Mexican tall ship docks in NYC in sneak peek of 2026's Sail4th celebration of America's 250th
Sea-nic views abounded onboard and off.
A Mexican navy tall ship carrying 277 crewmembers ceremonially soared into lower Manhattan Tuesday — giving New Yorkers a taste of what to expect at next year's blockbuster Sail4th event celebrating America's 250th birthday.
Dozens of naval cadets stood stoically aboard the Cuauhtémoc's towering 147-foot mast, while others dressed in cultural Mexican garb awaited nearby, and three long horns sounded as the boat sailed through New York Harbor as a signal of goodwill between Mexico and the US — even amid the ongoing tariff drama.
7 Cadets on the rigging of the Mexican Navy tall ship ARM Cuauhtémoc during its voyage from Staten Island to Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New York City.
James Keivom
The vessel, built in Spain in 1982 with the sole purpose of training cadets, is expected to be one of 30 Class A International Tall Ships that will parade through the Harbor on July 4, 2026 — in an impressive processional that will also include scores of smaller vessels, a dramatic military flyover and a fireworks finale.
'The visual will be unbelievable, and the events are going to be magical,' said Capt. Andrew McGovern, a board member for Sail4th, adding that 'cultural exchanges' will be a main focus of the blockbuster event.
'This will have a lasting legacy and open people's eyes. This is what we were built on and founded on.'
The Post was offered an exclusive trip onto the Cuauhtémoc as it sailed below the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and into Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport.
7 The vessel traveled from Staten Island to Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New York City.
James Keivom
7 View of command plaques on the Mexican Navy tall ship ARM Cuauhtémoc during its voyage from Staten Island to Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New York City.
James Keivom
The stop is just the third in the vessel's eight-month voyage around the globe, which offers the Mexican cadets the opportunity to flex their sailing muscles in environments like Jamaica, Iceland, Portugal and more.
This year's class boasts 175 cadets, the largest class the nation's navy has seen yet.
'The classes are getting bigger and bigger. We just keep getting more and more people!' said Lt. Sg. Hugo Calvario, the ship's orthopedic surgeon.
7 ARM Cuauhtémoc is a sail training vessel named after the last Aztec emperor, Hueyi Tlatoani Cuauhtémoc, who was captured and executed by Spanish conquistadors in 1525.
James Keivom
7 The Mexican Navy tall ship ARM Cuauhtémoc docked after its voyage from Staten Island to Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New York City.
James Keivom
'We had to leave almost 40% of the crew to take on more cadets,' he continued, meaning the trainees have to pick up the slack and take on more responsibilities.
The Post watched as they skillfully climbed the dauntingly high ropes and stretched across the towers of the ship's three masts to conduct what in English is known as 'manning the yards' — a universal sign of respect that is done every time a ship enters a port.
The cadets stood with open arms for around 15 minutes until they were called back down to help prepare the vessel for docking, but officials guessed that next year's class might have to stand on the towering masts for up to two hours as the parade makes its way through the harbor.
7 Cadets carry a gangplank across the deck of the Mexican Navy tall ship ARM Cuauhtémoc after its arrival at Pier 17 in the South Street Seaport on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New York City.
James Keivom
For the occasion, several cadets traded in their striped uniforms for traditional dress in the styles of Mariachis, Charreria and China Poblana, as well as Traje tipico veracruzano and Traje tipico jalisco, as a form of celebrating their heritage upon entering another nation's soil.
Who does what changes every day, Calvario explained.
Upon docking in lower Manhattan, a crowd of Mexican Americans waved flags and cheered in welcome before Mexican Ambassador to the US Esteban Moctezuma Barragán boarded the Cuauhtémoc for a brief ceremony conducted in Spanish.
7 Cadets on the deck of the Mexican Navy tall ship ARM Cuauhtémoc during its voyage from Staten Island to Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New York City.
James Keivom
The spectacle happens more than the average New Yorker might know, with varying countries taking their turns docking and enjoying a few days on US soil throughout the year as a display of pride and international goodwill.
That goodwill will culminate at next year's Sail4th event, which will span July 3 to the 8 in the Big Apple — and will coincide with the World Cup and Fleet Week, which was moved for the momentous occasion. The Post is one of the bash's sponsors.
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