Why take this tour
Clipper City is Manhattan by Sail's 158-foot, gaff-rigged schooner, a steel-hulled passenger vessel whose design recalls the lumber schooners that worked American coastal waters. It sails from Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport, replacing an enclosed tour-boat atmosphere with high masts, broad decks and working canvas.
The experience
Day sails move from the East River into New York Harbor, where the Brooklyn waterfront, Governors Island, Lower Manhattan, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty form the surrounding panorama. Crew members raise and manage the sails, and passengers may watch or participate when invited while the vessel responds visibly to wind and tide.
Before you book
The regular day sail and longer sunset or jazz products are separate departures aboard the same ship. What distinguishes every version is the vessel itself: a large sailing rig moving through a harbor dominated by ferries and motor craft, with skyline views framed by lines, spars and canvas overhead.
