Sail with the Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel in New London
Sail with the Tall Ship Kalmar Nyckel in New London August 14–16 when the Tall Ship of Delaware arrives at New London City Pier for five public sailing trips on Long Island Sound. Rather than simply touring the ship at the dock, passengers spend 2½ hours underway aboard a full-scale recreation of the 17th-century vessel that carried the first Swedish settlers to the Delaware Valley.
This is also a hands-on tall ship experience. Guests can help the crew raise sails and haul lines, listen to stories about the ship and maritime life, or find a place on deck and simply enjoy the trip. The exact sailing experience changes with the wind and conditions, which is rather the point when you’re aboard a ship powered by canvas instead of following a sightseeing route on a motor vessel.
Five sails are scheduled across three days, including morning and afternoon trips Friday, morning and late-afternoon trips Saturday, and a final Sunday morning sail. Current booking information shows fares ranging from $40 for youth ages 12 and younger to $75 for adults, with advance reservations recommended. (Kalmar Nyckel Booking)
The Ship That Helped Found New Sweden
The original Kalmar Nyckel played a remarkable role in early American history.
In 1637, the ship left Europe as the flagship of an expedition led by Peter Minuit to establish a Swedish colony in North America. After crossing the Atlantic, the expedition entered the Delaware River in March 1638 and established Fort Christina, in what is now Wilmington, Delaware.
That settlement became the beginning of New Sweden and the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley. (Sea History Association)
Kalmar Nyckel wasn’t finished after that first crossing. The ship ultimately completed four round-trip Atlantic voyages between Sweden and North America, more documented crossings than any other colonial ship of the period.
The original vessel later returned to naval and merchant service before being sunk during a battle with English forces in 1652.
Sailing Aboard a 17th-Century Ship
The Kalmar Nyckel visiting New London isn’t the original ship, but neither is it a conventional modern tour boat dressed to look old.
The full-scale recreation was built by the nonprofit Kalmar Nyckel Foundation in Wilmington, Delaware, just downstream from the site where the original ship landed in 1638. It was launched in 1997 and commissioned the following year.
The ship is operated with the help of a large volunteer crew trained in traditional seamanship. That working-ship approach carries over to the public sails.
Passengers who want to participate can lend a hand as the crew handles lines and raises sail. You don’t have to, though. Helping sail the ship is optional, and watching the crew work from the deck is part of the experience in itself.
For children who’ve only seen this kind of ship in a movie or museum, seeing the rigging put to work can make 17th-century maritime history considerably more tangible.
Five Chances to Sail from New London
The New London visit includes five separate public sails.
Friday, August 14
10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
3:00–5:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 15
10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
5:00–7:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 16
10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Each trip lasts approximately 2½ hours and departs from New London City Pier. The Saturday evening departure offers a particularly different experience, leaving at 5 p.m. for an early-evening sail on Long Island Sound.
The ship’s current booking schedule lists all five New London departures.
A Hands-On History Lesson for Kids
Families don’t need any sailing experience to participate.
Kids can see how a large wooden sailing vessel actually operates and watch crew members work with the maze of ropes, sails and rigging overhead. Those who want to get involved can help haul lines alongside the crew.
There’s also a larger story behind what they’re doing. Ships like Kalmar Nyckel crossed an Atlantic without engines, GPS, weather radar or instant communication with shore. Wind, navigation and the ability of a crew to work together determined whether a voyage succeeded.
The modern Kalmar Nyckel Foundation uses the ship as a floating classroom and educational platform, reaching tens of thousands of people through sails, school programs and other activities each year. (Do More 24 Delaware)
Sailing from New London City Pier
All five trips depart from New London Waterfront Park and the City Pier area in downtown New London.
City Pier sits directly on the downtown waterfront near Union Station, making the departure point unusually convenient for a tall ship sail. Restaurants and downtown New London are within walking distance, so the trip can easily become part of a longer afternoon or evening in the city.
Passengers should leave enough time to park and reach the pier before boarding rather than arriving at the scheduled departure time.
Tickets
Adult admission is $75, while tickets for youth ages 12 and younger are $40.
Advance reservations are recommended, particularly because each sailing has limited capacity. Some of the ship’s other August 2026 public sails have already sold out.
Event Details
Dates: Friday, August 14–Sunday, August 16, 2026
Friday Sailings: 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 3:00–5:30 p.m.
Saturday Sailings: 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 5:00–7:30 p.m.
Sunday Sailing: 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Duration: Approximately 2½ hours
Ship: Kalmar Nyckel, the Tall Ship of Delaware
Location: New London City Pier
City: New London, CT
Adult Admission: $75
Youth Admission: $40 for ages 12 and younger
Experience: Public sailing excursion on Long Island Sound with opportunities to help raise sails and haul lines.
Reservations: Advance reservations are recommended.
Questions: (302) 429-7447
More Information
For more information, visit the event website using the Event Website link below.
For ticket purchases, click on the Ticketing link below.
