0700 hours

Current Position: Anchored south of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge.
Latitude: 41˚ 30.5'
Longitude: 073˚ 59.8'

Day Three of the second leg of our Fall 2008 Voyage of Discovery.

We begin the morning in the same spot we ended our evening last night. Considering the weather reports we were hearing, this is a result that we could not entirely afford to take for granted. Although we did receive some winds, our anchor has remained secure through the night.

After the crew is roused and enjoys some breakfast, we dispatch a Zodiac team to the Beacon waterfront in order to pick up a special guest. Rene Clement is a notable Dutch photojournalist who visited us during the first leg of the voyage alongside reporter Twan Huys; today Mr. Clement has returned to sail with us for a day and capture more images of our ship and activities.

0830 hours

With Mr. Clement on board, we begin our day by flying our flags. On the main mast, Elora helps Mr. Beiter run up the VOC (Dutch East India Company) Tricolor, while on the fore mast, Devin assists Mr. Prime with the Lion Rampant.

0930 hours

Captain Reynolds convenes the crew members on deck to discuss the day's itinerary, then dispatches them to their anchor details.

Mouse over to walk the capstan.

Whenever we weigh anchor, we rotate the crew through different positions so they can personally experience every aspect of the procedure.

Last night, as a precaution against dragging the anchor, we ran out a full 300 feet of anchor rode. Today, we have to pull it all back in, one step at a time. Although the operation goes smoothly, it does take a while.

After the capstan crew completes its primary task of hauling the anchor to the surface, Ms. Smith hoses off the anchor and its chain. A deployed anchor often returns to the surface covered in mud and silt; the more muck we can spray off before the chain passes through the hawsehole, the less swabbing the orlop deck will require of us afterward.

While Ms. Smith works on cleaning the anchor, Mr. Clement finds a good angle to document the action.

1015 hours

With the anchor free of the water, we set sail and turn north, heading under the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge.

After once again weighing anchor without relying on the engine, this time we do need to briefly turn it on for a fine maneuver, breaking our streak.

By now, our student crew members are becoming experienced sail handlers. Most have worked at multiple positions and can ably step in where needed.

1030 hours

One hour and, 300 feet, and about 800 pounds of anchor, chain, and rode later, the anchor is finally up on the fore channel. Ms. Smith quickly secures the anchor and resets it for future use.

Meanwhile, in Mr. Gorter's galley, it's another day, another display of culinary artistry. Grayson shows off what can only be described as a fortress of sandwich-kabobs.

Mouse over for another angle.

1100 hours

We are clipping along under high winds. The speed is admirable, but it does take some getting used to as the ship heels over under the pressure. Mouse over the image to see the same view aligned with the ship rather than with the horizon.

1215 hours

By the time Grayson's elaborate lunch is served on the weather deck, the winds have turned against us. Now traveling into a northwesterly wind, we reluctantly douse the sails and rev up the engine, continuing on course.

Speaking of creative cuisine, it seems that John has found new uses for old sandwich skewers.

What that use might be, we have yet to determine.

1230 hours

The students return to their Deck Log activities after lunch, using the remainder of the day to decide what projects might appeal to them.

In this case, Elora is testing the speed of the wind now pushing aganst us.

1330 hours

We have just passed Poughkeepsie and are making good time.

1415 hours

In the warm afternoon, it's not uncommon for off-duty crew members to slip below decks for a quick catnap -- in fact, it's practically a necessity. After a refreshing (and amusing) snooze, however it's back to work.

As we look elsewhere on the ship, we find Derrick and Nicole working with Dr. Jacobs on the Deck Log.

Meanwhile, on the fore deck, Alexis serves as lookout while her crew mates relax. The foredeck almost always becomes a popular hangout for the Half Moon's crews.

1430 hours

As people move around the ship, we find that this former hangout has now become a classroom. Mr. Beiter teaches Grayson, Tyler W., Derrick, and Ryan their knots.

1445 hours

The students continue to familiarize themselves with all aspects of shipcraft. Here, Mr. Prime shows Devin how to read a river chart.

Once Devin moves on, Mr. Terry, Mr. Beiter, and Mr. Prime -- or Mr. Larry, Mr. Moe, and Mr. Curly, if you prefer -- try to use the chart to determine whether we made a wrong turn at Albuquerque.

1500 hours

What's this? It appears we've caught up with the Frisian Spring, a tanker which caught our cook's eye during the first leg of the voyage.

Of course, considering that the Hudson River is not the Northwest Passage to the Pacific, in retrospect it does seem somewhat inevitable that we would meet again.

1600 hours

As the afternoon heat starts to cool down, we find the students relaxing around the ship. Oddly enough, the foredeck seems to be a gentlemen-only crowd...

...the orlop is territory securely held by the ladies.

Is there some deeper significance here? No idea; let's move on.

1630 hours

With the orientation phase of this Voyage of Discovery winding down, the students prepare for readings we'll be taking during our data collection layover at Athens Channel.

Here, Grayson and Tyler W. are measuring the length of the weather deck. This figure will be necessary when we start testing current speed tomorrow.

Mouse over for a close up.

1715 hours

We plan on getting in some more sailing toward sunset, so climbers are dispatched to unfurl the sails. Once the students have completed their task, they're free to hang out and enjoy the view for a while, too.

While our climbers work in the rig, Deck Log readings continue uninterrupted down below.

Devin, Derrick, and Elora take a break to study the wildlife specimens we've collected in the aquarium. The water is growing cloudy, so we decide that we'll need to release our animals and clean out the tank tomorrow morning.

1730 hours

With all sails now ready to be set, our trained climbers return to deck.

1745 hours

We are now passing the mouth of Rondout Creek at Kingston, NY. Earlier in the voyage, we had considered making this our destination for tonight, but now we've decided to continue a few more miles upriver.

1815 hours

As we near the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge, we turn about face, set all sails, and start sailing south at a rapid pace.

We haven't changed our mind about coming to Albany -- we've dispatched Mr. Clement in the Zodiac to take photos of the Half Moon during the "golden hour" before sunset.

With all six sails drawing wind, the Zodiac team actually has to put a little effort into keeping up with the ship.

1845 hours

We've lost the daylight and our photographers have spent their last shots. The Zodiac team returns to the ship, where the crew waits to haul them up.

With the ship's tender secure out of the water, our line handlers tidy the deck.

As we come around and start motoring northward again, we dispatch climbers to furl the sails.

It's always nice to end a day's sail by walking the pin rail and checking the coils.

1900 hours

As we run down the flags, the students fold them neatly and store them in their usual spot in the great cabin.

Our furlers are coming along nicely, but since they're actually working in daylight tonight, they also take the time to enjoy the rapidly cooling evening air.

1930 hours

We continue to motor north past Kingston as the sun sets.

Mr. Gorter provides us with a filling meatloaf dinner tonight, which the crew enjoys in the fading daylight on deck.

Mouse over for a close up.

2030 hours

The end of the day also brings the official end of the student's orientation phase. For two and a half days, they've had the chance to collect data for the Deck Log and consider what natural phenomena they want to explore. Mr. Beiter and the other teachers lead a student meeting to choose presentation topics and establish exactly what will be expected of the students.

While the students focus on their meeting, the Half Moon reaches its destination for the evening, just south of the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge. The senior crew see to setting anchor.

After the meeting, each student takes half an hour to ponder a hypothesis for their project and seek advice from the ship's educators. Captain Reynolds also utilizes this time for a quick anchor watch briefing.

2100 hours

The students reconvene with their teachers, officially establishing their projects' subjects and hypotheses. That done, they call it a night, updating their journals before going to sleep. On the orlop deck, the lights are out well before 2000 hours.

Mouse over to put Mr. Gorter to work.

2215 hours

Ssh! As the student crew slumbers overhead, Mr. Gorter whips up a special treat for a interested members of the senior crew: more of his fabulous, late-night Dutch pancakes.

As anchor watch passes under a blazingly bright full moon, we continue our overnight Deck Log readings. Nothing disturbs the ship, and the night passes quickly.

Very quickly, in fact, since tomorrow we need to rise before dawn.

Next Time: Student projects begin!

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.