Massive sailing ships, including Italy’s three-masted, 329-foot Amerigo Vespucci and Spain’s four-masted, 371-foot Juan Sebastian de Elcano, will fill New York City harbor for the United States’ 250th anniversary, parading up the Hudson River to the George Washington Bridge for Fourth of July weekend.
Thirty-two countries’ tall ships and 15,000 sailors, including a number of U.S. vessels, are slated to participate across six days, in the largest-ever flotilla of its kind, according to Sail4th 250.
The event is just one of several ways to commemorate the country’s 250th in the region and New York state.
Where to see the tall ships in New York City for July 4th weekend
First, on July 3, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., some of the ships will sail down the East River from Hell Gate Bridge to Brooklyn’s Gravesend Bay.
From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on July 3, people can book a preview cruise through New York Harbor before the Fourth of July Parade of Sail on the 4th. The cruise will include sunset views, close-range views of ships, and skyline views, the website said.
On the Fourth of July, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., more than 30 tall ships will sail north on the Hudson River from the Verrazano Bridge to the George Washington Bridge. (There is also a parade of sail viewing cruise aboard the Grand Mariner with buffet, open bar and a master of ceremonies narrating the parade).
There will be free public viewings of some of the ships along the New York City waterfront from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 5, 6 and 7.
Sightseeing cruises will be July 5 through 8, at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. each day.
On July 8, at 9 a.m., four of the sailing vessels are expected to race each other to Boston from New York City. Known as the “Five Sisters Cup,” the four ships still in service are the U.S. Coast Guard’s barque Eagle, the Sagres from Portugal, Mircea from Romania, and Gorch Fock from Germany. The Gorch Fock has held the trophy, made by Tiffany, since 1976, the event website said.
These tall ships are coming to New York City for July 4th weekend
Among notable U.S. ships slated to come to New York City Harbor for the multi-day events are:
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Tall ships from all over world to dock in NYC July 4th. How to see it
Reporting by Michael P. McKinney, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
