Our Mission
Classic Harbor Line Mission
Our mission at Classic Harbor Line is to exceed expectations of hospitality aboard our multi-passenger classic yachts.
We believe that hospitality is a warm welcome and the continued care and appreciation of our passengers and each other. We believe genuine care for others is fundamental to achieving our safety standards.
Beyond offering harbor tours and private events, Classic Harbor Line aims to be an industry leader through social, environmental, and philanthropic contributions. We annually review and improve our best practices to minimize our impact on the environment, cultivate inclusion in our industry, and enhance the quality of life for our community.
Accessibility, in all its meanings, is a priority for Classic Harbor Line. In addressing access to the waterfront, the ability to enjoy sailing, or just experiencing our great city from the water; we support and adopt technologies and practices to improve access for all peoples to enjoy the programming that we offer.
As sailors by trade, we witness first-hand the pollutants in our waterways, sea level rise, and the increase in average daily temperatures occurring through climate change. At Classic Harbor Line, we review and revise our operating procedures annually to cut our carbon emissions, reduce or eliminate our use of single-use plastics, make purchasing choices that reflect these values, and create programming that educates and inspires change for the betterment of our planet’s health.
There are no single-use plastic cups or plastic bottled water at Classic Harbor Line. We make our own purified water, and we use reusable cups in collaboration with Cup Zero.
We have a plant-based catering menu for our charter clients who are looking to minimize the environmental impact of their gatherings. We offer sailing, the oldest and greenest mode of transportation on the planet. -—We support numerous food waste mitigation procedures. We envision a world where more people, making small changes like these, make a big, positive difference for our planet and her future.
Community Focus
We collaborate with and provide fundraising opportunities for a number of organizations aligned with our vision to improve our industry and our community. We regularly recruit young adults from several organizations for first-time job opportunities and we internally maintain a robust training program such that nearly anyone can get a footing in the maritime industry. We have a widely diverse roster of captains and crew by keeping our doors open to all members of our community.
Organizations We Support
Hetrick-Martin Institute:
Founded in 1979, the Hetrick-Martin Institute is the nation’s oldest LGBTQIA+ youth organization serving queer and trans youth, primarily of color, between the ages of 13 and 24. Through a comprehensive package of direct services and referrals, the organization fosters healthy youth development.
Waterfront Alliance:
Waterfront Alliance continues to take a leadership role to define NY Harbor’s response to sea level rise and coastal storms. Their long-term focus on increasing waterfront accessibility, along with efforts to advocate for a working waterfront that is a vital source of business activity and well-paying jobs and educating the next generation of waterfront stewards.
Working Harbor Committee:
Working Harbor Committee introduces youth to the past, present and future of our waterfronts with our dedicated boat tours of the harbor, as well as in-class programs with maritime experts who tell them about the types of jobs offered in the industry.
American Institute of Architects New York Chapter:
AIA New York seeks to cultivate an architectural community that is adept, influential, and just, empowering its members to work at the apex of their abilities. A professional association at its core, AIA New York is dedicated to three goals: design excellence, public outreach, and professional development.
Fund for Better Waterfront:
The Fund for a Better Waterfront (FBW) was founded on the belief that the waterfront belongs to the people. Since 1990, they have been dedicated to our vision of a contiguous public park along the Hudson River. They have achieved a large portion of that goal and are committed to its completion through a process of planning, advocacy and partnerships.
Schooner Apollonia
Schooner Apollonia has been hauling sail freight sustainably since August of 2020! Apollonia has transported over 200,000 lbs. of goods by wind, current and tide on the Hudson River and waterways surrounding New York Harbor. Their goal is to move goods while dramatically reducing the greenhouse gasses, especially carbon, needed from fossil fuel use.
Billion Oyster Project: Benefitting NY Harbor School Programs
Billion Oyster Project offers public school students, volunteers, community scientists and restaurants the opportunity to learn about New York City’s rich oyster history and lead the movement to restore it.
Brooklyn Boatworks
Harnessing the unique craft of wooden boat building and maritime-centered exploration, we inspire young people to uncover the confidence, skills, and courage to chart pathways to success in and outside the classroom.
Corn Hill Navigation
Corn Hill Waterfront and Navigation Foundation is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1991. It operates two boats, Riverie on the Genesee River in Downtown Rochester, NY and Sam Patch on the Erie Canal in Pittsford, NY. Riverie was built by Classic Harbor Line’s boat builder Scarano Boat Building in Albany, NY.
Hudson River Community Sailing
Hudson River Community Sailing (HRCS) is a non-profit youth development and community sailing organization with locations in Chelsea and Inwood. HRCS recently launched an Adaptive Sailing program for people with physical and developmental disabilities, further expanding waterfront access. HRCS believes that everyone can learn to sail, and that sailing provides a unique opportunity for growth and discovery.
Hudson River Maritime Museum
Located on the historic Rondout waterfront, the Hudson River Maritime Museum was established in 1979 and is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the maritime history of the Hudson River, its tributaries, and related industries.
John J. Harvey – Save our Ships
Fireboat John J. Harvey, launched in Brooklyn in 1931, was named for FDNY pilot John J. Harvey. Harvey was saved from the scrap yard by a dedicated group of volunteers and restored as an operational museum and education center, offering free public trips in New York Harbor.
Lilac Preservation Project
The former Coast Guard Cutter LILAC is the oldest surviving lighthouse and buoy tender in the country. She is being restored to operate on her original 1933 steam engines, providing opportunities for volunteer crew members to learn hands-on skills. In summer months, the ship is open at no charge for tours, exhibits and cultural programs on deck.
National Maritime Historical Society – Sea History
The National Maritime Historical Society (“NMHS”) is a non-profit membership organization with 501(c)(3) status founded in 1963. Our mission is to raise awareness of our nation’s maritime heritage and the role seafaring has played in shaping civilization – through educational programs, publications, and events that celebrate outstanding contributions to our maritime heritage.
PortSide NewYork
PortSide NewYork connects New Yorkers to the potential of their waterfront, with a special focus on reaching the underserved. We work to change NYC policy so that maritime activity of all kinds— commercial, educational, recreational—is more a part of waterfront revitalization plans. We are currently located aboard a historic oil tanker, the MARY A. WHALEN, in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
Rocking the Boat
Rocking the Boat participants develop pride, purpose, and possibility by learning the unique and lifelong skills behind building and rowing wooden boats, sailing, and restoring the Bronx River. We create community, teach through transformative experiences, and make nature available to everyone, inspiring young people to determine their own future against a backdrop of systemic inequity.