Gloucester lost most of its remaining rigging and a large leak opened so that by 13 August the water inside was seven feet deep despite continuous pumping . Captain Mitchell sent a distress signal to Anson but the initial response was that leaks in the Centurion were now so serious that she too was in danger of sinking . However, when the full details emerged, Anson saw there were no alternative but to salvage whatever possible from the Gloucester (not much except the captured bullion), transfer the crew and then set the ship on fire to ensure that the hulk did not drift into Spanish - held Guam . Eight to ten men were dying every day and the leak became so severe that even Anson had to take his turn at the pump . It was now a race to find land, even Guam, before the ship sunk . Tinian lies to the north and a little east of Guam and was sighted on 23 August but it took four days to find safe anchorage . Anson had a Spanish flag hoisted in the hope of gaining a better reception and a proa carrying four native people and one Spaniard came out to meet them . Fortunately they were the only ones on the island so the Centurion came inshore and anchored . The sick were landed, 128 in all, a task that Anson and the crew of the proa helped but 21 died during the landing or immediately after . </P>

Who led a three year expedition around the world