By Lucy Komisar
There was some unexpected music on this jazz sail from lower Manhattan to New York Harbor.
As the 105-foot sailing yacht Schooner America 2.0 moved close to the Statue of Liberty, passengers were reminded it was donated by the French, and a dozen members of the Paris American club broke into The Marseillaise!
Less than a week before Bastille Day, it seemed doubly appropriate!
This video is a bit shaky (so was the boat!) and you may want to turn up the volume.
But the main music menu was 40s and 50s Classic American Songbook and jazz by the Boatband, led by Michael McGarril on a honeyed sax accompanied by Christian Nourijanian on keyboard and Dustin Kaufman on drums.
The sound was soft enough that you could talk above it, background music along with the wind in the sails. Tunes like “Blue Skies” were paired with more modern tempos like Otis Redding’s “The Dock of the Bay.”
In between hoisting two of the three sails (the middle one kept rolled up because the band had that space!) and pulling and loosing ropes to change direction (“coming about”), crew handed out wine and other drinks.
There were about 40 passengers seated comfortably on benches portside and starboard. Sit portside (left) if you want to see the sunset on the return.
I couldn’t take a photo with sails because they are down when you are docked! But here’s what the boat looks like.
The “voyage” starts at Pier 62 at 22nd Street of the Chelsea Piers and follows the shore of the Financial District to New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty. I thought I knew New York, but the view from the water is surprising. The mismatched styles of architecture, along with collections of new glass buildings.
The Schooner America 2.0 pays homage to the Schooner America which won the first America’s Cup in 1851. America 2.0 operates in NYC from June through October and in Key West November through May. I sailed on the Key West sunset cruise
Jazz Cruise by Classic Harbor Line, Tuesdays 6:45pm to 8:45pm from Pier 62 (W. 22nd St.) at Chelsea Piers. (212) 627-1825. info@sail-nyc.com. sail-nyc.com. $108. One complimentary beer, wine, champagne, or soft drink. Additional beverages for purchase. Passengers are invited to bring their own snacks.