 The passage of the Mayflower across the North Atlantic lasted more than two months , with 102 passengers crowded onto the cargo ship 's gun deck and about 30 crew members . The seas were not severe during the first month of the voyage but , by the second month , the ship was being hit by strong autumn gales , causing it to be badly shaken with water leaks from structural damage . There were two deaths , but this was just a precursor to what happened after their Cape Cod arrival , when almost half the company died in the first winter . 
