Against the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline and under the watchful eye of the Statue of Liberty, the crews of the two venerable classics have completed their final preparations in New York Harbour with their first trim adjustments. The two gaff-rigged cutters from the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) are sailing together in American waters for the first time as representatives of the Principality.
In the footsteps of history
The “Tuiga”, designed by the Scottish yacht designer William Fife III, has been the flagship of the Yacht Club de Monaco since 1995. The 28-metre-long 15-metre racing yacht is regarded by many connoisseurs in the yachting world as one of the most elegant examples of its kind. The “Viola”, built in 1908, is also a Fife design and is every bit the equal of her sister yacht. The “Viola” is owned by YCM member Kostia Belkin and is registered in France as a historic vessel.
The “Tuiga” has a special connection with the venue for the celebrations: both Paul Cayard, a seven-time world champion and America’s Cup contender, and the legendary Dennis Conner, a four-time winner of the “Auld Mug”, once stood at her helm.
The biggest maritime festival in US history
The actual setting for the two Monegasques’ appearance is the event Sail4th 250 from 3 to 8 July 2026 – which the organisers describe as the largest maritime gathering in the modern history of the United States. Around 48 tall ships from 32 nations, carrying a total of around 15,000 seafarers, will gather in the ports of New York and New Jersey. They will be joined by more than 40 warships and naval vessels from all over the world.
The event builds on a long tradition: Sail4th 250 traces its origins back to the first Operation Sail in 1964, which was launched by President John F. Kennedy. Since then, this maritime gathering has marked milestones in American history – from the Bicentennial in 1976, through the dedication of the restored Statue of Liberty in 1986, to the Millennium in 2000.
4 July – A parade of superlatives
The highlight is the International Parade of Sail on 4 July. Over 30 Class A tall ships – most of them between 104 and 113 metres long – sail from the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, past the Statue of Liberty, up the Hudson River to the George Washington Bridge. More than 15 miles of riverside promenade are open to spectators.
“Tuiga” and “Viola” play a special role within this fleet: they escort the “Belle Poule”, the French Navy’s famous topsail schooner-brig dating from 1932. The 37-metre-long two-masted vessel has travelled here specially from Brest.
On the morning of 4 July, the International Naval Review will take place – only the seventh of its kind in US history. It will be led by the flagship USS “Farragut”, a 155-metre-long Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer. Over 150 military aircraft, led by the Blue Angels in their F-18 Super Hornets flying in a tight diamond formation, will accompany the ships from the air. The event will conclude with the 50th anniversary of the famous Macy’s fireworks display.
A maritime programme for the whole of the Americas
New York is just one stop on the national festival programme. The overarching initiative Sail250 brings together maritime events along the entire east coast: New Orleans kicked off the series at the end of May (27 May to 1 June), followed by Norfolk (Virginia) and Baltimore (Maryland), with Boston bringing the series to a close.
An international star-studded line-up on the water
Among the best-known ships in the international fleet are:
- “Amerigo Vespucci” (Italy): The Italian Navy’s 100-metre-long three-masted ship, built in 1931 and regarded as one of the finest training ships in the world, is moored at Pier 86 of the Intrepid Museum.
- “Libertad” (Argentina): 104 metres, a three-masted ship with a sail area of 28,545 square feet, making it one of the largest and fastest tall ships in the world.
- “Juan Sebastián de Elcano” (Spain): A four-masted topsail schooner, 113 metres long and the third-largest tall ship in the world.
- “Gorch Fock” (Germany): The German Navy’s 81-metre-long three-masted ship, based in Kiel, is moored at Pier 3 in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
- “Gloria” (Colombia), Captain Miranda (Uruguay) and Libertad (Argentina) – all of them three-masted training ships.
