While at Clayoquot Sound, Kendrick and Gray switched vessels. Kendrick ordered Gray to take "Columbia" to China, and Kendrick would take "Washington" north, trading for furs. Kendrick recognized that with the British driven off out of the trade due to the Nootka Crisis the Americans had a window of opportunity on the Northwest Coast. All the furs in "Washington" were transferred to "Columbia" and the crews were divided so Kendrick would have a full complement of experienced sailors on "Washington". On July 30 Gray sailed "Columbia" out of Clayoquot Sound, making for Hawaii and China.