Sail4th 250 is a major international maritime celebration scheduled for July 3–8 to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. Following the tradition of Operation Sail, which celebrated previous milestones in 1976 and 2000, this year’s event will feature the largest fleet of tall ships and naval vessels ever assembled in New York Harbor.
On July 3, smaller tall ships from around the world will sail west on Long Island Sound toward New York City and can be viewed from Rye.
The ships will continue to the East River, starting near the Hell Gate Bridge and heading toward the Statue of Liberty and Gravesend Bay.
To see the Parade of Class B Tall Ships on July 3 (weather permitting), there will be good views from various places along Rye’s shore, including Rye Town Park and Playland, as well as several private clubs and many homes.
This information is preliminary, so please confirm the schedule as the dates approach.
The ship parade is set for 1 to 3 p.m. in New York City, so it’s best to look for the ships in Rye earlier in the day.
Several local spots will offer front-row seats as the fleet sails through the Sound:
- Rye Playland Park and Beach. The boardwalk and pier provide an unobstructed view of Long Island Sound.
- Rye Town Park and Beach.
- Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary. The shoreline trails have recently been expanded.
- The Marshlands Conservancy shoreline trails.
The celebration in New York City centers on the parade of the Class A and Class B ships and an aerial review.
There will be an international naval review from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on July 4. A fleet of “Gray Hull” naval ships from over 20 allied nations will dock along the Hudson River for a formal review.
The parade of Class A tall ships is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. This “Main Event” features more than 20 massive Class A tall ships (some over 340 feet long).
They will sail under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, past the Statue of Liberty, and up the Hudson River to the George Washington Bridge.
Over 100 aircraft, led by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, are to perform a flyover across the harbor and along the Hudson River parade route.
From July 5-8, many of the participating vessels will be berthed at piers in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and New Jersey. The public will be able to board the ships for free tours, usually between noon and 4 p.m.
For the latest updates and ticketing information, you can visit the official Sail4th 250 website at sail4th.org.
