Liberty Clipper and When And If: Tall Ships Visit Put-in-Bay Next Weekend
Put-in-Bay will welcome two historic tall ships next weekend, offering a rare and unforgettable spectacle for visitors. The When And If and Liberty Clipper are set to arrive on Thursday evening, August 14, and will remain docked in downtown Put-in-Bay through Monday morning, August 18. During their stay, the Liberty Clipper will be open for public sailing trips on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (August 15–17), giving island-goers a chance to not only see the ships up close but even step aboard for a cruise. It’s an extraordinary opportunity to experience living maritime history on Lake Erie’s waters, right from the heart of Put-in-Bay.
Locals and spontaneous travelers alike are encouraged to take advantage of this limited-time visit. Whether you’re a sailing enthusiast, a history buff, or simply looking for a memorable day trip, seeing tall ships against the backdrop of Perry’s Victory Monument and the Lake Erie islands is an experience you won’t want to miss. Below, we dive into what makes each of these ships special, and how you can hop on board during their Put-in-Bay stopover.
Come See The Tall Ships! Plan Your Trip Below
- Things To Do At Put-in-Bay
- 2025 Put-in-Bay Event Calendar
- Our Favorite Places To Eat At PIB
- Put-in-Bay Ferry Service
About The Liberty Clipper
The Liberty Clipper is a 125-foot, steel-hulled schooner built in 1983. It’s a modern replica of the famed Baltimore Clipper ships from the 1800s. Baltimore Clippers were renowned as some of the fastest sailing vessels of their day, many served as privateer ships during the War of Independence and the War of 1812, and they often acted as pilot ships guiding larger vessels into port. The Liberty Clipper carries that legacy of speed and agility. With her two tall masts and billowing sails, she looks every bit the part of a 19th-century privateer, even though she was constructed in the late 20th century. In fact, her design and name pay homage to America’s maritime history, as the original Baltimore clippers were crucial in America’s early naval success and coastal trade.
While the Liberty Clipper evokes history, she’s very much a working ship in the present day. Based out of Boston, Massachusetts, this schooner has spent the past two decades offering the public a chance to experience traditional tall ship sailing in Boston Harbor. Often dubbed “Boston’s Tall Ship,” she operates daily passenger sails and is part of the Liberty Fleet of Tall Ships in Boston. But the Liberty Clipper isn’t just for short tours, she’s outfitted for longer adventures too. The ship was designed to accommodate multi-day windjammer cruises, with berths for 24 overnight guests in 12 cozy bunk-style cabins below deck. This means guests can sleep aboard and sail from port to port, enjoying an authentic tall ship experience complete with sunsets at sea and starry night skies.
How to Ride On The Liberty Clipper
One of the most exciting aspects of this event is that you can do more than just gaze at the Liberty Clipper from the dock – you can ride on her. Throughout the weekend (August 15–17), the Liberty Clipper will be offering ticketed sailing excursions for the public. Each sail is approximately two hours long,The voyage will depart from Put-in-Bay’s downtown harbor (Fox’s Dock, near the Jet Express ferry landing) and venture out into the open waters of western Lake Erie, with no fixed course, the crew will go “wherever the wind blows us” before returning two hours later. It’s a truly unique way to experience the island, not just looking at Lake Erie, but sailing on it aboard a historic vessel.
To reserve your spot on a Liberty Clipper sail, you’ll want to book your tickets in advance. Demand is expected to be high and space on each trip is limited. Tickets can be purchased through the Liberty Clipper’s official website, navigate to the Tall Ships Festival section for the Put-in-Bay dates. Online booking is quick and secure, and it’s strongly recommended to reserve early rather than hoping for a walk-up slot. Prices for the sails are typically set per person for the two-hour trip (check the booking page for current rates), and private charter options may be available if you have a group and want the whole boat. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, a hat, and a camera, you’ll definitely want to capture photos of these two tall ships with Put-in-Bay’s skyline in the background. And if you’re worried about seasickness, fear not: Lake Erie’s conditions in summer are usually gentle, and the crew often lets everyone who’s interested have a hand in sailing to keep you engaged and comfortable. By the end of your cruise, you’ll have a taste of what 19th-century sailing life was like, with all the fun and none of the hard work of the old days!
About The When And If
While the Liberty Clipper brings a dose of 1800s pirate-era charm, the When And If carries its own storied legacy from the early 20th century. This 63-foot wooden schooner was originally commissioned in 1939 by none other than General George S. Patton, the famous U.S. Army general of World War II. Patton, an avid sailor, had the When And If built as his personal cruising yacht with a very specific post-war dream: he vowed that “when the war is over, and if I live through it,” he would sail this boat around the world. That inspiring promise is how the schooner got the name When And If. Renowned naval architect John G. Alden designed the vessel to be beautiful, but also tough enough for global voyaging. Launched in 1939 with a mahogany hull and oak frames, the When And If was, and still is, a stout ocean-going yacht often described as a “living piece of maritime history”.
Fate had other plans for General Patton; World War II intervened, and Patton tragically died in 1945 before he could undertake his around-the-world sailing trip. However, his beloved schooner lived on and has taken on a life of its own. The When And If remained in the Patton family for decades, then later served as a sail-training vessel for a school, and even survived a near-disastrous shipwreck. In 1990, a severe storm tore her from moorings and wrecked her on the rocks in Massachusetts, by all accounts a devastating blow. But tall ships often have guardian angels: skilled shipwrights rescued the shattered vessel and embarked on an extensive restoration, returning When And If to her former glory by the mid-1990s. Another restoration and overhaul in the 2010s further prepared this historic schooner for a new chapter of active sailing. Today, the When And If is fully restored, gleaming with varnished wood and polished brass, and she continues to turn heads at tall ship festivals and ports across the country.
Unlike a static museum ship, When And If is an active sailing yacht, very much fulfilling General Patton’s wish in spirit (if not the exact voyage he imagined). In recent years, she has become a traveling goodwill ambassador for classic sailing. The schooner splits her seasons between two far-flung locales: winters in Key West, Florida, where she offers sunny private charters and sunset sails, and summers in Salem, Massachusetts, where she operates harbor cruises in the historic New England waters. On top of that, When And If joins special events like the Tall Ships Challenge, for instance, she first toured the Great Lakes in 2016 and has returned in 2025 to sail alongside the Liberty Clipper and other tall ships at ports of call. Every mile she travels and every sail she raises bring her closer to achieving the dream of sailing “around the world,” one leg at a time. And when you see her at Put-in-Bay, you’re not just looking at a pretty classic boat, you’re witnessing a piece of living history that carries the legacy of an American hero. Step on her deck, and you can’t help but feel the echoes of Patton’s ambitious dream beneath your feet.
A Great Occasion As Two Grand Pieces of History Grace Put-in-Bay Harbor
Next weekend’s tall ship visit is shaping up to be an unforgettable event at Put-in-Bay. It’s not every day that you get to see a pair of authentic schooners “rafting off” side-by-side in the harbor, their masts towering above the downtown docks. Whether you decide to simply admire them from shore or actually hop aboard for a sail, you’ll be participating in a special moment in the island’s history. Put-in-Bay events like this showcase the rich blend of history and entertainment that the island offers. This isn’t the first time tall ships have graced Put-in-Bay’s shores, back in 2013, a fleet of grand vessels (including the U.S. Brig Niagara and others) visited during the Battle of Lake Erie Bicentennial celebrations. And in modern times, the island’s calendar is filled with great events year after year, from Pyrate Fest costume festivals to big-name summer concerts and historic reenactments. In short, there’s always something exciting happening on South Bass Island.
For potential visitors on the fence: consider this your invite. If you can make it to Put-in-Bay on short notice next weekend, you’ll get to witness a scene straight out of the Age of Sail – without leaving Ohio. Wander down to Fox’s Dock in the morning to see the crews readying the ships, or enjoy an evening at the waterfront as the sun sets behind two tall ships at anchor. It’s the kind of spectacle that will make your Put-in-Bay trip truly memorable. And even if you can’t be there in person, let it inspire you to plan a future visit. As the arrival of the Liberty Clipper and When And If demonstrates, Put-in-Bay frequently hosts one-of-a-kind events that celebrate history, culture, and fun on Lake Erie. Don’t miss the boat on experiences like these, at Put-in-Bay, there’s always a new adventure on the horizon.