Best Sailing Tours in NYC

How do you relax and get away from the city, even for a moment? I can still hear the sirens in my apartment. Montauk's a bit too far for my liking. Usually, a run in Central Park does the trick. But, after this recent Vimbly excursion, sailing is now my go-to endeavor. Calm seas. Picturesque skyline. No sounds, just soft waves. It embodies peaceful. At Vimbly, we wanted to find the perfect cruise to remove your from the city’s chaotic lifestyle. We wanted to find a cruise that epitomized relaxation and a bit of education. Here are our results.

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  Daily Sailing Tour

  Tribeca Sailing NYC

  There’s a reason why Tribeca Sailing NYC has 5 stars on Vimbly! This activity was absolutely perfect for my girlfriend, who was initially reluctant to join me on the water, and me. I wanted to learn how to man the sails and she wanted to sit back and enjoy the view… and for the first time in our relationship, we both got what we wanted! We prepared light snacks and brought aboard a bottle of wine to set the mood. I’ve never seen such breathtaking views of the city. Captain David is a fantastic, friendly man who ensured that we took advantage of all the best photo-ops! He also let us in on fascinating stories about New York’s history that we didn’t know ourselves in spite of being locals. That being said, he also knew how to balance being helpful while giving us enough space to enjoy the intimacy of the sail. This was the most perfect way to celebrate our three year anniversary!

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  Around Manhattan Architecture Cruise

  Classic Harbor Line

  Are there many more architecturally advanced cities in the world other than NYC? Maybe ancient Rome? When you think of NYC architecture, usually images of the Freedom Towers and Brooklyn Bridge immediately pop up. But what do you know about these structures? Apparently, I knew virtually nothing. Well, we loved this tour because of its insight. I say that only because five-minutes into the sail, I learned more about this city’s architecture than I had learned my entire time living here. We boarded a 1920’s style ship, Manhattan. The ship was beautiful and clean, maintaining a luxurious, Gatsby vibe. There was complimentary wine, which loosened up the atmosphere. Also, I was surprised by the amount of locals on the tour. I would’ve expected this to be a tourist hot spot. Now, the tour was lead by John, a well-informed AIA-NY member. As we ventured past the Chrysler Building, Freedom Towers, the Highline, and under seemingly every bridge, we learned about each structure’s history: why it looks that way, its stability and base, the thought behind the design. It was interesting diving into the minds of each architect. The nuances behind each design is baffling and almost unthinkable. I mean, think about the post-industrial waterfront! Overall, this class was a perfect learning experience.

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  Craft Beer Tasting Sail

  Manhattan By Sail

  Where can you go wrong with beer and boats? In fact, if anything spending time on boats has taught me, it’s that beers and boats go together like water and sand. For that reason alone, this sail was perfect. When we boarded the vessel, we were joined by a few beer experts from Urban Oyster to help us taste our way through worldly microbrews. My personal favorite, like always, was a delectable IPA, which had the perfect amount of hops. Anyways, the sail was wonderful. I wish we’d have learned more about the Manhattan skyline and the surrounding boroughs. Not that it’s bad, but I feel as if the focus was too much on the beer rather than the atmosphere of the evening. Overall, the group enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere, dissecting the history, production, and tastes of various brews worldwide: ales and lagers paired with charcuterie and cheese. The sail was definitely among the most relaxing we took. The beer was delicious. I only wish there was more time to relish the surrounding skyline.

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