The Pilgrims faced numerous difficulties starting from their Atlantic voyage to their first winter in the New World. Their sister ship, the Speedwell, had to turn back due to mechanical problems, forcing the Mayflower, designed for freight, to carry all passengers in cramped quarters. The voyage was rough, with storms, leaks, damaged beams, and the threat of capsizing. Many passengers suffered from seasickness and fear, and one young man was nearly lost overboard but saved. Upon landing in Massachusetts instead of Virginia late in the year, the Pilgrims found no established settlements or homes. Their first winter was brutal with inadequate shelter, scarce food, and severe cold. Disease, starvation, and exposure took a heavy toll, killing about half the colony within a few months. The survivors were often too sick to care for each other. Despite these hardships, peaceful contact with Native Americans such as Samoset and Squanto helped the Pilgrims learn farming, hunting, and fishing techniques suitable for the new environment, which was key to their survival. Aside from physical hardships, the Pilgrims also faced complex social dynamics, including tension among passengers and limited supplies, worsened by the late-season voyage and unplanned landing site. Their religious community faced challenges in maintaining cohesion amid these difficulties and the pressures of survival. In summary, the Pilgrims endured treacherous sea travel, harsh weather, disease, starvation, inadequate shelter, and the challenge of learning new agricultural methods, all while trying to establish a peaceful and functional community in an unfamiliar land.