Manhattan by Sail
Manhattan by Sail is a family-owned, private sailing tour operator in New York Harbor, running public sails, private charters, and special events aboard two historic vessels — the 158-foot Clipper City tall ship and the 82-foot Shearwater schooner — for tourists, locals, corporate groups, and weddings.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Manhattan by Sail does
Manhattan by Sail is a family-owned sailing tour operator based in New York City, operating continuously since 1972 when founder Nick van Nes sailed his 70-foot yawl Petrel to The Battery and established the first passenger sailboat operation in NYC Harbor. The company runs a two-vessel historic fleet: the 158-foot Clipper City twin-masted tall ship (built 1985, capacity 150 passengers, departing Pier 17 at South Street Seaport) and the 82-foot Shearwater classic schooner (built 1929, capacity 48 passengers, NYC floating landmark, National Register of Historic Places since 2009, departing North Cove Marina at Brookfield Place). It sells a catalog of public sailing experiences — Day Sails, Sunset Jazz Sails with live musicians, Afternoon Golden Hour Cocktail Sails, City Lights Night Sails, July 4th Fireworks Cruises, Fleet Week Harbor Tours, and Tall Ship Parade sails — plus quote-based private charters for corporate events and weddings up to 150 guests, gift certificates, and a children's Harbor Camp summer program in partnership with Buoyant USA.
The business model is direct-to-consumer: ticket sales flow through FareHarbor embedded on manhattanbysail.com, supplemented by walk-up dock purchases and inbound phone/text reservations. Public ticket pricing spans approximately $35 to $650 per person depending on experience (e.g., Shearwater Golden Hour at $67-$74; Clipper City Day Sail at $68; Sunset Jazz Sail at $107-$112; July 4th Fireworks Cruise from $650), with onboard food and beverage as ancillary revenue. Customer segments include NYC tourists, local residents, corporate enterprise groups (logos cited include Goldman Sachs, Google, American Express, McKinsey, Amazon, LinkedIn, PepsiCo, Tommy Hilfiger, and NFL), wedding and celebration parties, film and media productions, and families. Pricing for private charters is quote-based with tiered catering (Casual Bites to Admiral's Abundance) and bar packages (Beer & Wine to Premium Open Bar).
Distribution and marketing are direct: the company's own website with FareHarbor booking is the primary channel, supplemented by organic social media on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, TripAdvisor review management (Travelers' Choice 2023), Google Adsense display advertising, and email newsletter. The technology stack is deliberately lightweight — WordPress CMS, FareHarbor for commerce, Google Analytics for traffic, and standard SaaS privacy tooling (GDPR, CCPA, WCAG 2.1 compliance) — with no mobile app, no API, no AI/ML capability, and no third-party reseller network. Operations are single-geography (NYC Harbor only) with a corporate office at 80 Broad Street, Suite 510, and the company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, and no institutional ownership.
Manhattan by Sail firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Manhattan by Sail
- Legal name
- Manhattan By Sail
- Website
- https://manhattanbysail.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Manhattan by Sail is a family-owned, private sailing tour operator in New York Harbor, running public sails, private charters, and special events aboard two historic vessels — the 158-foot Clipper City tall ship and the 82-foot Shearwater schooner — for tourists, locals, corporate groups, and weddings.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Manhattan by Sail industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Harbor sailing tours and private charters
- NAICS
- Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation (483114)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching) (THAJAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Luxury Sailing Cruises (Windjammers & Tall Ships) (THAEADAB), Private Yacht & Luxury Boat Charters (With Crew) (THAJALAE), Day & Short-Horizon Private Cruises (Half-Day/Day/Overnight) (THAEAEAF)
Keywords
Where Manhattan by Sail is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Manhattan by Sail business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Public Sailing Tours: Ticket sales for scheduled public sailing experiences including Day Sails, Afternoon Golden Hour Cocktail Sails, Sunset Jazz Sails, City Lights Night Sails, Fleet Week Tours, July 4th Fireworks Cruises, and Tall Ship Parade sails. Prices range from $35-$650 per person depending on experience type and group size.
- Private Charters and Events: Private sailing charters for weddings, corporate events, bachelor/bachelorette parties, team building, intimate celebrations, and film/photo shoots aboard Clipper City (up to 150 guests). Revenue generated through catering and beverage packages (Casual Bites to Admiral's Abundance) and bar options (Beer & Wine to Premium Open Bar).
- Onboard Food and Beverage: Full bar service offering beer, wine, mixed drinks, and cocktails available for purchase aboard both vessels. Snacks and light bites also available. Welcome cocktails included in certain sail packages.
- Gift Certificates: Sale of gift certificates and gift cards for sailing experiences, allowing recipients to choose their preferred sail adventure.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sunset Jazz Sail - Live Jazz + 1hr 45min Evening Sail |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | July 4th Fireworks Cruise - Clipper City |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Clipper City Day Sail - Statue of Liberty Experience |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Clipper City Afternoon Golden Hour Cocktail Sail |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Clipper City Lights Night Sail |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Shearwater Golden Hour Cocktail Sail |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Shearwater City Lights Night Sail |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sail Cancellation Protection Add-on |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Private Charter - Clipper City (2-hour base) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Manhattan by Sail product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Manhattan by Sail sells scheduled public sailing tours and private charters aboard two historic vessels in New York Harbor—the 158-foot Clipper City tall ship (up to 150 passengers) and the 82-foot Shearwater schooner (up to 48 passengers). Offerings include day sails, sunset jazz sails with live music, afternoon cocktail sails, city lights night sails, and special-event cruises such as July 4th fireworks, Fleet Week, and the Tall Ship Parade, plus full-vessel private bookings for weddings, corporate events, and film/photo shoots with onboard catering and bar packages.
Product overview
Manhattan by Sail operates a fleet of two historic sailing vessels offering public sailing experiences and private charters in New York Harbor. The portfolio centers on two vessels: the Clipper City (158-foot, 150-passenger capacity tall ship) and the Shearwater (82-foot, 48-passenger Gatsby-era schooner). Core public sailing products include Day Sails, Sunset Jazz Sails with live music, Afternoon Golden Hour Cocktail Sails, and City Lights Night Sails. Special event sails include July 4th Fireworks Cruises, Fleet Week Harbor Tours, and Tall Ship Parade experiences. The company also offers Private Sailing Charters for weddings, corporate events, and celebrations accommodating up to 150 guests, alongside Gift Certificates and Harbor Camp children's summer program. All sails pass iconic landmarks including Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Manhattan skyline.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Clipper City: NYC's largest passenger tall ship, 158 feet long, capacity for 150 passengers, 8 iconic sails. Departing from Pier 17 at South Street Seaport.
- Shearwater
Products and services
- Clipper City Tall Ship Sailing Tours Public sailing tours aboard the historic 158-foot twin-masted Clipper City tall ship (NYC's largest passenger sailboat), with up to 150 passengers sailing past the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Governors Island, and the Manhattan skyline.
- Shearwater Classic Schooner Sailing Tours Intimate sailing tours aboard the 82-foot, 1929-built Shearwater schooner (a designated NYC floating landmark and National Register of Historic Places listing since 2009), accommodating up to 48 passengers past the Statue of Liberty and harbor landmarks.
- Clipper City Day Sail (Statue of Liberty Experience) Daytime sailing experience aboard the Clipper City with close-up views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Manhattan skyline; full bar and snacks available onboard; priced from $68 per person (ages 13+).
- Sunset Jazz Sail 1 hour 45 minute evening sail aboard Clipper City with live jazz musicians, sunset views behind the Statue of Liberty, and a full cocktail bar; from $112 per person (1-4 guests) or $107 per person (5-15 guests).
- Afternoon Golden Hour Cocktail Sail 90-minute pre-sunset sail aboard Clipper City with welcome cocktail, sailing past Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Governors Island during golden hour; from $84 per person (1-4 guests) or $77 per person (3-15 guests).
- Clipper City Lights Night Sail Evening city lights cruise aboard Clipper City showcasing NYC's illuminated skyline; group size limited to 15 for a quiet experience; full bar and snacks available; from $78 per person (ages 13+).
- Shearwater City Lights Night Sail 1 hour 30 minute nighttime harbor cruise aboard the 82-foot Shearwater schooner featuring illuminated skyline views, with beer, wine, and simple mixed drinks available for purchase; adult and child pricing available.
- July 4th Fireworks Cruise 4.5-hour special Independence Day sailing aboard Clipper City with front-row views of Macy's July 4th Fireworks Spectacular (40,000+ shells, Blue Angels flyover), gourmet hors d'oeuvres, themed cocktails, open bar, and live jazz quartet; from $650 per person.
- Fleet Week Harbor Tour Specialized Fleet Week harbor tour departing Pier 36 aboard Clipper City, offering up-close views of visiting naval vessels and Coast Guard cutters docked throughout New York Harbor.
- Tall Ship Parade Sail (Sail4th 250) Special sailing experience aboard Clipper City participating in the Sail4th 250 celebration, with front-row views of the international tall ship fleet parade including July 3 Class B and July 4 Class A ships and a U.S. Navy Blue Angels flyover.
- Private Sailing Charters Full private charter of Clipper City (up to 150 guests) for weddings, corporate events, bachelor/bachelorette parties, team building, intimate celebrations, and film/photo shoots, with customizable catering (Casual Bites, Captain's Table, Admiral's Abundance) and beverage packages (Beer & Wine to Premium Open Bar); 20-person catering minimum.
- Gift Certificates Gift certificates/cards redeemable across the sailing experience portfolio including Day Sails, Sunset Jazz Sails, Afternoon Golden Hour Cocktail Sails, July 4th cruises, and City Lights sails.
- Harbor Camp One-week summer sailing program for children ages 5-12 aboard Clipper City featuring knot tying, harbor exploration, on-the-water learning, and daily crew challenges; run jointly with Buoyant USA.
Quantifiable outcome
- Clipper City can accommodate up to 150 passengers per sail
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Manhattan by Sail
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Manhattan by Sail technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Manhattan by Sail partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- FareHarborcoreFareHarbor provides the embedded booking and reservation system for manhattanbysail.com. The platform handles ticket sales, calendar management, and payment processing. Cookies from FareHarbor (fareharbor-uuid, tusSupport) are used for booking functionality.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Manhattan by Sail competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises: Circle Line is the largest sightseeing cruise operator in NYC, running motor vessel harbor tours, Liberty cruises, and seasonal event cruises (including 4th of July and Fleet Week). Overlaps with Manhattan by Sail on Statue of Liberty and skyline sightseeing but uses motor vessels and serves a more mass-market price point.
- Spirit Cruises: Spirit Cruises (operating under Hornblower) runs dining, entertainment, and event cruises in multiple US port cities. Overlaps with Manhattan by Sail for group entertainment cruises, holiday fireworks events, and corporate/private charters, though typically with enclosed motor vessels rather than tall ships.
- Statue Cruises: Statue Cruises provides ferry transportation to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the National Park Service's authorized concessioner. Competes with Manhattan by Sail for tourists seeking Statue of Liberty views but serves a mass-transit use case rather than premium sailing experiences.
- Hornblower Cruises and Events: Hornblower operates a portfolio of cruise and water-tour brands across major US cities including NYC, combining sightseeing, dining cruises, and private charter services. Competes with Manhattan by Sail on the corporate charter and special events side, particularly for large-group entertaining on the water.
Regional players
- NYC Ferry: NYC Ferry is a municipally subsidized commuter and sightseeing ferry service across multiple routes in New York Harbor. While functionally a transit service, it offers affordable harbor views that serve as a budget substitute for Manhattan by Sail's sightseeing sails.
- Seastreak: Seastreak operates high-speed passenger ferries and seasonal cruise services between NJ, NY Harbor, and beach destinations. While primarily a commuter ferry, it offers seasonal sightseeing and event cruises that overlap with some of Manhattan by Sail's harbor tour offerings.
Direct peers
- Classic Harbor Line: Classic Harbor Line operates sailing and motor yacht tours in New York Harbor, including schooners and vintage-style vessels offering brunch, sunset, and sightseeing sails. Directly competes with Manhattan by Sail for tourist and private charter customers in the same harbor with similar premium, heritage positioning.
Emerging players
- Sailo: Sailo is a yacht charter marketplace that connects consumers and groups with private sailing vessels, including in New York Harbor. Overlaps with Manhattan by Sail on the private charter and special events use case, particularly for smaller or alternative vessel bookings outside Manhattan by Sail's owned fleet.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Customer concentration
Manhattan by Sail social profiles
Digital presenceManhattan by Sail compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Manhattan by Sail financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Manhattan by Sail leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Manhattan by Sail funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Manhattan by Sail M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Manhattan by Sail
What does Manhattan by Sail do?
Manhattan by Sail sells scheduled public sailing tours and private charters aboard two historic vessels in New York Harbor—the 158-foot Clipper City tall ship (up to 150 passengers) and the 82-foot Shearwater schooner (up to 48 passengers). Offerings include day sails, sunset jazz sails with live music, afternoon cocktail sails, city lights night sails, and special-event cruises such as July 4th fireworks, Fleet Week, and the Tall Ship Parade, plus full-vessel private bookings for weddings, corporate events, and film/photo shoots with onboard catering and bar packages.
Is Manhattan by Sail a public or private company?
Manhattan by Sail is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Manhattan by Sail founded?
Manhattan by Sail was founded in 1972. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Manhattan by Sail based?
Manhattan by Sail is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Manhattan by Sail make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Public Sailing Tours are the primary driver. The others are private Charters and Events, onboard Food and Beverage and gift Certificates.
Who are Manhattan by Sail's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, Spirit Cruises, Statue Cruises and Hornblower Cruises and Events. Regional players are NYC Ferry and Seastreak. Classic Harbor Line is listed as a direct peer. Sailo is listed as an emerging player.
Does Manhattan by Sail have an API?
No public API is recorded for Manhattan by Sail.
What industry is Manhattan by Sail in?
Manhattan by Sail's product category is Harbor sailing tours and private charters. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAJAA, Sightseeing & Scenic Boat Tours (Harbor, Sunset, Dolphin/Whale Watching), with a secondary code of THAEADAB, Luxury Sailing Cruises (Windjammers & Tall Ships). Its NAICS code is 48721 and its SIC code is 7990.