Before her last voyage, the Halsewell was considered to be in excellent condition, with an ample and experienced crew.

On 16 November 1785 she dropped down the Thames to Gravesend to take on supplies for her third voyage to the east.

At the end of December the passengers boarded at the Hope, including a sizable contingent of soldiers being sent as reinforcements to the East India Company.

The passengers included the two daughters of Captain Pierce.

Pierce was the oldest of the East India company's captains, and planned to retire after the voyage.

The ship sailed through the Downs on 1 January 1786.

The wind died the next day, offshore from the Dunnose headland on the south east of the Isle of Wight, becalming the ship.

During the afternoon of 2 January a breeze came up from the south, and the ship ran in closer to shore to be able to land the pilot.
 
That evening a snowstorm began and the ship anchored in 18 fathoms of water.
 Due to the weather conditions it was not possible to furl all the sails.
 On 3 January a violent gale began to blow from east of northeast.
 The crew cut the anchor cable so the ship could run out to sea.
At noon that day they met a brig, who took the pilot, then continued westward down the channel.
In the evening the wind increased in strength, now coming from the south.

The gale carried a heavy load of snow.

The crew had to run up most of the sails to avoid being blown on shore.
 Heeled over, the hawse plugs were washed in and the ship took on large amounts of water on the gun deck.

A leak was discovered, with five feet of water in the hold.
 The sailors manned all the pumps.

In the morning of 4 January the crew twice tried unsuccessfully to wear the ship.
The mizzen-mast was lost in the process.

The leak was too much for the pumps to handle.
With seven feet in the hold the ship was near to foundering.

The captain decided to cut away the main mast to reduce the burden.

The fall of the mast carried away five men, who were drowned.
The sailors cleared the wreckage and managed to get the ship before the wind.

The pumps began to gain on the leak.

By ten in the morning the wind had dropped, and the ship began to roll violently.
The foremast was rolled over, destroying the foresail.

By eleven the weather had improved and the wind was from the west.
Berry Head, the southeast point of Torbay, was seen between six and nine miles distant.

The crew set up a jury main mast and began heading back east towards Portsmouth, spending the rest of the day trying to set up a jury mizzen mast.

In the morning of 5 January the wind began blowing strongly from the south again.

At eight in the evening the Portland lights were observed, from 12 to 15 miles distant in a north of northwest direction.

The crew managed to turn to a westward course, but found that they were running towards shore so changed back to an eastward course, hoping to round Peverel Point and anchor in Studland Bay.
Before her last voyage, the Halsewell was considered to be in excellent condition, with an ample and experienced crew.
On 16 November 1785 she dropped down the Thames to Gravesend to take on supplies for her third voyage to the east.
At the end of December the passengers boarded at the Hope, including a sizable contingent of soldiers being sent as reinforcements to the East India Company.
The passengers included the two daughters of Captain Pierce.
Pierce was the oldest of the East India company's captains, and planned to retire after the voyage.
The ship sailed through the Downs on 1 January 1786.
The wind died the next day, offshore from the Dunnose headland on the south east of the Isle of Wight, becalming the ship.
During the afternoon of 2 January a breeze came up from the south, and the ship ran in closer to shore to be able to land the pilot.  
That evening a snowstorm began and the ship anchored in 18 fathoms of water.  Due to the weather conditions it was not possible to furl all the sails.  On 3 January a violent gale began to blow from east of northeast.  The crew cut the anchor cable so the ship could run out to sea. At noon that day they met a brig, who took the pilot, then continued westward down the channel. In the evening the wind increased in strength, now coming from the south.
The gale carried a heavy load of snow.
The crew had to run up most of the sails to avoid being blown on shore.  Heeled over, the hawse plugs were washed in and the ship took on large amounts of water on the gun deck.
A leak was discovered, with five feet of water in the hold.  The sailors manned all the pumps.
In the morning of 4 January the crew twice tried unsuccessfully to wear the ship. The mizzen-mast was lost in the process.
The leak was too much for the pumps to handle. With seven feet in the hold the ship was near to foundering. 
The captain decided to cut away the main mast to reduce the burden.
The fall of the mast carried away five men, who were drowned. The sailors cleared the wreckage and managed to get the ship before the wind.
The pumps began to gain on the leak.
By ten in the morning the wind had dropped, and the ship began to roll violently. The foremast was rolled over, destroying the foresail. 
By eleven the weather had improved and the wind was from the west.Berry Head, the southeast point of Torbay, was seen between six and nine miles distant.
The crew set up a jury main mast and began heading back east towards Portsmouth, spending the rest of the day trying to set up a jury mizzen mast.
In the morning of 5 January the wind began blowing strongly from the south again.
At eight in the evening the Portland lights were observed, from 12 to 15 miles distant in a north of northwest direction.
The crew managed to turn to a westward course, but found that they were running towards shore so changed back to an eastward course, hoping to round Peverel Point and anchor in Studland Bay.
Halsewell (East Indiaman)