Victory Chimes Arrives at Pier 25 Photo: Mary Habstritt

Last Wednesday, the 123-year-old Victory Chimes was towed past the Rockland Harbor breakwater, in all likelihood, ending her long and storied carrier as a commercial sailing vessel. This Saturday, she arrived at Pier 25 in Manhattan on the Hudson River, where she is expected to be converted into a floating restaurant.  

In May, the three-masted, gaff-rigged schooner was sold at auction to Miles and Alex Pincus. The Pincus brothers currently operate the seasonal bars and restaurants Grand Banks on the Sherman Zwicker, a 142′ long wooden auxiliary fishing schooner docked in Manhattan on the Hudson River, and the Pilot, an oyster bar on the Brooklyn waterfront on the ex-Highlander Sea, originally christened Pilot, a gaff-rigged topsail schooner built in 1924.

The 128′ long Victory Chimes is the last surviving Chesapeake ram schooner. She is a US National Historic Landmark and is represented on the Maine State Quarter, originally minted in 2003. 

The previous owner and captain of the Victory Chimes was Sam Sikkema, who also owns the schooner Grace Bailey. Last week, the Grace Bailey‘s mainmast broke, killing one passenger and injuring three others.

Thanks to Mary Habstritt for contributing to this post.