Mayflower II Sets Sail For Routine Maintenance Over Winter Months

PLYMOUTH, MA — The Mayflower has again set sail. Well, sort of.

Mayflower II, the full-scale replica of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America’s shores in 1620, is making its way to Mystic, Conn., where it will undergo basic maintenance and get a new paint job over the winter months, according to the Plimoth Patuxet Museum, where the vessel is typically docked.

Museum officials said Tuesday that the 65-year-old Mayflower II made its way across Buzzard’s Bay en route to Mystic, where it is expected to arrive Wednesday afternoon. Once in Mystic, the vessel will be docked at the Mystic Seaport Museum’s preservation shipyard where it will undergo routine maintenance.

The ship was assisted in its journey by being towed by the tugboat Jaguar, which is owned by Mitchell Towing in Fairhaven, the museum said. Mayflower II is expected to return to Plymouth by April 2022 for the reopening of the museum’s new season.

Last year, the replica ship made its way back from Mystic to Plymouth and was temporarily delayed at the State Pier in New London to wait out tropical winds and rains from Hurricane Isaias before it made its way back to the Plimoth Patuxet Museum. Last year marked the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims making their way to the states aboard the original Mayflower.

Mayflower II has been part of the museum’s regular attractions since 1957 and visitors are permitted to get aboard the reproduction, which – with the exception of a modern staircase between the ship’s main and lower levels – is very similar to the original Mayflower, according to the museum’s website.

Museum officials said it is unclear of what became of the original Mayflower.

“The last record of the ship was an assessment of her value in 1624. After that, she disappeared from maritime records,” the website said. “Several places in England claim to have a piece of the original ship, but there is no historical proof to support these claims."