Tuhia he haere tonu mo tenei whitianga - Hei Kaihautū, i noho ia ki te New York Navy Yard mai i te 1841 ki te 1843, kātahi ka whakahau ia i te Moana o Mexico me te West Indies mai i te 1843 ki te 1845. I te Pakanga o Mexico-Amerika, i whakahau a Sands i te. I uru ia ki te hopu i a Alvarado, Tabasco, me Laguna, i te wa poto hei Kawana o Laguna. I āwhina hoki ia i te whakapae o Veracruz
me te hopu o Tampico me Tuxpan i te tau 1847. He maha nga whakamoemiti i riro i a Sands mo tana mahi i enei mahi.