Why didn't the Bounty mutineers sail to California rather than Pitcairn Island?

Question

California was Spanish held territory in 1790, and, I would suspect, out of the British Navy's reach. California, or other American destination would also have better propsects for long range survival and quality of life than Pitcairn island.

Answer 1

They wanted to live in the South Seas, first of all, with the men and (particularly) women they had brought from Tahiti.
Second, California was Spanish, a traditional enemy of England, who would not want English Navy people to settle in California.

Answer 2

By the time they actually mutinied, they had wives, girlfriends or whatever with them. They did not figure Bligh would make it back to safe port and later England. They settled to what they considered an idyllic life on the Pitcairn Islands. Today there are still many of the crew members names amongst the islanders as descendants. Fletcher Christian still has direct descendants from those days there.

Answer 3

One: It was really far.
Two: I believe California was pretty much run by the
Spanish at that time. They would have ended up just as dead at the end of a Spanish rope as at the end of an English one
Three: You just don't go cruising around in a stolen British ship where someone might see you.

Answer 4

Many had Polynesian wives and wanted to stay in the Pacific.

Answer 5

Their GPS fell overboard!