Join the New York 19th Century Society for an afternoon of sailin g\, knot-tying\, historic drinking establishments\, and maritime adventure s! We will meet at Pier 16 in the South Street Seaport at 12:45 p.m. At 1: 00 p.m. we sail aboard the 1885 schooner Pioneer\, a vess el dedicated to recreating nineteenth-century sailing for the public. The Pioneer was built in 1885\, and was first iron sloop built in the United States\, and only surviving American iron-hulled sailing vessel. D uring our two-hour cruise on the East River\, we’ll get a taste of the New York’s maritime history\, and enjoy a refreshing afternoon of sun\, wind\ , and sail\, and of course\, fantastic photo opportunities for your very b est 19th-century garb!

We’ll be joined by veteran sailor Rene “RJ” Cote\, who will share his extensive knowledge of maritime history with So ciety members. Journalist Tony Per rottet\, who is a researching the city’s waterfront revival for an upc oming article in Smithsonian magazine\, and possibly a photograph er as well\, will also accompany us.

You MUST purchase your own tickets for the sail\; we cannot reserve space fo r you. Book early\, because weekend sails do sell out. We suggest you avoid wearing high heels for your own safety. The Pioneer sails rain or shine\, but if the captain deems weather cond itions too dangerous\, your tickets will be credited to a later sail date of your choosing (and our knot-tying workshop will be rescheduled)

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Once ashore at 3:00 p.m\, RJ will demonstrate the practical and decorativ e art of marine knots on the promenade of the East River. Learn about the history of New York’s harbors\, and try your own hand at knot-tying! Nowhe re has the knot been as critical as in the Age of Sail\, when the lives of the crew and safety of the ship depended on the sailor’s skill with knott ing and splicing. During long days at sea\, sailors created many decorativ e and beautiful objects with knot-work\, showcasing their skills on elabor ate knot-boards\, furniture handles\, jewelry\, rugs\, and other artistic creations.
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At 4:00 p.m. for those salty dogs who wish to extend th eir maritime adventures\, we’ll retreat to the historic pubs along the Eas t River for drinks and lively discussion (The Paris Cafe\, est. 1873\, or Fraunces Tavern\, est. 1762\, or Delmonico’s Bar\, est. 1827).
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Rene “RJ” Cote< /p>\n
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Veteran sailor Rene “RJ” Cote has been sailing since child hood\, and has owned and operated sailboats for over 20 years. He also tea ches sailing\, and is the Vice President and Director of the “Teach and Ta ke a Kid Sailing Program” program\, which is run by the Foundation for Saf e Boating and Marine Information. He is the owner and proprietor of Seabre eze Computer Services\, an IT consulting firm. Originally from Connecticut \, he currently resides in Harlem and enjoys sailing his 31-foot sloop\, t he Quantum Leap.
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All proceeds benefit the South Street Seaport Museum\, a cu ltural institution dedicated to telling the story of the rise of New York as a port city and its critical role in the development of the United Stat es. The Museum uses its historic buildings and ships to provide interactiv e exhibits\, education\, and experiences. “We preserve\, we sail\, we teach.”
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schedule as of April 6\, 2016