Conversation so far:
how did Woodes Rogers prepare for his privateering expedition against the Spanish?
In late 1707, Rogers was approached by William Dampier, a navigator and friend of Rogers' father.
why did William Dampier approach Woodes Rogers?
William Dampier proposed a privateering expedition against the Spanish.
what had happened to William Dampier's career prior to approaching Woodes Rogers?
Dampier had recently returned from leading a two-ship privateering expedition into the Pacific, which culminated in a series of mutinies before both ships finally sank due to Dampier's error.

Question: what error had he made?
Self-contained rewrite: what error had William Dampier made during his two-ship privateering expedition into the Pacific?