Hi friends, welcome back! We had quite the epic Fourth of July in NYC. We were supposed to be moved out by now, but we extended our lease two months, so we got to experience America’s 250th birthday on our last weekend living in NYC. Besides the Macy’s fireworks, I was most excited to watch the Sail4th 250 Parade of Tall Ships and accompanying International Aerial Review. This event has been years in the making and features the “Largest-ever flotilla of tall ships from around the world.” During the week I could see the ships coming into harbor out my window and it made me happy seeing how the world was coming together to celebrate.
With the almost 90 degree temperatures by 10am we didn’t arrive to the show too early to scope out the best spot along the Hudson River, but we managed to get a pretty good view in the shade. While the tall ships were coming through, every few minutes jets and planes would fly by as part of the international air show. Thankfully there was someone around us that would excitedly shout which jets were on the way next. The show was led by French jets with a red, white, and blue jet stream.
I pulled some of the descriptions and names of the ships from the Sail4th website. Even though they were quite large, I couldn’t imagine being on any of these as they sailed across the Atlantic to join the parade.
“OOSTERSCHELDE, a 164-foot three-masted topsail schooner homeported in Rotterdam, is the largest restored Dutch sailing ship. Built in 1918, she is owned by Rotterdam Sailing Ship Foundation, a non-profit organization.”
““America’s Tall Ship,” the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter EAGLE, is a 295-foot three-masted barque that has trained Coast Guard cadets since 1946. She is homeported in New London, Connecticut. Built in Germany in 1936 as the Horst Wessel, she was acquired by the United States in 1946, renamed Eagle, and remains the only active square-rigger in U.S. government service.”
“Pride of Baltimore II is a globally recognized sailing ambassador of Maryland. Built and launched on the shore of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor in 1988, Pride II is a reproduction of the sharp-built Baltimore Clippers of the late 18th century and early 19th century.”
“ARA LIBERTAD, a 340-foot, three-masted, a steel-hulled full-rigged ship, is homeported in Buenos Aires. One of the largest and fastest tall ships in the world, holder of several speed records, Libertad serves as a school vessel in the Argentine Navy.”
“ESMERALDA, a 371-foot steel-hulled four-masted barquentine tall ship of the Chilean Navy is homeported in Valparaiso, Chile.”
“JUAN BAUTISTA CAMBIASO, a 177-foot, steel-hulled, three-masted barquentine, is homeported in Santo Domingo. Launched in 2009 in Bulgaria and acquired by the Dominican Republic in 2018, she serves as the naval training ship for its cadets.”
“NS SUDARSHINI, a 177-foot three-masted barque, homeported in Kochi, Kerala, India. Designed by Colin Mudie, a U.K.-based naval architect, she was built by Goa Shipyard Ltd. on the west coast of India and commissioned in 2012.”
I couldn’t find much information about the aircraft but I managed to capture some of them before they blew past:
My favorite was this stealth bomber, it looked like something out of a movie.
I’d never seen an airshow before and it was incredible to see the jets and how fast they could go. Violet enjoyed the airshow but we didn’t make it through the whole boat parade in the heat. I’ll save the fireworks for my last post of living in NYC, seems the perfect grand finale 🙂
Really enjoyed the great pics
You had a great viewpoint Lyssy. So nice to see all the tall ships and on the perfect weather day. Happy 4th and Happy 250th. NYC puts on a much better show than DC. Happy Wednesday. Allan
Thanks for posting this Lissy! I love seeing all those ships celebrating with us! Truly a marvel of engineering! Hope your move goes well!
That does sound so neat! I’ve seen the tall ships a time or two either in Boston, Mass or Mystic, Ct and I’ve been to many air shows as my father worked at Pratt & Whitney when I was growing up (they make airplane engines) and had their own air show each summer that we wold go to… but I’ve never seen the two in conjunction with one another.
Great shots! The planes trailing colorful smoke always got a loud cheer by me!
What a fabulous parade! Great photos, Lyssy.
What a wonderful way to round off your stay at the apartment Lyssy!
Fun! I didn’t even know this happened. I’m always amazed at enormous ships and the fact that they’re able to float. It must have been so fun to see the whole parade of them.
Looks like a fun, albeit sweltering 4th of July weekend! The ships and airshow look entertaining and a solid way to send off your time living in NYC proper. Can’t wait to see what adventures you get up to in your new place!
You couldn’t miss an opportunity like that, Lyssy xx
Fantastic photos! Tall ships are absolutely amazing, and it must have been an incredible experience to see them arrive in the harbour from your window. There is something special about their towering masts, massive square sails, and rich nautical histories. I can’t think of a better way to wrap up your time in the city and to say goodbye to NYC than by celebrating America’s 250th birthday. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
What a brilliant party to mark your departure from New York!
What a great experience. When Violet is a bit older and you are living in Connecticut take her to Mystic Seaport. My kids LOVED it. It is the GreenField Village of the Sea.
Great pictures of these magnificent ships from another age. I have seen them on two different occasions in Boston, and it is thrilling. Thanks for sharing. Good luck on your move:)))))))))))
Glad you got to experience the 4th of July in NYC one last time before moving. The Parade of Tall Ships seems like a fun event. Despite the heat, at least you had clear skies to better view the ships and planes.
So fun!
Thank you for sharing a patriotic full-on celebration of America’s 250th, Lyssy. We didn’t experience a lot of fanfare down here in the South but then again we live in a small town. I can’t get enough of those tall ships (some of which undoubtedly sailed for America’s 200th). You’ll be around for America’s 300th; here’s hoping that milestone is less divided and more celebrated!