Return of the Mayflower II

Mayflower II, the 20th-century replica of the Pilgrims' famous ship, recently returned to Plymouth Harbor after a winter in drydock at Fairhaven. This is the ship I sailed aboard as a crew mate in 2001 (I worked the main topsail...yes, the highest working position on the ship) and I'll never forget relaxing in the crow's nest (not the proper 17th-century term for it, mind you) as we came within sight of Boston. Nor will I forget standing on the deck and looking up in awe as those enormous sheets of canvas filled with wind.

On March 19th, 2009 The Plymouth Rock Studios' production crew was on hand as Mayflower II docked at the State Pier and they produced an episode for "The Series" to mark the occasion.


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You may have noticed in the video that the top masts were not in place, but these have since been re-installed. Here she is under full sail on an earlier voyage.


To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Mayflower II (2007), the BBC dug up a vintage film about the building of the replica vessel and her voyage from England to America in 1957. Quite a story in itself! See clips from the movie here on the BBC website.