0700 hours

Current Position: Anchored off Alpine, NJ, across from Yonkers, NY.
Latitude: 40˚ 56.2'
Longitude: 073˚ 55.1'

Day Two of the first leg of our Fall 2008 Voyage of Discovery.

We rise to greet another day of fine sailing weather. As we wrap up breakfast, we even have a close encounter with another of the Hudson River's notable sailing vessels, the Clearwater.

0900 hours

Each day, the teachers are introducing a new word -- a "Pillar" of ethics and character -- for the students to consider as they write their journals.

Day One's word was "Responsibility"; today it is joined by "Trustworthiness."

The students don't just write about each day's concept in their journals; they're encouraged to contemplate how each concept affects them personally and how it affects their roles as members of a unified crew.

The students begin their morning by updating their journals, with a special attention given to today's Pillar.

While most of the students are writing below, up on deck the ship's inflatable tender has just returned with a pair of special guests. Photographer Rene Clement (far left) and reporter Twan Huys (center) are well-known journalists from the Netherlands. They have come to the Half Moon to do a story on the ship's programs and Dutch heritage, and will accompany us on board all day.

0930 hours

While yesterday was devoted to shipcraft, the river science portion of the students' orientation now begins as Dr. Jacobs introduces them to the Deck Log. Taking the readings needed to fill the log also familiarizes the students with the experiments their presentation topics will focus on.

1000 hours

Captain Reynolds convenes the crew to explain the day's schedule and to announce that the ship is moving out. We soon weigh anchor and are on our way downriver, with a planned destination in New York Harbor.

1100 hours

Shortly after the Half Moon passes under the Tappan Zee Bridge, the students collect the first of many water samples. These will later be tested for salinity levels, among other readings.

Meanwhile, their crewmates sweep and rummage the orlop deck, tidying up after running the anchor rode. (We'll have a closer look at weighing anchor tomorrow.)

1130 hours

The ship's officers declare that they would like a deck wash. Deck washes serve multiple purposes beyond keeping abovedecks tidy; they also improve the ship's seaworthiness (by swelling the deck's wooden planks, sealing them more tightly together) and cool the ship (which, admittedly, the ship itself takes less notice of than the crew).

The deck wash starts small, with Gabby using a traditional canvas bucket to douse the deck...

...but we soon decide to opt for something a little more powerful. We manage to keep to a minimum of splashing, this time.

Eventually, we wrap up the deck wash and move on with our day. As we pass under the George Washington Bridge, hot dogs and sandwiches are served for lunch on the orlop deck.

1230 hours

We are now travelling south along the Manhattan skyline.

There's no time for sightseeing, however -- our crew still has much to do! Ms. Fountain helps Shannon and Rowan set up the materials they'll need to measure the speed of the river's current.

1245 hours

Meanwhile, Dr. Jacobs continues to introduce groups of students to the various instruments and procedures that will be used for the Deck Log and for many of their own presentation experiments.

1300 hours

Okay, now there's time for sightseeing.

1315 hours

The final few students who need harness training now get their chance. Even for students who choose not to climb the rig, the ability to safely climb out onto the channel (the black platform Tyler S. is standing on, which helps support the standing rigging) is necessary for numerous experiments.

1330 hours

Watch duties continue apace as well. Here, Ericka is halfway through her first hour at helm. She seems to have things under control.

1400 hours

We've now traveled well out into New York Harbor and are showing no signs of stopping. More and more students are learning how to use our scientific instruments and collect data for the log.

Mouse over to try the
sling psychrometer.

1500 hours

Every student will eventually be able to perform every experiment on board, including those which are not connected to their own presentation projects. Along with Kathleen, Tyler's presentation will be a statistical analysis of the crew's ability to determine lines of position -- but here, he is using a sling psychrometer to measure relative humidity levels.

1530 hours

We pass under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, entering our destination for the day: Grave's End Bay, the outermost section of New York Harbor.

1600 hours

We've spent the day motoring against a southerly wind, so the plan is to continue past our planned anchorage site, then turn around and sail back.

The crew keep themselves busy while moving into position. Ms. Smith spends her time whipping lines -- a method of tightly lashing the end of a rope line to prevent it its strands from fraying.

1615 hours

Other crew members simply relax and take in the scenery between duties. Anticipation is building; we are close to setting sail.

1630 hours

Throughout the day, while Mr. Clement has been capturing every angle of the ship with his camera, Mr. Huys has been taking a hands-on approach to the watch duties and the student's projects.

Mr. Huys has joined Rowan in the helm hutch, getting a feel for steering the Half Moon with the whipstaff, when word comes down that it is time to change course and set the sails!

Mr. Schuijer assigns Michael to the position of main mast captain. It will be Michael's responsibility to give orders to the rest of his mast team and successfully handle the sails.

Meanwhile, Mr. Morel meets with his foremast team, who are already in position.

1645 hours

Everyone is now in position, familiar with their lines, and ready to act. Michael relays the order: "Overhaul the clews, bunts, and martinets!"

The sails drop into position and a strong, steady wind immediately fills them, causing the entire ship to heel to port (as is expected).

1715 hours

The Half Moon has now been traveling under sail for half an hour, and the mast teams are largely free to relax and enjoy the ride, making adjustments as needed.

However, minor adjustments aren't always so minor. Working against winds as strong as this one can require immense strength, particularly with lines that benefit from only limited mechanical advantage.

When we need to haul in the port sheet to better grab the wind, Jared and Ms. Housler must team up to overpower the wind's pull.

1830 hours

We brace the sails several times, completing three circuits of the area before the day runs out. After each sail adjustment, our mast crews hurry to belay and coil the lines, preserving a safe and tidy work environment.

Between these bursts of activity, however, the crew are free to to mingle and get know each other -- in this case, by comparing their favorite scary movies.

1845 hours

The sun is low in the sky and we have reached our anchorage: a spot in Grave's End Bay just off the waterfront of Brooklyn. Mr. Huys and Ms. Fountain are assigned to the fore deck to assist Mr. Morel with setting the anchor.

Mr. Morel works on the fore channel, unlashing the anchor and helping to guide it down to the water line.

However, the real heavy lifting is done by his team mates, who sweat and tail the tackle line to haul our 300-pound anchor into position.

Our primary anchor weighs 300 pounds, not including the chain which connects it to the anchor rode -- a chain which weighs several hundred pounds itself. (The real anchor is at the center of the photo, hanging at the waterline; the larger anchor to the left is just for show.)

When the command is given to "let fall," the carrot-shaped wooden fid is pulled out of the line, freeing the anchor to plunge to the bottom.

1915 hours

With the anchor secure, the crew can finally relax and watch the sun set on their day.

1930 hours

The day is done, and time has come for Mr. Huys and Mr. Clement to take their leave of the Half Moon. Mr. Schuijer and Mr. Morel lead the tender crew to return them to a nearby port in Brooklyn.

Mr. Woodworth also accompanies the expedition; he's bringing a net and a baited cage to collect whatever samples of local flora and fauna he can find along the way.

Having said their farewells, the tender crew motors off into the distance.

Once the tender tackles are secured, the remaining crew turn their attention to a matter of pressing import: dinner! Mr. Gorter has prepared a dish containing chicken, spiced rice, and a favorite item of "traditional Dutch cuisine," peanut butter sauce.

The student crew tear through their meal and can barely wait for seconds.

1945 hours

While the students eat and the tender is still away, Captain Reynolds and Ms. Smith ascend the main mast to furl the course. (Although many of the students are now qualified climbers, we leave night climbing to the senior crew as standard practice.)

2015 hours

The Zodiac has returned, and with it Mr. Woodworth produces a bounty of marine life collected in a small marina during the expedition.

Gabby and Dr. Jacobs are quick to study this voyage's first temporary inhabitants of the aquarium.

Meanwhile, down below, the students busily update their journals. After a long and active day, the students are eager to settle into their bunks.

At 2100 hours, Captain Reynolds convenes the nightly anchor watch briefing. By lights out at 2200, most of the crew is already drifting into sleep.

Next Time: Orientation continues.

On this date in 1609:

The eight, was very faire weather, wee rode still very quietly. The people came aboord us, and brought Tobacco and Indian Wheat, to exchange for Knives and Beades, and offered us no violence. So we sitting up our Boate did marke them, to see if they would make any shew of the Death of our man; which they did not.

-- Robert Juet's Journal.