View PDF versionView web version

As the end of August approaches, it can seem like a blink of the eye between July 4th and Labor Day. But there’s a nice way to keep the summer sailing along with a patriotic flair, on board a 105-foot schooner that’s built along the lines of the racing yacht that is the namesake of the America’s Cup.

“The original schooner America was built in Brooklyn actually, on the east side, in 1851, commissioned by the New York Yacht Club,” explains Classic Harbor Line General Manager Sarah Greer.

What’s known as America 2.0 is now sailing New York Harbor through October. It is the fifth boat operated by Classic Harbor Line that was built in Albany by the Scarano brothers.

“A lot of local products, cherry from the area, even the boat builder’s back yard actually. Tons of hardware, the sails, the mast all fabricated by U.S. manufacturers,” notes Greer.

Regular New York sailings on America 2.0 are scheduled through October. Everything from a $55 two hour day sail to an $80 sunset sail, up to $135 for a sushi and sake cruise.

Enter code Val15 to get $15 off any America 2.0 cruise through the end of the year either on New York Harbor or when it relocates to Key West for the winter.

View PDF version

Shearwater Manhatten

Who wants to see Manhattan, it has to leave. And from where you can see an island probably better than from the water? You do not have to be to sign on with one of the container ships that push their way through the New York Harbor to Red Hook. Many visitors take a tour boats that chug the Statue of Liberty or the southern tip of Manhattan around, or they boarded the (free!) Staten Ferry Iceland. However, this will all much more elegant: a sailboat.

The America 2.0 is a replica of the “America’s Cup” -Gewinners of 1851st

And so I now stand on wooden planks and see the lights of the city sparkle. If already, because already, “City Lights Rope”, the provider Manhattan By Sail is a way to sail after sunset at the Shearwater. The actual sailing done a nice three-man crew, which also serves drinks. “Of course we also have alcoholic beverages on board – we are sailors,” say (and of course remain even sober). Before our group, you have people sailed into the sunset.

Elegant you can not see the New York skyline.

Its seaworthiness has provided long ago to prove the boat: the late 70s, early 80s, it even sailed once around the world. But the three-masted schooner is much older: 1929 Shearwater was baptized, the time of the great Gatsby when sailing was a simultaneously elegant and adventurous pleasure of the rich. The wooden boat was made of oak timbered shortly before the Great Depression by hand and is the only movable monument of New York. And so chic this all sounds: One and a half hours night sailing on the yacht costs nowadays just 45 dollars.

Work has only the crew – guests can approve of Shearwater a glass of wine.

A wind indicator does not need our Department. “I feel the wind,” said the captain to me. He needs to hear him roar in both ears, then he knows the wind direction. Just before the Statue of Liberty, he turns to again and again. Through the darkness a long barge full of stones and gravel slides amazingly fast towards us. He must decide whether to turn to her to go out of the way. At the guests goes unscathed – almost: “Main Crossing,” he exclaims before turning, so guests sit under the mainsail and get not about standing the tree in front of the head.

In good wind you can sail with the Shearwater also under the Brooklyn Bridge.

On the way we see three other big sailboats. Manhattan by Sail has the Clipper, and other operators offer relaxing tours. So you can see the America 2.0 boarded at about Classic Harbor Line: The boat is designed with environmentally friendly aspects replica of America, the 1851 America’s Cup won. And who wants to keep even the pods or the control in hand, also comes at his expense: The Manhattan Sailing School offers weekend courses where you learn everything you need on the Hudson and the East River can. Including the commands. On the Shearwater one only hears what calls out to the helmsman of the crew. He radioed to other boats. When the big boats it makes no sense to call across the water. While the small dinghy in regattas “Starboard!” Shout when someone is going to disregard the rights of way, the big horns per se. “Five times means danger,” says our captain. But we do not get to hear.

Große Freiheit New York: Who passes by the Statue of Liberty under sail, is photographed by many tourists.