For the volunteers and senior crew of the Half Moon, a Voyage of Discovery begins well before the students arrive. With that in mind, before the log proper begins we'd like to offer a brief recap of some of the effort that goes into preparing these voyages.

We'd also particularly like to thank Anna Marie Bonafide, Laura Bruno, Lilian Everingham, Vicki Giles, Cynthia Kunz, Sylvia Lawler, Mary Kay Pape, Nancy Papish, Shawna Peckham, and Yvonne Rayow, who were generous enough to prepare many of the meals we'll be enjoying over the course of our travels.

Tuesday, September 4th

0930 hours

The crew begins to gather at Peckham Materials in Athens, NY, where the Half Moon has been undergoing an intensive program of material improvements for most of the summer. Before we can transport the ship to Verplanck, where we will meet the students, we break down our construction site, hauling away unused supplies to be stored until we return.

Our custom-made gangway is one of the last items to move.

We also stock up on supplies. Here, first mate Kipp van Aken patiently fills up our water tanks.

We have a bit of work left to do on the ship, but nothing we can't accomplish underway. Crew member and Voyage of Discovery alumna Sarah Read tidies up the weatherdeck.

By sunset, our small crew is all accounted for on board. We make an early night of it -- as well we should, because tomorrow we rise and shine at 0500 hours to catch the tide!

Wednesday, September 5th

0500 hours

We rise before the dawn. Having made our dock line assignments before retiring last night, we jump into position and set off from Athens at 0530 hours. We expect to reach Verplanck sometime around 1730 hours.

Our small crew divides into two watch rotations, just as the students will do during the Voyage of Discovery. Everyone gets their turn at the helm, including Nora here.

Maintenance work continues while we're underway. As Jim Barry and Sky Colley focus on carpentry work, other crew members finish organizing the fo'c'sle and lower decks.

Meanwhile, Dan Dawson keeps painting the new planking we've just installed along the starboard side of the ship.

1200 hours

The crew pauses for a light lunch.

1300 hours

Although there's plenty to do, we have time to relax and take in the scenery, too. As we pass between Beacon and Newburg, Pollepal Island beckons us into the Hudson Highlands. This is the last leg of the journey before we reach our destination.

1345 hours

As we pass West Point, cadet Wegman is more than happy to show off her campus as she does a little sightseeing herself.

1400 hours

Since we're making such excellent time, Sarah Read leads the charge to slip in a little sail handling training while we're underway. She and Nora go aloft to unfurl the fore course sail.

Meanwhile, the rest of the crew gets into position and enjoys the scenery while the sail is readied.

1500 hours

We find ourselves ready for sail handling just as we pass under Bear Mountain Bridge -- which means we're nearly to our destination. We practice setting and dousing the fore course a few times just for good measure.

1515 hours

Soon enough, however, we come within sight of King Marine. As we approach the dock, the crew members prepare the mooring lines and attend to their stations.

1530 hours

We arrive at King Marine, frequent home to the Half Moon here in Verplanck, NY. The ship has made remarkable time: it's been just eight hours since we cast off our lines at Athens.

Mouse over to drop the fender into place.

1615 hours

After we dock, we turn to standard protective measures designed to prevent wear on the ship. This includes applying chafing gear to our lines and lowering fenders into place between the ship's hull and the dock's pilings.

...despite appearances, we actually do slip the fender into place without any real hiccups. The positioning of this particular fender will help protect our new port channel from wear while we remain docked here.

1700 hours

The weather's turned muggy over the course of the day, prompting us to haul out our backup water pump and thoroughly test it. After Sky primes the pump, we use it to give the ship a thorough deck wash.

1800 hours

The deck wash didn't quite scratch our crew's itch to go swimming, so we take a few plunges off the starboard channel. Folks who followed our Schenectady-Nijkerk Voyage of Discovery this July know what that means. Yes -- by popular demand, here's an encore of high diving action!

Mouse over to send Nora and Kara into the drink.

1900 hours

As the afternoon winds down, we enjoy a bountiful pasta dinner on the weather deck.

After dinner, Wendy DeGiglio wishes us well and disembarks, headed for home. The rest of the crew makes an early, relaxed evening of it.

We'd like to thank our entire crew for this leg of the voyage (left to right):

Front Row: Roxanne Wegman, Sky Colley, John W. Mangrum.

Second Row: Kara Colley, Sarah Read, Nora, Captain William Reynolds

Third Row: Marieke Leeverink, Wendy DeGiglio, Kipp van Aken

Fourth Row: Jim Barry, Daniel Scott Dawson.

Thursday, September 6th

While some of our crew members have to return to their homes, the ship is still bustling with activity as we ready ourselves for the students' arrival.

A major project for today is provisioning: When Jim Barry, John Mangrum, and Roxanne Wegman return from grocery shopping, their haul nearly covers the weather deck even after a large portion of the supplies have been transferred down to the galley. It's no small matter to keep two dozen hungry crew members fed for two weeks!

Tonight, regular volunteer Bob Hansen arrives to serve as first mate.

Friday, September 7th

1100 hours

While prep work continues on the ship, Jim Barry and Kipp van Aken at last head for home, just leaving the senior crew members who will remain for the Voyage of Discovery itself.

Mouse over for before and after views.

Sky Colley and Daniel Scott Dawson, our carpenter and painter, respectively, wrap up the last of our maintenance projects.

1445 hours

Science officer Mary Ellen Jacobs has no arrived. With the exception of the teachers who'll be accompanying the students, our senior crew is now complete.

As a steamy afternoon wiles away, Captain Reynolds calls the crew into the galley for a brief meeting to review our educational programs.

We're in good shape for the coming voyage and feeling relaxed and ready.

Last but not least, we'd like to thank Corey Cumming, a longtime and invaluable friend of the ship, who visited us tonight bearing a lovely dinner for our hungry crew.

Tomorrow: Day One!