0700 hours

Current Position: Docked at Rondout Creek, Kingston, NY.

Day Three of the second leg of our Voyage of Discovery.

We began our day docked at the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston, NY, where we'll remain throughout the day so our students can focus on collecting data for their projects. A storm front rolled in last night, so when we rise we're greeted by pouring rainfall. However, what sailor's even been dissuaded by a little rain?

0900 hours

After breakfast and our daily reading from Juet's journal, the students join up with their research partners to start practicing with their instruments and taking data.

During our data collection layover, we'll also maintain a few side experiments, collectively known as the Weather Station. One such experiment will be to measure the depth of Rondout Creek throughout an entire tidal cycle. Captain Reynolds presents Kristian and Joli with a tape measure they can use to precisely measure the lead line for our soundings.

All of the students participate in collecting data for the Weather Station and using its instruments. Here, Shiava takes a reading from the sling psychrometer, used to measure humidity levels.

As the students continue to orient themselves, Captain Reynolds reveals one of his personal projects -- tracking the arc of the sun throughout a day -- and uses it to demonstrate both the correct use of a quadrant and how to graph one's data.

Although the students primarily focus on their own team experiments, they'll also use their free time to assist their peers in any ways needed. By the end of the layover, every student will perform every data sampling procedure.

1030 hours

Down in the relative warmth and dryness of the orlop deck, Mr. Colley helps Santino and Kayley with the initial rigging for their mechanical advantage project. They'll measure how variations on this simple machine assist them in lifting a heavy, lead ingot borrowed from the Half Moon's ballast.

Meanwhile, Shiava and Emma take readings for the Weather Station. Using a directional compass and an anemometer, they measure the direction and speed of the wind.

1045 hours

The students are generally taking measurements on the hour and half hour. In between, they still have enough time to relax, mingle, and enjoy themselves.

Fortunately, they don't have to retreat to the orlop deck to do it much longer; late in the morning, the clouds break, leaving us with cool, sunny skies for the rest of the day.

1130 hours

Kipp Van Aken, a frequent volunteer for the ship (and Day Zero crew member) has come down to greet the ship and help our senior crew run into town for a few quick errands.

Below decks, Kayley and Mr. Colley are taking a break from their mechanical advantage experiment. Kayley uses her downtime to learn a few new knots.

Meanwhile, Shiava is serving as Ms. Wegman's galley assistant. When we pass through, Shiava is zealously guarding the batch of cookies she and Ms. Wegman baked to accompany lunch.

1145 hours

Back to work! Santino and Kayley complete the mechanical advantage experiment. As is often the case, the block-and-tackle starts to draw a curious crowd.

Meanwhile, Erika, Katie, and Sarah report to the Weather Station, overseen by Mr. Bamberger.

1200 hours

Whenever we perform mechanical advantage experiments, there always comes a point when the senior crew members get so excited they take over and start playing with it themselves. In this case, they've started using the rig to weigh anyone in a safety harness who gets too close, starting with Mr. Morency.

1215 hours

Intriguingly, everyone we suspend insists that they don't weigh nearly as much as the spring scale claims they do (once we take mechanical advantage into account). We discuss where this source of error might be entering the equation. Could the lines and pulleys be creating friction?

Mouse over to dangle Katie.

After weighing everyone we can catch -- and using those measurements to help calibrate our rig -- we wrap up the experiment and close the hatch.

1230 hours

The foc's'le bustles with activity today as Dr. Jacobs oversees the students' water sample research.

1300 hours

Sampling continues throughout the day...

...after a pause for lunch.

1345 hours

The thickly overcast skies prevented Sarah and Katie from performing their observations this morning, but now that the skies have cleared they grab a quadrant and spend the rest of the afternoon measuring the Sun's altitude as it arcs through the sky.

1430 hours

Mr. Colley also introduces the Matrix, which marks every activity each student performs during the voyage. Barely halfway through Day Three, the students have already accomplished quite a bit!

1500 hours

Now that the weather's improved, the Half Moon draws a steady stream of onlookers throughout the afternoon.

Meanwhile, our educators mount an art exhibit on the weather deck. This is an extension of the students' English Language Arts sessions from yesterday.

Each student moves from drawing to drawing, thinking of a title the artwork invokes in their mind. They then write the title on a post-it and move on to review the next work.

Tomorrow, the project takes yet another creative twist!

1545 hours

The students have been incredibly productive all day, so we decide they've earned a late-afternoon treat. After all, it would be a pity to spend the entire day at the Hudson River Maritime Museum but not actually visit.

(Note: Link takes you to a separate web site.)

Our crew will visit the museum in two groups. While each student in the first group tours the museum, his or her project partner will remain on board the Half Moon, taking scheduled readings. Everyone will then switch places for group two.

The museum staff welcomed our shaggy crew and directed us to several exhibits of interest. The museum even has photos of the previous Half Moon replica built for the 1909 tricentennial celebration of Captain Hudson's voyage.

The students enjoyed touring the exhibits of historical art...

Mouse over to go hard right!

...but they liked the physical artifacts even more. Here, Joli has some fun with a ship's wheel. On the Half Moon, of course, we use a whipstaff instead; in 1609, the ship's wheel had yet to be invented.

After 45 minutes, our crew members traded places and the second group toured the museum.

It was interesting to see the differing tastes between the two groups. While everyone wanted to get a good look at the exhibits, the groups did go in their own directions.

For example, while the first group's students were drawn the the Design Your Own Rivercraft interactive display...

...the second group was drawn to the period brick rubbings, which they then brought back with them.

1700 hours

Closing time! Feeling refreshed by our shore leave, the crew returns to the Half Moon.

Back to work! It's been a long day of research, many students will continue collecting data through tomorrow morning. Our young sailors return to their duties.

Mouse over for a closer look.

1730 hours

This is also a good opportunity for students to partake in any activities they haven't yet had a chance to do. Santino climbs the rig to the main top (with supervision, of course) and spends his idle time enjoying the view and his personal accomplishment.

1815 hours

Below decks, Ms. Wegman and her entourage are busy preparing dinner.

1830 hours

In the foc's'le, Dr. Jacobs continues to confer with students as their projects come into focus.

1845 hours

Dusk is slowly settling into our shady valley, so the remaining crew members up in the rig are beckoned back down to the deck, where more research -- and soon, dinner! -- await them.

2000 hours

As the day comes to a close, our educators review the students' work. There's still plenty of time to catch any problems which may have arisen. In one case, students aren't happy with the results of their research. Grant and Michael's persistent attempts to find micro-organisms have proved fruitless (more on this under Presentations), so they request to switch topics. The educators agree, and the students opt to measure dissolved oxygen levels instead. By the end of the evening, Grant and Michael have learned how to prepare a titration test and are in fine shape for tomorrow's research.

2200 hours

Light's out! The student crew is also delighted to hear that since we've now safely monitored our new docking for a full 24 hours, no anchor watch will be necessary tonight. Everyone sleeps soundly through the night.

On this date in 1609:

The fifteenth, in the morning was misty untill the Sunne arose: then it cleered. So wee weighed with the wind at South, and ran up into the River twentie leagues, passing by high Mountaines. We had a very good depth, as sixe, seven, eight, nine, ten, twelve, and thirteene fathoms, and great store of Salmons in the River. This morning our two Savages got out of a Port and swam away. After we were under sayle, they called to us in scorne. At night we came to other Mountaines, which lie from the Rivers side. There wee found very loving people, and very old men: where wee were well used. Our Boat went to fish, and caught great store of very good fish.

-- Robert Juet's Journal.