Talk about making connections.
A former Guinness World Records holder and his team raced across all 25 NYC Ferry stops earlier this month, using Brooklyn’s busy waterfront network — from the Brooklyn Army Terminal to North Brooklyn landings — as a key part of a record-breaking trip through New York Harbor.
Ayush Maini, along with his friend Val He and his uncle Andy Chen, completed a journey through all 25 NYC Ferry stops on Aug. 4 in 6:53:35 — beating the current Guinness World Records mark by five minutes and 45 seconds.
Brooklyn plays a major role in the city’s ferry system, with landings serving neighborhoods including Sunset Park, Red Hook, DUMBO, Williamsburg and Greenpoint. The borough’s stops connect residents to Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island and Governors Island, and have become an increasingly popular transportation option as NYC Ferry expands service.
The trio began at Yankee Pier on Governor’s Island at 9:33 a.m. and made their way through all five boroughs before reaching the Rockaway landing. Their route involves seven ferry trips, several miles of running and carefully timed transfers, with some connections requiring the team to sprint between stops.
A trio raced across all 25 NYC Ferry stops in a record-breaking attempt, sprinting between connections and navigating the city’s waterfront from Governors Island to the Rockaways.Photo courtesy of Ayush Maini
The attempt has been submitted to Guinness World Records for formal review and certification.
For Maini, the journey was a return to familiar territory. In 2023, he and fellow high school seniors Eva Salzman and Olivia Thomas set the then-record for visiting every NYC Ferry stop, completing the challenge in 7 hours, 19 minutes and 9 seconds. Guinness certified their record in January 2024.
This time, however, Maini was working with a substantially different ferry network. NYC Ferry underwent its first systemwide route reconfiguration since launching in 2017 in December 2025, changing several major routes and connections.
The record attempt also came during a particularly busy period for the ferry system. NYC Ferry recorded a single-day high of 53,375 boardings on June 20 and surpassed 260,000 boardings during its busiest week. The system is also running its largest summer service schedule yet in 2026, with additional trips and vessels through Sept. 13.
Maini completed the challenge with a sprained ankle suffered during another Guinness attempt the week before. Chen, 56, tackled the running portions while dealing with gout.
“Having made several stressful and unsuccessful attempts at the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) world record just days before, all of which were thwarted by delays and missed connections, the consistency and reliability of NYC Ferry stood in stark contrast,” Maini said.
“Only NYC Ferry could make achieving a world record feel so comfortable and relaxing between our sprints. But turning the corner around the Brooklyn Army Terminal and spotting our final boat brought us jubilation not seen since the Knicks came back from down 29,” he continued.
Chen took a considerably simpler approach to the accomplishment.
“I’m just happy to be with my nephew and his friend, and that my kneecaps are still connected,” he said.
For He, who is an upcoming high school graduate, the journey allowed him to meet fellow New Yorkers and hear their stories while collecting signatures from witnesses along the route.
Maini said that there were times the trio had to sprint to different ferry stops.Photo courtesy of Ayush Maini
“I think riding the ferry and having that environment where you have to introduce yourself, make a connection, and ask for a signature while the wind blasts in everyone’s faces allowed me to talk just a little louder than usual and mean what I say,” He said. “I’ve noticed my peers often feeling overwhelmed, distracted or even paralyzed by what’s going on with the world. It’s important to take a break sometimes — hop on a ferry with a friend, and have a genuine conversation.”
He said one encounter particularly stuck with him. A man named Mike agreed to serve as a witness before sharing stories from his own life and advice about listening to others and approaching problems from unexpected directions.
“I met this one man, Mike, and, after he agreed to sign as a witness, he walked me through his life, where he was going now — on the way to visit a client as a hairstylist, which is just wow, dedication. I really respect that. He gave me advice that he was given years ago, to listen to others, to be counterintuitive at times and that love is what we have.”
The ferry challenge is part of Maini’s broader effort to use transit-related record attempts to highlight public transportation and the connections it creates across cities.
The team is awaiting Guinness World Records’ review of the Aug. 4 trek. Maini, meanwhile, doesn’t appear to be slowing down: he also recently attempted the MARTA world record in Atlanta, continuing a series of transit challenges planned for later this month.