Tall Ship Spirit of Buffalo

Sail back in time on Lake Erie aboard the Spirit of Buffalo and discover traditional sailing on a classic 73 foot topsail schooner. This beautiful schooner with its magnificent red sails is available for day and evening sails, craft brew cruises, wine in the wind sails, children’s pirate adventures, and educational excursions. Join the crew and sit back, relax and see the city in a new (old?) way.

Buffalo Sailing Adventures is a family-owned and operated company established in December of 2008 operating out of Buffalo, New York. The Spirit of Buffalo is a 73-ft. coastal sailing vessel which is the only square rigged, topsail schooner sailing out of the Historic Buffalo Harbor.

Ric and Kathy Hilliman started their passion for sailing as teenagers. Weekends were spent at Sherkston Beach, where they rented small sail boats. While raising three children in Tonawanda their passion continued and they invested in their first sailboat, a hobie cat. They spent many weekends sailing the Lake Erie, the Kinzua Dam, and Allegheny Reservoir with their children.

Their next boat was a 32-ft. sloop which was kept at the Small Boat Harbor. During the summer, their evenings and weekends were consumed by the waters of Lake Erie.

While studying for Ric’s captains license, he volunteered on the Buffalo Fire Boat Edward Cotter. Serving as the captain of the Miss Buffalo, the Lockport Canal Boats and the Moondance were the focus of Ric’s summers.

Later when the children were on their own, First Mate Kathy & Ric packed their bags and moved to Key West for a season. They both worked on schooners similar to the Spirit of Buffalo. That season was the turning point of their lives. They bought Sea Dragon and have been sailing her during the winters for the last 11 years in the western Caribbean.