A 114-foot, two-masted schooner sailing on Grand Traverse Bay with afternoon and sunset departures from the Traverse City waterfront.
The Tall Ship Manitou is a 114-foot, two-masted schooner that sails Grand Traverse Bay from the Traverse City waterfront. Afternoon and sunset sails run approximately two hours, departing from a dock within walking distance of downtown restaurants and hotels. Passengers can assist with the sails or settle into a spot on deck and let the crew handle the work.
The sunset sail is the recommended option. The light on Grand Traverse Bay in the late afternoon transitions from warm gold to deep orange as the sun drops toward the western shore, and the perspective from a traditional sailing vessel moving under wind power adds a dimension that motorized boat tours cannot replicate. The bay is large enough to feel like open water once the schooner clears the harbor.
Sails operate from late May through October, with departures typically at 2 PM and sunset. Pricing runs $40 to $65 per person depending on the sail and the season.
Book in advance for sunset sails in July and August. Bring a light jacket, as temperatures on the water drop below the shore temperature, particularly on evening sails. The experience is calm rather than adventurous, making it appropriate for all ages and comfort levels. The Traverse City waterfront location means dinner on Front Street is a natural follow-up.
Sailing on a traditional tall ship provides a relationship with the water that differentiates it from every other boat experience available on Grand Traverse Bay. The quiet of wind propulsion, the scale of the vessel, and the quality of the late-day light on the bay combine to produce the kind of memory that survives the flight home.