Watch the (Smaller) Tall Ships Pass City Island on Friday Morning, July 3

Dear Members,

Don't want to brave the crowds of New York Harbor or Manhattan for the grand Parade of Sail mounted by Sail4th 250?

Then keep an eye on the Sound just outside Eastchester Bay on Friday morning, July 3. That's when Sail4th's Class B Tall Ships will start passing under the Bronx bridges to sail down the East River, to the big show on July 4. (Thanks to Active member Lisa Lager for pointing this out.)

Here's the official schedule from the Sail4th website:

July 3, 1pm - 3pm Sail4th 250 Parade of Sail: Class B Tall Ships. East River.  Class B tall ships from around the world [editor's note: like the Clearwater, below, which will sail with member Walt Tyler aboard] will sail down the East River from Hell Gate Bridge to Gravesend Bay, Brooklyn.

Time. We don't know at this point exactly when they plan to pass the tip of City Island. A suggested viewing window is 12:30-1:30 p.m. Presumably, though, they will want to reach Hell Gate after slack tide at 12:56 p.m. and ride the ebb down the river. Hell Gate is roughly 7 nm from buoy 46A at the entrance to Eastchester bay. 

At 106 feet in length, the wooden-hulled sloop CLEARWATER is the only full-sized replica of the 18th and 19th century merchant ships known as Hudson River sloops. She serves as a platform for hands-on environmental education and as a symbol for grass-roots action. With a crew of five, she can carry 50 passengers for these cruises. This sloop is the dream project of the environmental activist and folk singer Pete Seeger. As far back as 1966, concerned about pollution in the Hudson River, Seeger advocated for her construction by playing concerts up and down the river, passing the banjo case to raise funds to build the ship. He wanted people to come to the river to experience the beauty of the river. He fought for the ecological restoration of the Hudson River. His song “Sailing Down My Golden River” reflects on the beauty of the river and Seeger’s work to protect it. She was launched in 1969 and is a frequent site on the Hudson River and in Long Island Sound.

Weather. The Weather Underground forecast for 1 p.m. on July 3 at New Rochelle is mostly sunny, 98 F (feeling like 106 F), winds WNW at 9 kts. Chance of precipitation just 15% at 1 p.m., but rising through the afternoon to 45% at 5 p.m., with the possibility of scattered thunderstorms from 4 o'clock on.

More. The Sail4th 250 schedule is packed. 

• If you've registered for a free spot in the spectator anchorage in the Harbor, those open at 3 p.m  on Friday, after the Class B parade. 

• The Grand Review of the whole fleet starts Saturday at 9 a.m. and continues until 2 p.m.--preceded by a review of naval ships from around the world (7:30-9:00 a.m.). 

• Ship-visiting starts on  Sunday, July 5 and runs through Tuesday. The ships will dock at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Sail City (i.e., the Intrepid & Manhattan Cruise Terminal), South Street Seaport, and the Staten Island Waterfront Park. The visits are free, but you'll have to book a ticket.

Enjoy,

Doug