Did you see this 82-foot-tall wooden ship sailing up the East River last weekend? If you were lucky enough to spot the anachronistic vessel, as some of our Untapped New York Insiders did, you were probably perplexed by the site of its billowing sails floating past our modern city skyline. It wasn’t a replica of Henry Hudson’s Half Moon or a ship that took Columbus and his crew to the New World as some speculated. Instead, the curious site was a Spanish-built replica of the 16th-century flagship of the Magellan-Elcano expedition, the first expedition to sail around the world. If you missed the ship – called Nao Trinidad – while it was in New York City, you still have a chance to hop on board!
Nao Trinidad will be docked at Greenport Harbor on Long Island at the East Pier until June 25th and is open to the public for on-deck tours and events. The ship was previously docked in Florida. Last week on its journey east, the tall ship cruised through New York City, sailing under the Brooklyn Bridge and passing by Roosevelt Island, where a few Untapped New York Insiders spotted it and took some of the photos and video you see here. Untapped New York climbed aboard when the ship got to Greenport! See photos from our founder Michelle Young’s visit in the gallery below:
A tall ship is a large, traditionally-rigged sailing vessel. Launched in 2018, Nao Trinidad is an homage to the world’s first circumnavigation around the world by sea which took place between 1519 and 1522. The replica commemorates the original expedition’s first journey across the Pacific Ocean and its visits to Brazil, Argentina, the Mariana Islands, the Philippine Islands, Indonesia, Brunei, and Timor. Its name comes from Trinidad, one of just two full stops made on the journey 525 years ago.
The attraction was built and is managed by the Nao Victoria (NV) Foundation, a non-profit entity that aims to promote maritime heritage, construct historical ships, and interact with the public through worldwide sailing tours. The replica ship crossed the Atlantic from Spain in 2019 and has since been touring U.S. waters. Its New York dock has already received over 2000 guests.
The ship consists of four masts, five sails, and five decks, built and crafted by master carpenters using iroko and pine wood. The massive vessel boasts more than 1200 square feet of visiting space and a cabin area for the captain and crew living aboard. Unlike the ship of the past, the modern replica features a motor system and more than 1.9 miles of ropes for firm rigging and labor. Despite these modern additions, Nao Trinidad’s realism and attention to detail give people the ability to see and feel a slice of history. Â
Until June 25th, the Nao Trinidad will host self-guided tours from 10 am to 8 pm at Greenport’s East Pier. Visitors can visit 4 of the 5 decks, listen to an audio guide, and watch a video reminiscent of the XVI century, as well as chat with the crew members who are happy to tell their stories. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for kids, and $35 for families.
After leaving Greenport, the vessel will be in Newburyport, MA starting June 29th. You can stay up to date with live events and location updates on the ship’s Instagram account.
Next, read about 6 Lost Shipwrecks in New York History
