How long could a sperm-whaling voyage in the Pacific last?

In the context of 18th and 19th-century sperm whaling, voyages into the Pacific were often extensive, with four-year cruises becoming common.1

Following the mid-18th-century introduction of onboard rendering—which allowed crews to process blubber at sea and prevent putrefaction—the duration of these expeditions was primarily limited only by the vessel's cargo capacity and the endurance of the crew. For instance, the final voyage of the Essex, which departed in 1819, was expected to last up to three years.12