 He was probably engaged during the Battle of Vigo Bay in 1702, where Rooke's fleet captured a Spanish treasure fleet and was instrumental in the capture of the 56-gun "Modéré", which he went on to briefly command as HMS "Modéré".In 1703, Balchen was transferred to the 44-gun frigate HMS "Adventure" in the North Sea.This was an area of great importance to the British war effort due to the convoys carrying naval supplies from Scandinavia, which crossed it regularly.