As A Little Beacon Blog’s article on the ejection of the sloop Clearwater by the U.S. Coastguard with mounted gun on its patrol boat, speculation and assumptions began being spread by people who supported the U.S. Coast Guard’s actions. Some falsely said that the Clearwater was not part of the parade. Not only was Clearwater very much a part of the parade, with a signed agreement, Clearwater was invited to participate in the parade by the organizers of Sail45 250.

ALBB reached out to Hudson River Sloop Clearwater for clarification on these assumptions, many of which were wrong and false. Hudson River Sloop Clearwater responded. Their answers are below:

ALBB: What permissions Did the Clearwater Have to sail in the Sail4th 250 Tall Ships?

“When our captain asked the USCG why, our banners were cited as the reason. We were not given an option to remove the banners and continue in the parade.”

— Hudson River Sloop Clearwater

“Clearwater was a scheduled participant, scheduled to sail on both July 3rd, 2026, in the Class B Parade, and the July 4th, 2026 Parade of Sail. See listing on Sail4th website. On Saturday, July 4, the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater was directed to leave the Sail4th 250 Parade of Sail while serving as the designated escort vessel for the Portuguese tall ship NRP Sagres after being invited to participate in Sail4th 250 by event organizers.”

ALBB: Was there a contract signed that prohibited the Clearwater from hanging banners?

“Neither the participation agreement nor the Captain's Handbook explicitly prohibited the display of these banners, and Clearwater was never offered the opportunity to remove the banners and continue in the parade. We have not received that explanation directly from event organizers.”

ALBB: Describe what was said to the Clearwater’s Captain about the banners. How did he get this communication in response? By email? By radio?

“Our communications yesterday [Saturday, July 4, 2026] with the USCG regarding our removal took place in person from adjacent vessel to adjacent vessel. We were well underway in the parade, and initially thought the USCG may have thought we were a spectator vessel that had mistakenly entered the parade route, and that was why they were telling us we needed to leave the security zone. After we clarified we were a participating vessel, they reiterated that we must exit the parade and leave the security zone.

“When our captain asked the USCG why, our banners were cited as the reason. We were not given an option to remove the banners and continue in the parade. We were not given the option to remove the banners and continue sailing either by the USCG or Sail4th 250. Our Captain inquired if the banners were removed, if we could continue sailing, and we were told to exit the parade.”

Terms and Conditions for vessels participating in Sail4th 250 are here, and do no mention banners.

“Hudson River Sloop Clearwater does not view clean water, climate solutions, or human rights as political, but as fundamental values that have guided this organization since its founding, and underlie the organization's efforts to protect the Hudson River and steward an intergenerational Hudson River community through education, advocacy, sailing, and music.”

ALBB: Was the Sloop Clearwater escorting another ship in the Parade?

Photo Credit: ALBB; screenshot of the Sail4th 250 website list of the Tall Ships scheduled to sail in the parade. Pictured here is the ship Clearwater was to escort: Portugal’s NRP Sagres.

“Yes. In the July 4th, 2026 Parade of Sail, Clearwater was escorting the NRP Sagres.”

In the Sail4th 250’s description of the Clearwater, their website underscores the grassroots nature of this vessel’s mission: “She serves as a platform for hands-on environmental education and as a symbol for grass-roots action.”

It is accurate to state that flying two banners of statement were in keeping with the vessel’s mission.

ALBB: What is the history of Clearwater’s participation in this maritime parade?

“Clearwater sailed in Operation 1976, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the United States, and in Operation Sail 1986, which celebrated the rededication of the Statue of Liberty.”

“Neither the participation agreement nor the Captain’s Handbook explicitly prohibited the display of these banners”

— Hudson River Sloop Clearwater

On the Sail4th 250 website, Clearwater is described as: “At 106 feet in length, the wooden-hulled sloop CLEARWATER is the only full-sized replica of the 18th and 19th century merchant ships known as Hudson River sloops. She serves as a platform for hands-on environmental education and as a symbol for grass-roots action. With a crew of five, she can carry 50 passengers for these cruises. This sloop is the dream project of the environmental activist and folk singer Pete Seeger. As far back as 1966, concerned about pollution in the Hudson River, Seeger advocated for her construction by playing concerts up and down the river, passing the banjo case to raise funds to build the ship. He wanted people to come to the river to experience the beauty of the river. He fought for the ecological restoration of the Hudson River. His song ‘Sailing Down My Golden River’ reflects on the beauty of the river and Seeger’s work to protect it. She was launched in 1969 and is a frequent site on the Hudson River and in Long Island Sound.”

ALBB: Has the Clearwater Displayed Banners During Other Parades?

“During the 1986 parade, Clearwater displayed banners reading "Peace on Earth, And Sea, and Sky" and another expressing solidarity with the Rainbow Warrior after it was bombed and sunk in Auckland Harbor. Raising awareness has been as much a part of Clearwater’s history as raising the sails.”

Hudson River Sloop Clearwater’s Reaction To The Ejection

“While we do not agree with the decision made by Sail4th 250 and enforced by the USCG, we respect the USCG, and returned south of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge until the security zone expired at 3pm. We spent the intermediate time singing songs, discussing threats to the Hudson 'River, and fishing with our seine net to teach our passengers about the fish of NYNJ Harbor.

“We do not believe our messages were political; clean water, human rights, and climate solutions are non-partisan topics. Here on the Hudson River, we have seen the impacts of climate change firsthand, including in the last few days with two of the hottest days in 10+ years.

“The heat impacted people and infrastructure across the region, and put so much stress on the Westchester grid and the Westchester Wastewater Treatment Plant. There was a massive release, and regional water quality was substantially impacted.”

Regarding that release, Riverkeeper amplified the message from the Westchester County Department of Health on Friday, July 3, 2026, advising residents to avoid all recreational use of the Hudson River following a power failure at the Yonkers Sewage Treatment System.

“Residents are urged to refrain from swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, boating with water contact, fishing from the water, or participating in any other recreational activities involving contact with the Hudson River in the following communities:

New York City
Yonkers
Hastings-on-Hudson
Dobbs Ferry
Irvington
Tarrytown
Sleepy Hollow
Briarcliff Manor

Banner on the Clearwater during the Sail4th 250 maritime parade that was banned: “Save The Clean Water Act”
Photo Credit: Hudson River Sloop Clearwater

One of the banners on the Clearwater, which is an advocacy-based name for protecting the water to keep it clean, said: “Save The Clean Water Act.”

While the sail during Operation 1976 was inspired by the need to bring people together as a unifying event (much like Beacon’s Spirit of Beacon Day in 1977 after racial eruptions between Beacon and Cold Spring), this year’s water pollution leakage came at an ironic time, making the Clearwater’s banners even more appropriate in order for all boats to continue sailing the Hudson River.

The banners read: “Save Clean Water Act” and “Indigenous Rights + Racial Justice + Climate Solutions”

In a second press release to the media send Monday, July 6, 2026, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater said: “We are grateful for the overwhelming support we have received from our members, partners, fellow mariners, and people across the country. We remain committed to protecting the Hudson River, caring for our communities, and ensuring that future generations inherit a healthy and accessible river.”