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Five Sisters Cup Tall Ship Race Departure (Sail4th 250 Finale) event image
New York Harbor, Battery / Hudson River waterfront, Manhattan

Five Sisters Cup Tall Ship Race Departure (Sail4th 250 Finale)

Eagle, Sagres, Mircea and Gorch Fock II race out of New York Harbor in the Five Sisters Cup — the free grand finale of Sail4th 250's tall-ship week.

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FreeTall ShipsOnce-in-a-generation

Four sister tall ships built from the same 1930s design — America's Eagle, Portugal's Sagres, Romania's Mircea and Germany's Gorch Fock II — leave New York Harbor under sail, racing to Boston for a Tiffany-made trophy. It's the closing act of Sail4th 250, the largest tall-ship gathering in the city's modern history. If you missed the July 4th parade of sail, this departure day is the send-off worth a waterfront detour.

What to expect

Tall ships making their way down the harbor under sail, with the best sightlines from the Battery, Hudson River Park piers, Governors Island and the Brooklyn waterfront. Expect a festive crowd of ship-spotters with binoculars and long lenses as the fleet says goodbye.

Good to know

  • Any public waterfront with a harbor view works — the Battery and Hudson River Park piers are the classic spots
  • Take the 1 to South Ferry or R/W to Whitehall St for the Battery
  • Departure timing shifts with tides and weather, so build in buffer time
  • Bring binoculars — the ships spread out across the harbor
  • Completely free with no tickets or fences; arrive early for railing space
  • Pairs well with the Staten Island Ferry for an on-the-water view

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Common questions

What is the Five Sisters Cup?

A friendly race to Boston among four sister tall ships — the US Coast Guard's Eagle, Portugal's Sagres, Romania's Mircea and Germany's Gorch Fock II — that closes out the Sail4th 250 celebration. Germany's Gorch Fock II is the defending hol

Where's the best free place to watch the ships leave?

The Battery, Hudson River Park's piers, Governors Island and Brooklyn Bridge Park all face the harbor. The Staten Island Ferry is a free moving grandstand if you time it right.

Is this the last day of the tall ships in NYC?

Yes — July 8 is the final day of Sail4th 250, with ships departing the harbor. After this, the fleet disperses to other ports.

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