Yonkers, NY - Sail the Hudson River for two and a half hours on the A. J. Meerwald, a beautifully restored schooner and New Jersey’s official Tall Ship, Thursday, July 12, 6:30 – 9:00 PM.

Sit back and relax. Watch the majestic Palisades and New York skyline glide by. Or take a turn steering the ship, raising and furling the sails, and handling the lines.

“The ship brings people back to a simpler time,” says Captain Jesse Briggs, a native of Virginia who has been working on boats since he was ten years old. “There’s no engine sound, and you travel at a leisurely pace. People relax and enjoy the scenery. How far we go depends on the wind and tide.”

Sailing on the A. J. Meerwald is an authentic living-history experience. Participants can participate in a discussion about the New York Harbor’s rich maritime heritage and the history of the A. J. Meerwald and the oyster industry. Or have two-and-a-half hours of sea breezes and unwinding.

The A. J. Meerwald is an 85-foot schooner with over 3,500 square feet of sail. It’s a Tall Ship in demand—with music, art, and discussion sails for all ages. This summer her itinerary ranges from New London, Connecticut’s OpSail 2012 festival to programs in Philadelphia, Delaware and Atlantic City.

Launched in 1928, the Meerwald was one of hundreds of schooners built along South Jersey's Delaware Bayshore for oystering and clamming. Governor Christine Whitman added the A. J. Meerwald to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. On Earth Day, 1998, the Meerwald was designated New Jersey’s official Tall Ship.  Since 1989, the ship has been owned by the Bayshore Discovery Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to motivating people to take care of the environment, history, and culture of New Jersey's Bayshore region through education, preservation, and example.

Tickets are $50 per person and support the work of Beczak Environmental Education Center. There are limited spots available: register at beczak.org. Children are welcome with parents. Bring your own refreshments; beer and wine are permitted onboard. Parking is at Beczak Environmental Education Center, 35 Alexander Street, Yonkers, NY. The ship departs from the Yonkers Pier, a short walk away. For more information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / (914) 377-1900, ext. 13.

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