Sailing | Things to Do in Lower Manhattan

South Street Seaport Museum: Sail New York Harbor Aboard The Pioneer

October 8, 2017 by Rachel Witzel

The South Street Seaport Museum is offering rides aboard their ship The Pioneer. Spend an afternoon at the Museum! Pioneer tickets include free admission to the Museum’s historic ships and exhibitions on the day of your sail. Just bring the ticket to the Museum before or after your sail. Learn more about the history of the oldest neighborhood in NYC.

FiDi Families Insiders: Repeating every week — Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through October 14, 2017

Date: Through October 14th (no Monday’s or Tuesday’s)

Time: 12p

Location: 12 Fulton Street

Fee: $32/person; $28 for Seniors and Children, $45/$40 for Family Ecology Sails

Age(s): All ages welcome

For more information and to book your trip visit their website HERE.

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Manhattan by Sail Launches the Sailing Season Downtown

May 15, 2017 by Denise Courter

Sailing season has officially kicked off and there is no better way to see the NYC skyline, than by one of two vessels operated by Manhattan by Sail. The company operates two beautiful vessels in Lower Manhattan; the Clipper City out of the Battery at Slip 2 and the Shearwater, out of the marina at Brookfield Place – South Side.

One of our favorite outdoor activities in NYC is to embark on a sail on the New York Harbor. Sailing gives you a chance to see the city in a very unique way and gives you perspective that only stepping away from the hustle and bustle can give you. The owner of Manhattan by Sail is Tom Berton, a downtown Dad and has roots in the downtown sailing community since 1988, when he was sailing on a previous vessel, the Petrel. Manhattan by Sail has been in operation since 2001 and they manage two beautiful vessels. The Clipper City, is a tall ship or topsail schooner which boasts a length of 158-ft and its masts and rigging reach 120-ft from the deck. It’s impressive, elegant and the perfect sailing vessel for viewing Lower Manhattan and all that it has to offer. I love the experience of the Clipper City because you are able to walk around the deck and experience different vantage points, without feeling like you are going to topple overboard. It’s the perfect sailing vessel for groups that want to socialize and mingle and great for families of little one’s that want to help the crew raise the sails and feel like a sailor. Catering is available as well.

Manhattan by Sail also operates the Shearwater schooner out of the North Cove Marina. The Shearwater is smaller in size and measures 82-ft in length. The Shearwater is beautiful and visitors will feel the history of the schooner, the moment they set foot on it. The Shearwater sail is an intimate experience because sailors tend to sit and relax, based on its size. Since the schooner can accommodate 49 passengers as opposed to the 149 that the Clipper City can accommodate, it tends to be a sail where you “sit back and relax”. The ship was built in 1929. It has been sailing out of New York since 2001 and is 88 years old, still going strong.

The Manhattan by Sail website lists the daytime and evening sails for both ships and both are available for private sails and group tickets. My kids and I have loved our sails and the views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are definitely picture worthy. If you have visitors in town and they wonder how and why you live in New York City, the best way to answer is by taking them sailing. One sail around New York Harbor will explain why NYC is the best place to live, with the views of the City, the skyline at night and the beauty of Lower Manhattan.

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The Downtowner Welcomes Captain Jonathan Boulware / South Street Seaport Museum

September 21, 2016 by Denise Courter

Tune in to our weekly radio show (The Downtowner) on Little Water Radio, every Thursday at 10am. We have a special treat in store for our listeners (thank you awesome listeners for tuning in each week), with our next guest.

We are welcoming Captain Jonathan Boulware, the Executive Director of the South Street Seaport Museum. He is a local resident and a big advocate for the seafaring community and the Seaport community in general. We will be discussing some of the incredible happenings at the Seaport, including the return of the tall ship Wavertree, a gala, historical significance of the Seaport and more.

captain-jonathan-boulware

Date: Thursday, September 22nd

Time: 10am – 11am

Tune in: http://www.littlewaterradio.org/the-downtowner-1

FiDi Families Insiders: Check out details on the return of the tall ship Wavertreet!

For more information on the South Street Seaport Museum, visit their website HERE

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Manhattan by Sail Front Row Access to Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular

June 30, 2016 by Denise Courter

Manhattan by Sail Front Row Access to Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular

Manhattan by Sail is an incredible sailing operation that will be sailing the NY Harbor on 4th of July and tickets are still available for this once in a lifetime experience.

The Shearwater and Clipper City will be on the water, with a great crew, fabulous food and great bartenders, as guests sail and enjoy a spectacular fireworks show, presented by Macy’s.

Date: Monday, July 4th

Time: vary’s based on boat selection

Cost: vary’s based on boat and ticket selection

Ages: All ages welcome

To learn more about the menu, departure times and ticket prices, please visit their event page HERE

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FiDi Families Fave: Manhattan by Sail

September 13, 2015 by Denise Courter

Summer in New York City can be an incredible time for locals to explore the streets and neighborhoods that are the fabric of the Big Apple. Many have left to other parts of NY or out of the country for summer vacations. I have come to love this time of year, because it tends to be easier to get a table at a popular restaurant, the lines to exhibits and museums are not as long and the streets are not as crowded.

But, one of the best things to do in the City, has nothing to do with neighborhoods, overbooked restaurants and city streets. My favorite summer activity is sailing on the New York Harbor. Sailing gives you a chance to see the city in a very unique way and gives you perspective that only stepping away from the hustle and bustle can give you. Manhattan by Sail has been rooted in Lower Manhattan This summer I was able to board the Clipper City at its new location in Battery Park and it was incredible. The Clipper City is a tall ship or topsail schooner which boasts a length of 158-ft and its masts and rigging reach 120-ft from the deck. It’s impressive, elegant and the perfect sailing vessel for viewing Lower Manhattan and all that it has to offer. I love the experience of the Clipper City because you are able to walk around the deck and experience different vantage points, without feeling like you are going to topple overboard. It’s the perfect sailing vessel for groups that want to socialize and mingle and great for families of little one’s that want to help the crew raise the sails and feel like a sailor. Catering is available and we took full advantage of that for my husband’s birthday and it was great food with wonderful views. Needless to say, we returned with friends, with no reason to celebrate, other than to enjoy the water.

Manhattan by Sail also operates the Shearwater schooner out of the North Cove Marina. The Shearwater is smaller in size and measures 82-ft in length. The Shearwater is beautiful and visitors will feel the history of the schooner, the moment they set foot on it. The Shearwater sail is an intimate experience because sailors tend to sit and relax, based on its size. Since the schooner can accommodate 48 passengers as opposed to the 134 that the Cliper City can accommodate, it tends to be a sail where you “sit back and relax”. It has been sailing out of New York since 2001 and is over 80 years old, still going strong.

As many people know, the seasons in New York can be a dramatic transition from one to the next. But, the transition from Summer to Fall can be a great time to experience sailing, as you say goodbye to outdoor activities and long sunsets. I’m looking forward to some Fall sails before the weather moves into Winter.

The Manhattan by Sail website lists the daytime and evening sails for both ships and both are available for private sails and group tickets. My kids and I have loved our sails and the views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are definitely fan favorites for my kiddos. If you have visitors in town and they wonder how and why you live in New York City, the best way to answer is by taking them sailing. One sail around New York Harbor will explain why NYC is the best place to live, with the views of the City, the skyline at night and the beauty of Lower Manhattan.

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