Sailing Through Time: Mayflower & Mayflower II
The Mayflower sails again! Well Mayflower II, thanks in-part to countless volunteers and donors including John Clayman of Expedition Yacht Experts and his friends Peter Cook and Bill Wasson who were instrumental in helping keep Mayflower II floating and sailing. John and Peter recently were invited to come aboard Mayflower II for a rare sailing excursion aboard this iconic historic sailing ship.
The Original Journey
In 1620, a small, sturdy merchant ship named Mayflower carried over 100 pilgrims across the North Atlantic, forever cementing her place in American history. The Mayflower made first landfall on the tip of Cape Cod, but the pilgrims soon moved across the bay and settled in Plymouth on the mainland. The last written record of the original Mayflower was found in a 1624 assessment after which the whereabouts of the approximately 100-foot, 180-ton vessel are unknown. Since then, some have claimed to have pieces of the original ship, but none have been verified.
Mayflower Historic Reproduction
Over 300 years later a remarkable project was born to honor that voyage by creating a reproduction of the original Mayflower. In the 1950’s a unique Anglo-American collaboration formed between Plimoth Patuxet Museum (formerly Plimoth Plantation) founded by Henry (Harry) Hornblower II, and Project Mayflower Ltd. headed by Warwick Charlton. Both groups were interested in building a historically accurate Mayflower replica.
Through combined efforts on both sides of the Atlantic, Mayflower II was designed by naval architect William A. Baker and built in Brixham, Devon, England between 1955 and 1957. The reproduction vessel’s construction features authentic materials including solid oak timbers, tarred hemp rigging, and hand-sewn linen sails. Craft techniques, true to the 17th century, were used whenever possible, although minor modern adaptations like internal lighting and staircases were added for safety.
On April 20, 1957, Mayflower II set sail from Plymouth, England, captained by Alan Villiers, and headed like the original Mayflower for America. After a wind-and-weather-tested Atlantic crossing including navigating a gale near Bermuda, the ship arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts on June 13, 1957, to crowds of cheering onlookers. The ship measures 106 feet long by 25 feet wide, and displaces 236 tons, a close approximation to the original Mayflower.
Saving the Vessel, the 1st Refit
In 1980, the Board of Trustees at Plimouth Plantation (now Plimoth Patuxit Museums) was faced with the urgent need to decide Mayflower II’ s future. Since her arrival in 1957 after crossing the Atlantic, she had been docked on the Plymouth, Massachusetts waterfront and had become a major tourist attraction. While this faithful reproduction of the ship that carried 103 pilgrims to the New World in 1620 was popular, the care needed to preserve her as a living wood vessel had not been properly undertaken. The vessel was in a deteriorated state and the board was seriously considering having her hauled ashore and encased in concrete to become a permanent land exhibit. A group of friends, John Clayman, Peter Cook, and Bill Wasson argued that she should be saved. In part because of their insistence, and their willingness to contribute expertise and equipment to her refit, Mayflower II was towed to the Billings Diesel and Marine shipyard in Stonington, Maine for extensive repairs.
She had been stabilized and made functional once again during the winters of 1981 and 1982 when major work was undertaken, including using recycled timbers that Clayman had donated. The vessel was once again seaworthy and the trio then proposed that the best way to ensure she continued to be maintained properly was to set up a program where she could be regularly sailed. Not only would she have to be kept in good enough shape for sailing excursions, but sailing the vessel would allow opportunities for increased publicity to entice and reward donors. Those that contributed would be given the rare opportunity to participate by sailing aboard this historic vessel.
400 Year Anniversary the 2nd Refit
In anticipation of the 400-year anniversary in 2020 of the Mayflower’s arrival in Plymouth the 50-plus year old ship was examined carefully. Despite being well cared for since the 1980s refit, she was in need of some major work. An extensive multi-year, $11.2 million restoration project was conducted on Mayflower II at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. To extend the ship’s life by at least another 60 years and ensure its stability and safety 70% of the ship’s original hull was replaced. This included hull planking, frames, timbers, and knees, which are angled structural members that support the hull. High quality foreign and domestic oak was used, and the original iron fastenings were replaced with bronze rivets. The ship’s keel was saved, but old ballast was replaced with modern, more compact lead, to improve the ship’s stability.
New sails and rigging were created with traditional looking modern materials to reduce maintenance. Over 100 new wooden blocks were manufactured by hand. All new masts were fabricated including a new main mast made of laminated Douglas fir for greater longevity than a solid timber.
Safety systems like a new fire suppression system, updated electrical wiring, and emergency lighting were added, as were modern navigation and communication systems. Because freshwater inside the hull of wooden boats can cause rot, a unique system was installed to manage rainwater and brine it before it enters the bilges.
A Living Classroom & Historic Landmark
Following her restoration and return to Plymouth in 2020, Mayflower II was deservedly added to the National Register of Historic Places, showcasing that she is a historic ship in her own right. Moored at State Pier not far from Plymouth Rock, Mayflower II is open for regular public boarding. Visitors can walk on her main deck, orlop deck, and half deck although access includes steep ramps and stairs, with parts of the vessel not fully accessible. As a floating classroom more than 25 million visitors have boarded Mayflower II in order to better understand the Pilgrims’ journey.
Sailing with History
As part of the program that Cook, Wasson, and Clayman had insisted on in the 1980s, Mayflower II leaves the dock for sea trials and under sail sessions in Cape Cod Bay and occasionally travels to Mystic Seaport in Connecticut for continuing maintenance. In August 2025 sail training drills and certification runs for the US Coast Guard were held on board. Because of their dedication and instrumental role in keeping the Mayflower II functioning as a sailing vessel, the trio were invited to come along on one of the sailing sessions. Captain Whit Perry and the Plimoth Patuxet Museums’ maritime preservation and operations team also invited the commander of the USS Constitution aboard.
John Clayman, Peter Cook and Bill Wasson were welcomed aboard Mayflower II for the sail to honor their role in protecting and preserving this living piece of history.
History Under Sail
From her humble 17th-century origins to her mid-20th-century rebirth, Mayflower II continues to serve as a tangible bridge to the past. Many people have spent countless hours and made sizeable donations to preserve and keep this iconic vessel sailing. The Plimoth Patuxet Museums’ programs now ensure that this beautifully kept, historically faithful vessel continues to educate us about early America and the religious freedom the Pilgrims sought crossing the ocean aboard her.
Land Displays
In addition to Mayflower II, Plimoth Patuxet Museums includes several sites where visitors can immerse themselves in the history of early America. Interwoven stories of indigenous peoples like the Wampanoag of Patuxet, and the English colonists (pilgrims) who settled in Plymouth in the early 17th century are presented along with artifacts, period clothing, and recreated historical buildings. These include the Plimoth Grist Mill and the Main Museum Campus (Plimoth Patuxet) which hosts a 17th-Century English Village, the Historic Patuxet Homesite, and the visitor center. All are within a short drive of the Plymouth waterfront where Mayflower II is docked.
See the Ships Underway
In 2026, Mayflower II along with the USS Constitution and several dozen other tall ships from around the world can be seen underway in Boston Harbor. The Sail Boston event July 11-16, 2026, will be a fascinating display of history in action. Come see these majestic vessels of the past during the event. If you can’t make it to the event to see them under sail, both can be toured dockside. Mayflower II is docked on the waterfront just steps from Plymouth Rock and is open every day from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased online.
Photos by Kyle Klein
