HUDSON RIVER – The Hudson Valley’s own Sloop Clearwater was removed Saturday morning by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) from the Sail4th 250 celebration event, citing the banners displayed on its mainsail.
At approximately 11 a.m., in the lower New York Bay south of the Verrazano–Narrows Bridge, just as the tall ships were taking their places for the Sail4th 250 parade, the Clearwater was flanked by two USCG vessels and banned from participating in the event. Clearwater director David Toman said that the USCG later told them the decision was based on their banners, which read: “Save the Clean Water Act,” and “Indigenous Rights, Racial Justice, Climate Solutions.”
Toman added that their Captain and crew were in communication with Sail4th 250’s coordinators, and the organizing party was not involved in the decision to remove the sloop.
According to the USCG, as part of the Parade of Sail, participants agreed not to display political messages. Per the USCG, after the sloop Clearwater’s owner declined a request to remove a political banner, the USCG, acting on behalf of Sail4th, removed the vessel from the parade.
The Sail4th 250 maritime celebration of America’s milestone anniversary brought together tall ships from around the world to the New York Harbor, following a long tradition. The first of its kind was organized by Operation Sail in 1964. The Clearwater, first launched in 1969, was a participating vessel in the second Operation Sail event celebrating the U.S. Bicentennial.
“If you think of what we have on our banners, nothing in there is offensive or hurtful or wrong in any way other than bringing attention to issues that are important. It’s free speech at its sincerest point, which is something we are trying to celebrate today,” said Toman.
The Clearwater was carrying 29 passengers and 19 crew when they were escorted outside the exclusion zone by the USCG and not permitted to return to port until after 3:00 p.m.
“Fortunately, the waters are relatively calm,” noted Toman, “but we are a river vessel technically out in the ocean now.”
Stringer Rae Quinn reported on this.
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