In March 1701, he was transferred to and three months later, joined . On 16 September 1702, Vernon was promoted lieutenant and appointed to serving in the Channel Squadron. The ship was later transferred to the Mediterranean and finally paid off in March 1704. He was then appointed to , which at the time was the flagship of Admiral Cloudesley Shovell in the Mediterranean. The ship was present at the capture of Gibraltar and the Battle of Málaga.