The Mayflower II

June 2016

Back in 1620, Pilgrims came over on a ship called The Mayflower. A recreation of the ship was created, Mayflower II, which is now part of the living museum Plimouth Plantation. On Monday June 6th, it was brought back from the winter dock (where it goes for a few months for repairs) to Plymouth. The ship is towed back with a tug boat. We found a link to a marine site that tracked the tug, Jaguar, which allowed us to follow the progress of the boat. Paul took advantage of the Mayflower II being out on the water, and took pictures of the ship on its way into the Cape Cod Canal, at the other end of the canal, and later when it came into Plymouth Harbor.

Here are some pictures, starting with the Canal entrance and going underneath the modern railroad bridge (obviously in its lifted, or up, position to let the tall Mayflower through):

Mayflower II being towed head-on by the tug Jaguar on calm blue water

Mayflower II passing beneath the raised railroad bridge at the Cape Cod Canal

Closer view of Mayflower II and the tug Jaguar passing under the raised railroad bridge

Side view of Mayflower II moving through the canal with a wooded shore behind it

This is now at the other end of the Cape Cod Canal, with the Sagamore Bridge in the background:

Mayflower II being towed through the canal with the tug Jaguar and bridge in the distance

Mayflower II in the canal with the Sagamore Bridge rising behind it

Mayflower II moving through the canal past a low green shoreline and pilings

Close side view of Mayflower II showing its rigging, crew, and tow line

Mayflower II and the tug Jaguar rounding the breakwater into Plymouth Harbor

Mayflower II near the harbor entrance with a red lighthouse and a small motorboat nearby

In this next picture, the tugboat Jaguar has already rounded the corner (you can just see it over the rock breakwater). The churned water between them is caused by the rope hitting the water as it moves sideways.

Distant view of Mayflower II beyond a red lighthouse and channel marker on calm water

A quick break with this expansive scene of the Plymouth Harbor.

Wide view of Plymouth Harbor with many sailboats beneath large puffy clouds

And now back to the Mayflower, including people out to see it coming in. Notice that the Mayflower II is now facing the other direction. It is being brought into the harbor backwards. The tug boat is strapped to the ship on the far side.

Yellow kayaker in the foreground with Mayflower II and several boats in the distance

Portrait view of Mayflower II on calm harbor water under a pale blue sky

Mayflower II in Plymouth Harbor with the tugboat off to the right under large clouds

In these next two pictures you can see the tug on the other side of the Mayflower:

Portrait side view of Mayflower II with a small yellow tow boat nearby

Clear side view of Mayflower II in Plymouth Harbor with motorboats nearby

This picture is a bit busy, but just to the right of the Mayflower is portico that is surrounds Plymouth Rock . (Plymouth Rock is a national park monument that you really need to see during the season so you can talk to a park interpreter there. By itself it is abit uninformative, but with the added information it can be fascinating.) Although you won't be able to tell in this reduced-size picture, the little speck that shows in the picture above the church's cross is a drone.

Mayflower II in Plymouth Harbor with boats, the Plymouth Rock portico, and church towers in the background

Since that last picture was a bit cluttered, here is a final clearer view of the ship from back in the Cape Cod Canal:

Clear side view of Mayflower II back in the Cape Cod Canal against a low green shoreline

Updated April 2026