The best viewing spots, the smartest times to board, and how to beat the crowds.
Photo by Keith Bedford/the Boston Globe
Get a sneak peak.
Time to phone a friend with a boat. If the seas are calm on July 10—the day before the Parade of Sail—take a cruise along Broad Sound off the coast of Nahant. That’s where the ships drop anchor, waiting for morning. “It’s a fun experience,” says Dusty Rhodes, president of Conventures, which is producing Sail Boston.
The early bird gets the worm.
Want to actually board the ships? Most are open to the public July 11 to 15, at the captains’ discretion. Show up early, whether at Commonwealth Pier, Rowe’s Wharf, or Charlestown Navy Yard. Fewer crowds = better experience.
Bigger isn’t always better.
The largest ships get the most attention, but the smaller ones, like those at Fan Pier, have just as much to offer. “Those crews, they’re welcoming. They want you to come aboard,” Rhodes says. “They want you to see how rugged some of the quarters are for them as sailors.”
The fireworks shine brightest in Eastie.
Fireworks go off twice—Saturday, July 11, and Wednesday, July 15, around 9:30 p.m., off Fan Pier in the Seaport. But if you want to skip the throngs and still catch a great view, “don’t underestimate East Boston,” Rhodes says.
Don’t be a Masshole.
Believe it or not, “Boston is known for being an incredibly hospitable port,” Rhodes says. So if you see sailors out and about, say hello. “We’re known for our genuineness and friendliness, and we count on every citizen to make those visiting crew members feel welcome.” And if you don’t get the appeal? Remember what Graham McKay, boat builder, captain, and executive director of Lowell’s Boat Shop in Amesbury, told our writer Steve Calechman. “Now that they’re obsolete, they’ve become a thing of wonder … People create a lore of the sea and Tall Ships.” We can all get behind lore.
A version of this story was first published in the print edition of the June 2026 issue.
