The Sloop

The sloop Clearwater’s maiden voyage. Photo courtesy of the A Wallace Collection.

In 1966, folk music legend and environmental activist Pete Seeger, in despair over the pollution of his beloved Hudson River, announced plans to “build a boat to save the river.” Pete and Toshi Seeger and their Clearwater co-founders believed a replica of the 18th- and 19th-century Hudson River Sloop and inviting all who wished to sail would catalyze a movement to protect and restore the Hudson River.

Seeger and friends played pass-the-hat Folk Picnics up and down the river to raise funds to build the sloop. As an awareness of Seeger’s vision grew, so did the crowds. In 1969, the 106-foot sloop Clearwater was launched at Harvey Gamage shipyard in South Bristol, Maine. On her maiden voyage, she sailed to South Street Seaport in New York City, encountering massive crowds along the way.

As the first environmental group using sailing in combination with education, advocacy, and music to support a mission of protecting a riverine ecosystem, with hands-on education programs accessible to all, Clearwater created a blueprint for a new way to champion a river – once centering a sloop as a venue for education, river access, advocacy, and music.

Decades later, Clearwater sails each season from April to November, inviting aboard individuals, families, students, advocates, musicians,  and volunteers, from docks between Rensselaer and Brooklyn, hosting Public Sails, Community Sails, Field Trips, Youth Empowerment and Jobs Training Programs. Due to careful stewardship by our experienced shipwrights, Clearwater has continued sailing decades beyond the average lifespan of similar sloops through annual winter maintenance projects and large-scale Capital Projects every 5-7 years.

Today there are several boats and organizations around the world doing environmental work and educating people using Clearwater’s hands-on method of teaching. It all started with a desire to clean up a troubled Hudson River and a vision for an iconic ship, and through song and determination, Clearwater has made a remarkable impact in the environmental movement.

Clearwater Inspired Onboard Education Programs:

Aquarian Quest (FL)
Bayshore Discovery Project (NJ) – AJ Meerwald
World Ocean School (MI) – S/V Denis Sullivan
Inland Seas Education Project (MI) – Schooner Inland Seas; Friendship Sloop Liberty 
Living Classrooms Foundation (MD)
Ocean Classroom Foundation (ME) – Schooner Harvey Gamage
Ohio River Advocacy (OH)
Neva River Clearwater (St. Petersburg, Russia)
Continental Sloop Providence (RI)
Schooner Ernestina (MA)
Schooner, Inc (CT) – Quinnipiac
Schooner Sound Waters (CT) – Schooner Sound Waters
Sea Semester (MA)
Sound Experience (WA) –  Schooner Adventuress
South Street Seaport (NYC) – Schooner Pioneer; Fishing Schooner Lettie G. Howard
Sultana Projects (MD) – Schooner Sultana

We invite you to sail aboard the sloop Clearwater, where we inspire, educate, and activate the next generation of environmental leaders! Please click here for more information about how to book a sail.

Photos of sloop Clearwater