Myriad Ways to Make a Splash in Local Waters
“We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it we are going back from whence we came,” noted the host of a dinner honoring the crew of the Weatherly, a 12-meter racing yacht that defended the America’s Cup in 1962. The speaker, an avid sailor himself, continued, “it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears.”
How the world has changed: When President John F. Kennedy spoke those words, the New York Yacht Club was in the midst of a decades-long streak of holding the Auld Mug (as the America’s Cup trophy is nicknamed), but not one of the recreational boating opportunities listed below had yet come into being. The New York Yacht Club lost the title in 1983 (and has never recaptured it), but Lower Manhattan waters are now awash in ways to leave dry land.
Kennedy reflected, “I really don’t know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it is because in addition to the fact that the sea changes and the light changes, and ships change, it is because we all came from the sea.” Herewith, the Broadsheet’s guide to the boats of Lower Manhattan, and going back to whence you came.
Beast
Pier 16, South Street Seaport
This bone-rattling speedboat is the equivalent of a rollercoaster on the water, racing around New York Harbor at 40 knots (45 mph). Yes, you will get wet. $34; Broadsheet readers use promo code Broadsheet25 for 25% off. thebeastnyc.com
Circle Line
Pier 16, South Street Seaport
New York City’s legacy sightseeing cruise line (originally a fleet of World War II surplus vessels, now retired), offers trips around (but not to) the Statue of Liberty. $29+. (Trips from its Midtown dock circumnavigate Manhattan.) circleline.com
Clipper City
Pier 17, South Street Seaport
The only passenger-carrying tall ship in New York Harbor is a 158-foot-long, steel-hulled, two-masted vessel, 12 stories high. Passengers may be invited to hoist a jib or two. $68+. manhattanbysail.com
Downtown Boathouse
Pier 26, Hudson River Park
Free boating on unsinkable, self-bailing, sit-on-top kayaks. No reservations needed, but users must know how to swim. Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, 10am-4:30pm; Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 5:30pm-7:30pm. downtownboathouse.org
Honorable William Wall
Moored in New York Harbor
Known as the Willy Wall, this floating clubhouse owned by the Manhattan Yacht Club, is open to the public and accessible from the Battery Park City ferry terminal via the Little Lady ferry. $35. willywall.com
New York Media Boat
North Cove Marina
This adventure-sightseeing operation whisks guests around the harbor at speeds approaching 30mph in a rigid-hull inflatable speedboat. $55+. nymediaboat.com
North Cove Sailing
North Cove Marina
This sailing club offers access to Colgate 26s all week, as well as crew, skipper and racing skills development programs, and a sailing school for kids. northcovesailing.com
NYC Ferry
Pier 11, Wall Street/East River
Go for a joyride on New York City’s newest public transportation system, and head for the top deck, no matter the weather. Disembark in the Bronx or the Rockaways – or many other NYC Ferry docks in all five boroughs – and feel like you’ve been on vacation. $4. ferry.nyc
Pioneer
Pier 16, South Street Seaport
The only iron-hulled American merchant sailing vessel still in existence (and one of only two ever built in this country), Pioneer was launched in 1885. Two-hour sails on Saturdays and Sundays. $10 -$50 southstreetseaportmuseum.org
Sherman Zwicker
Pier 25, Hudson River Park
Wooden fishing schooner, home to the Grand Banks restaurant and oyster bar. crew.fun/grand-banks
Staten Island Ferry
Whitehall Terminal, the Battery
When 16-year-old Cornelius Vanderbilt used his $100 birthday gift to start what is now the Staten Island Ferry in 1810, he charged a nickel to get from St. George to Whitehall. In what may be the only good or service in New York to have declined in price over the last 215 years, it is now free, and just about the best water adventure in Gotham. siferry.com
Statue Cruises
Castle Clinton, the Battery
Caveat Sailor: Statue Cruises is the only authorized ticket seller for ferry service to Liberty Island and Ellis Island (notwithstanding the pitches from ticket sellers surrounding the Battery). Tickets start at $25.50 for a roundtrip to Ellis and Liberty. cityexperiences.com
Steamship Lilac
Pier 25, Hudson River Park
America’s only surviving steam-powered lighthouse tender, Lilac maintained buoys from 1933 to 1972. Board for free, and enjoy cultural and educational exhibits and activities. lilacpreservationproject.org
Tara
North Cove Marina
Tribeca Sailing takes up to six passengers out for excursions aboard a classic sloop. $63+. tribecasailing.com Ventura North Cove Marina This historic wooden sailing yacht offers cruises for up to 30 passengers. $125. sailnewyork.com
Village Community Boathouse
Pier 40, Hudson River Park
Free rowing in Whitehall gigs with an experienced coxswain. Sundays at noon, Wednesdays at 5:30pm. villagecommunityboathouse.org
Wavertree
Pier 16, South Street Seaport
Tour this magnificent 19th-century tall ship, part of the Seaport Museum fleet. southstreetseaportmuseum.org
W.O. Decker
Pier 16, South Street Seaport
The last surviving New York-built, wooden tugboat shoves off on Saturdays and Sundays for 75-minute sightseeing cruises. $15, $30. southstreetseaportmuseum.org
It should be noted that North Cove Marina is closing and all the wonderful businesses there, including Ventura (who, by the way, were part of the mass water rescue on 9/11 helping to take people out of lower Manhattan after the attack) are being kicked out. They won’t be able to help the community in that location for more than 5 years.
Can you please cite reliable information that confirms that “North Cove Marina is closing”?
Thanks for your question, Arthur. The Broadsheet went to the Battery Park City Authority for answers. Here’s what the BPCA’s Nick Sbordone said:
“Re: North Cove Marina. Due to public safety considerations during heavy, active construction, and as outlined in our previous public presentations, North Cove Marina will not be operational during the course of the North/West Battery City Resiliency Project. The Marina will close at the end of 2025 and reopen after project completion. [Construction at North Cove begins in] Month 1 (January) of Year 1/2026, and runs through late 2030. As always, this timeline is dependent on agency approvals and construction logistics and is subject to modifications. We will keep the community informed as these plans progress.
Re: Pedestrian egress. Over the course of construction in the Marina there will be north-south (and south-north) pedestrian egress alongside Brookfield Place, but not waterfront N-S/S-N access.”
It’s been known for some time. Here’s a link to Resiliency Construction documentation. Page 9 talks about the schedule – approximately 60 months. But please peruse the entire document to see the staging, construction plans, etc. etc. for the whole area. I have attended BPCA meetings where it was discussed and also please feel free to search for more info online as you’d like.
https://media.bpca.ny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/28162948/3.11.1_Construction-Overview.pdf
What an excellent list highlighting a key feature in the history and character of our city. Readers should take advantage now, as a number of these opportunities, operators based in North Cove Marina, are under threat due to plans for resilliancy construction over the next several years.