Boston is a traditionally seafaring community, and one only needs
to look at Boston Harbor on a summer day to see that maritime
spirit hasn’t changed much. Whenever fair skies and favorable
winds allow, boat enthusiasts young and old can be found raising
their sails and taking to the water for daytime sailing
expeditions.
Liberty Fleet of Tall Ships has been a key figure on the Boston sail scene since 1992, ferrying guests along the coastline aboard the 125-foot schooner the Liberty Clipper. The Clipper, according to Liberty Fleet owner Greg Muzzy, is a replica of a “mid-1800s Baltimore schooner” that was originally built in Mystic, Conn.
A typical two-hour jaunt aboard the Liberty Clipper takes visitors out to explore the Boston Harbor Islands, or perhaps offers “a swing around the North End and Charlestown to look at the [U.S.S.] Constitution,” says Muzzy.
And guests aboard the Clipper can either take the opportunity to relax and enjoy the sea breezes, or take a more active role in the sailing of the vessel. “All the guests are invited to help hoist and raise the sails,” says Muzzy.
Standard sails depart three times daily, at noon, 3 and 6 p.m., from Long Wharf. However, Liberty Fleet also offers specialty cruises like Friday night steak and lobster sails, Sunday brunches and occasional wine tasting sails. And each Saturday, the Clipper kicks it up a notch by inviting the Freedom Trail Players aboard to take visitors through a re-enactment of the Boston Tea Party. “Guests get to help us dump tea in the ocean and we fire off the cannons,” says Muzzy. “It’s a great way to see all of historic Boston and experience the maritime heritage we have here.”
VICTORY AT SEA
If nautical warfare gets your heart pumping, you won’t want to
miss your chance to hop aboard the good ship Formidable,
a brigantine vessel that sails from Waterboat Marina at Long
Wharf. This tall ship raises its deep red, square-rigged sails
and takes passengers on sailing excursions around Boston Harbor
every Tuesday–Sunday. But it’s Saturday’s sails that take the
excitement to another level as those trips (at 2 and 5 p.m.)
see the Formidable become the victim of an “ambush” by the
privateer the Poincare. Become a part of the action as cannons
blaze, flags fly, and your ship becomes part of a fantastic
harbor battle re-enactment. All the fun of a battle at sea, and
nobody has to walk the plank. Call 617-262-1119, or visit
www.tallshipformidable.com, for information and reservations.
A CHARTERED COURSE
Sometimes, the call of the sea is so strong that a
seasoned sailor simply needs to hop aboard a boat and strike out
on the water away from the cares and worries of life on the
land—which is all well and good, but not always practical unless
you can get access to a boat. Thankfully, that isn’t a problem on
the Boston waterfront, as a bevy of charter options exist for
sailing aficionados.
The Boston Harbor Sailing Club (Rowes Wharf, 617-720-0049) is primarily a member club that specializes in teaching novices how to sail and organizing outings for its members. However, the club also offers charters and rentals of its numerous sailing vessels when members aren’t using them. Fully outfitted daysailers, ocean racers and cruisers are available for as little as $25 per hour.
Others offering charter services include the Boston Sailing Center (starting at $110 per hour, 2 hour minimum, 6 person maximum per boat, Lewis Wharf, 617-227-4198); Boston Yacht Charters (Seaport World Trade Center, Seaport Boulevard, 617-723-8810), who provide sailboats and schooners capable of taking anywhere from 12–49 passengers; and My Island Charters (Pier 8 at Charlestown Navy Yard near the U.S.S. Constitution, 802-249-2112), owned by Captain Thomas Blue, who welcomes passengers aboard the 36’ Allied Princess Ketch the Cayo Mio.
OLDIES BUT GOODIES
For landlubbers who have always been fascinated by the schooners
and sloops of yore, but have never managed to get a sturdy set of
sea legs under them, you can enjoy these ships from sturdier
ground at the annual Antique & Classic Boat Festival at
Hawthorne Cove Marina in historic Salem, August 19–21.
Every summer for 23 years, vintage boat enthusiasts from around
the country have brought their antique boats to Boston’s North
Shore to swap stories with other collectors, talk shop and show
off their fantail launches, yawls, schooners and yachts to the
public. The festival features boat exhibitions, awards, a
nautical parade and blessing of the fleet, crewmen in period
costume and a general atmosphere of appreciation for these
magnificent ships.
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