- Poor seamanship: Drake's early voyages were marked by poor seamanship and reckless decisions, which led to the loss of several ships and crew members.
- Lack of experience: Drake had little experience leading a large fleet of ships, and his crews were often inexperienced and undisciplined.
- Bad weather: Drake's voyages were often plagued by bad weather, including storms and fog, which made navigation and sailing dangerous.
- Disease: Disease was a constant threat to Drake's crews, and many sailors died from scurvy, dysentery, and other diseases.
- Hostile natives: Drake encountered hostile native tribes in many parts of the world, and he was often forced to fight to defend his ships and crews.
- Spanish warships: The Spanish were Drake's main enemy, and they sent several warships to hunt him down and destroy his fleet.