During the voyage, De Ruyter fell seriously ill, The fleet briefly stayed in Malaga before continuing to Algiers, reaching their destination on June 19.

In Alicante, De Ruyter got a warning from the Amsterdam Admiralty about being careful with the English to avoid war.

In the ensuing weeks, De Ruyter conducted patrols in the region between Cádiz and Alicante, closely monitoring the movements of Vice-Admiral Lawson's English fleet.

On October 22nd, near Goeree fort, they encountered eight English merchant ships with a warship flying the Royal Company flag.

Despite English claims of innocence, Admiral De Ruyter reminded them of the existing peace with England, not the Royal Company, due to prior issues in the region.

Nearby, the Dutch fleet learned that an English family, a man, woman, and two daughters, were held as slaves higher up the river.

Captain Willem van der Zaen, commanding the ship "t Geloof," sent a boat into the inland to search for them.

Surrounding the ships were canoes with trade goods, but De Ruyter sailed on to save time.

With each of the twelve ships contributing a keg of gunpowder, they blew up the fort under De Ruyter's supervision.

When the English prisoners were brought back to the ships, they had to be vigorously defended against the vengeful actions of the auxiliary troops.

The fleet then set course for Elmina, the most crucial WIC establishment in West Africa, arriving on January 7, 1665, at the harbor of the trading settlement.

Governor Valkenburg suggested attacking Cormantijn,[c] a strong English fort and negotiated with the Fanti tribe to make them allies.

[6] After the plundering, the crew indulged in drinking, as the English fort had an ample supply of Spanish wines, brandies, beers, and other spirits.

A later letter, dated December 12, reported that the English had captured Dutch ships in Europe and mentioned "hostile aggressions" in New Netherland.

De Ruyter was instructed to collaborate with Valkenburg to capture as many English forts as possible in retaliation against England.

Afterward, he was to inflict damage on English possessions in Barbados, New Netherland, Terreneuve (Newfoundland), or other islands and places.

De Ruyter left 42 volunteers in Elmina to support Valkenburg, to be assigned to various forts under the WIC.

On February 27th, Governor Valkenburg hosted a farewell feast for the ship's officers, though De Ruyter couldn't attend due to scarlet fever.

That same evening, the anchors were lifted, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Michiel de Ruyter's longest journey.