2. Watch fireworks from the Honorable William Wall
The Honorable William Wall (aka the “Willy Wall”) is the floating clubhouse of the Manhattan Yacht Club. Willy Wall is anchored in New York Harbor just near Ellis Island with incredible views of downtown Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. The clubhouse was designed specifically for taking in sailboat races with a viewing platform and barge. The Willy Wall is accessed from the Admiral’s Launch, a United States Coast Guard-certified vintage motorboat from Liberty Harbor Marina in Jersey City. The Honorable William Wall was an entrepreneur who founded the Wall Rope Works, the premium supplier of cordage to the shipping industry. He also served as Mayor of Williamsburg, head of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and a Civil War-era United States Congressman.
The first level of the William Wall is the formal clubhouse, featuring a wood-beamed space outfitted with club chairs and a built-in bar. Some memorabilia of the club’s history and a small library, including a letter from the Yacht Club of Monaco designating the Manhattan Sailing Club as the first ambassador of the Spirit of Tuiga Club, sit on the first level. The open-air top level includes a central bar, that expands the clubhouse capacity to 149 people. Guests are allowed to bring picnic lunches and dinner, though all drinks must be purchased on board. Get tickets here!