William Reynolds: Ship's Captain

Captain William Reynolds has been captain of the Half Moon and Director of the New Netherland Museum since 1998. Before coming to the Half Moon, he captained numerous seagoing vessels, both historical and industrial. His background also includes training and work in the environmental sciences. He currently lives with his family in Selkirk, NY, and is looking forward to seeing the new student crew meet the challenges this Voyage of Discovery places before them.

Scott Beiter

Scott Beiter is the 8th grade physical science teacher at Rensselaer Middle School.  This will be his fourth Voyage of Discovery. He looks forward to the history/science immersion of the voyage.

"This what education is about, not textbooks and worksheets."

Hidzer Gorter

After joining us at the last minute this spring, Hidzer Gorter has returned from the Netherlands for a second Voyage of Discovery as the chef on the Half Moon. He still likes it very much, and has been dazzling the crew with his menus.

Bob Hansen

Ship's mate Bob Hansen has been sailing since 1965 and has sailed extensively on Long Island Sound, the Hudson, and beyond. In addition to his own boats he has served as crew, watch officer, and mate on the sloop Clearwater, lightship Nantucket, and schooners Spirit of Massachuesetts and Ernestina.

When not sailing on the Half Moon, Mr. Hansen will be preparing his ketch Neptune's Car for ocean voyages.

Mary Ellen Jacobs

Mary Ellen Jacobs has an undergraduate degree in history and a Ph.D. in molecular biology & biochemistry. She is currently a researcher at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, CT. She is serving as science officer on this Voyage of Discovery, during which she hopes to introduce students to the biology of the Hudson River, as well as the history of the Henry Hudson & his crew on their 1609 voyage along the river that would oneday bear his name.

John W. Mangrum

Originally hailing from the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA, John W. Mangrum holds one of the most anachronistic positions the crew of a 17th-century wooden sailing ship could imagine: the Half Moon's webmaster. Seldom seen in front of the camera, he oversees the daily updates to this website during our voyages. A roleplaying game designer in a past life, Mr. Mangrum is now in his fifth year of voyages aboard the Half Moon. What started as a simple, impromptu dockside tour of the ship has since turned into a life of adventure.

Mark Morel

Mark Morel hails from the Netherlands, where he lives on a houseboat in Amstelveen, near Amsterdam. He works as an instructor at a sailing school, where they teach sailing to students of all ages. After intitally joining us for numerous voyages in 2004, Mr. Morel is now returning for his fourth year on board the Half Moon. He considers this an expression of how much he likes being here and working with a student crew.

Grant Prime

Grant Prime teaches 5th grade at Taconic Hills Middle School. Mr. Prime has been involved with historical re-enactments for more than thirty years, and has been bringing his enthusiasm to the Half Moon each summer since 1998. He has completed his Master's in Elementary Education, and was a contributor to the New Netherland Museum's 4th- and 7th-grade curriculum materials.

Heather Smith

Heather Smith graduated this May from the University of Maryland, College Park with a degree in Civil Engineering. She grew up in Albany where she attended Albany High School. Sarah Read, a Voyage of Discovery alumna and Half Moon crew member, brought Ms. Smith to the ship. Ms. Smith is excited to take part in her first Voyage of Discovery with the Half Moon.

Apart from her new interests, Ms. Smith loves ultimate frisbee, skiing, and hiking up mountains.