“Didn’t the Mayflower make it in less time than that? “
Yes, if you discount all the false starts and accept that September 6th was the actual day of departure and that first land sighting was on November 9 (or 19) and then discount all the local sailing about until they picked a spot where they wanted to finally land.
Well, it was a long time ago and I was only a baby then but it didn’t seem like three months. ;^)
My history on when the Pilgrims left is a little weak: Why on earth would anyone try to start a colony in New England in November? The sailing weather in early spring would be too rough, perhaps? Or they didn’t think they’d have time to get crops in if they arrived in the spring? Arrival in November seems almost suicidal - which it was, for many.