 On November 9 , 1620 , lookouts spotted land , but it was quickly appreciated that their location was about 200 miles east @-@ northeast of their planned destination of northern Virginia — near what is now called Cape Cod . They tried briefly to sail south , but strong seas forced them to retreat to Cape Cod to harbor near the " hook " – present @-@ day Provincetown Harbor . It became apparent that the weather would not permit the passage south , so they decided to settle near Cape Cod . Shortage of supplies ( including wood and beer ) and the roaring Atlantic made it too dangerous to press on for a Virginia landing . They anchored at the hook on November 11 , but not before signing a significant document . The leaders of the colony wrote the Mayflower Compact to ensure a degree of law and order in this place where they had not been granted a patent to settle . Myles Standish was one of the 41 men who signed the document . 
