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ABOUT US

Meet the Fleet

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Clipper City • The Tall Ship

A true piece of history, Clipper City began as a cargo schooner before the Civil War and was reborn through restoration using original Smithsonian plans. Now, this 48m twin-masted beauty is ready to sail with 144 people aboard, featuring a spacious deck, full bar, and 8 iconic sails. Crafted by Haglund Boat Works in Florida and launched in 1985, she boasts a stunning steel hull paired with a wooden superstructure-truly a timeless voyage in every way. Her storied journey includes a notable acquisition by the Coast Guard in Baltimore, a pivotal moment that underscored her seaworthy legacy, before making a triumphant sail to Manhattan in 2009. With every chapter, Clipper City continues to embody adventure at sea and an enduring maritime legend.

More About the Boat

Shearwater • Our Classic Schooner

Hand-built in 1929 from native hardwoods, the 82-foot schooner Shearwater harkens back to a bygone era of yachting. One of New York City’s only floating designated landmarks, Shearwater has been taking New Yorkers and the city’s visitors sailing in the harbor since 2001. She celebrated her 90th birthday in 2019 and still going strong and sailing gracefully. The Gatsby-era yacht comfortably accommodates up to 48 passengers and departs daily from lower Manhattan’s North Cove Marina on public sails and private charters.

  • Will return after her restoration in anticipation of the 100 year anniversary of her launching in 1929.
  • We do not have a designated date of return at this point. We look forward to hosting you upon her return.
More About the Boat
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a large ship in a body of water

To Us, Sailing is About Prevailing.

At Manhattan by Sail, we’re the venue for some of your most unforgettable experiences…and so much more. We are sailors who count ourselves as fortunate enough to sail the prevailing winds of the world’s most iconic harbor. We’ve been taking people sailing in New York Harbor since 1972, when a salty welder named Nick van Nes sailed his 70-ft. yawl, Petrel, to The Battery. He built a dock, put up a sign…and slowly, the first passenger sailboat in New York started to draw attention from locals.

Today, aboard the Shearwater and Clipper City, we share the joy of sailing our beautiful harbor with visitors and New Yorkers alike. Offering an incomparable setting for your outing, we’ve developed into a world-class venue. Whether you prefer Day, Sunset Jazz or an evening skyline sail, enhance your experience by preselecting from our curated food and beverage options available onboard at our warm and intimate cocktail bar. Always evolving, our passion, commitment, and enthusiastic crew will keep you returning week after week, year after year. At Manhattan By Sail, we welcome you aboard to fall in love with NYC over and over again.

Looking back, there have been challenges: through the early days of a new business, through 9/11, through restorations, growth and setbacks we worked to preserve the traditional art of sailing and everything that it encompasses: sewing sails, welding, woodworking, navigation, and preserving old boats steeped in history. We have created our own marvelous ecosystem and trained hundreds in the traditional craft of sailing. We know that with grit, teamwork, determination and resilience anything is possible.

It’s why we’re here today and why we’ve been able to provide such positive experiences to so many (see our reviews on Yelp and TripAdvisor).

We have prevailed. We are proud to be here today. And we are honored to have introduced hundreds of thousands to the sublime pleasures of sailing NYC’s waterways.

Thank you for letting us be part of your New York experience; your patronage supports a legacy.

Whether you’re a visitor or a lifelong New Yorker, we invite you to see Manhattan through new eyes and feel reinvigorated.

Be part of this.