Mayflower II to Stay in New Bedford Until Saturday

The restored replica of the vessel that carried the Pilgrims to the New World will remain in New Bedford harbor until Saturday afternoon.

Mayflower II was scheduled to depart from State Pier on Thursday morning for a visit to Fort Adams State Park in Newport, but due to new coronavirus travel restrictions affecting Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Plimoth Plantation decided "out of an abundance of caution" to keep the unique vessel in New Bedford for a few more days.

Earlier this week the ship's captain sheltered at the Port of New Bedford as Tropical Storm Isaias approached. That temporarily scrapped the Newport visit, which now won't happen at all. Saturday afternoon the ship will head out toward the Massachusetts Maritime Academy for two days of sea trials in Buzzards Bay, a spokeswoman for Plimoth Plantation said today.

The 57-year-old ship recently underwent a six-month restoration at Mystic Seaport.

Mayflower II is still scheduled to arrive home to Plymouth Harbor in the afternoon on August 10 to help celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims' arrival. If weather permits, Mayflower will continue sea trials in Buzzards Bay on August 6 and possibly August 7, accompanied by the tugboat Jaguar, operated by Fairhaven's Mitchell Towing.