On return to Port Jackson, the "Mermaid" was found to be no longer seaworthy, and was replaced by the brig . In the May 1821 King expedition, Roe sailed in the "Bathurst". They sailed north up the coast, anchoring at Cairncross Island in bad weather on 30 June. When the sails were hauled in, the fore top-mast stay-sail halliards were accidentally let go, and Roe, who was at the masthead holding onto them, fell onto the deck. He was knocked unconscious, but was not badly hurt; he recovered quickly, but in later years would attribute to this accident the loss of sight in his right eye.