When the majestic Tall Ships sail into Greenport this weekend, one of the six vessels will hold special meaning for the Claudio family.
The Tall Ships Festival, which takes place in Greenport from July 4 to 7, will include the Sagres, a ship that symbolizes a rich tie to the past for the family who established the historic Claudio’s restaurant in 1870.
“This is going to be a fabulous weekend that people will remember for the rest of their lives,” said Janice Claudio. “The sight of so many extraordinary vessels in the harbor will be unlike anything we have ever seen. It is particularly exciting for Claudio’s to sponsor the Sagres, a 300-foot Portuguese sailing vessel, which nods to our Portuguese origins.”
Back in the 1800s, Greenport was a bustling whaling port. Vessels from across the globe would frequent its waters, looking for safe harbor to replenish supplies and garner respite before the next long voyage out to sea.
In 1854, a Portuguese whaler, Neva, which set sail from Fayal in the Azores, was docked in Greenport.
The journey for the Neva was arduous, with sometimes almost two years before the mast. Aboard the Neva was a young whaler, Manuel Claudio, who, by 1870, had enough savings so that he was able to disembark in Greenport and never sail the world again.
Manuel Claudio opened Claudio’s Tavern that year. It has been in the family with a Claudio at the helm ever since.
A tradition for over 145 years, Claudio’s has left a long legacy in Greenport and has grown into three restaurants on Manuel’s waterfront — the National Landmarked Claudio’s Restaurant, along with dockside venues Claudio’s Clam Bar and Claudio’s Crabby Jerry’s.
“The Tall Ships festival is exciting in itself,” said William Claudio Jr. “Having the opportunity to connect our family’s heritage with the arrival of the Sagres is going to make this an unforgettable event.”
