0700 hours

Ship's Position: Docked at King Marine in Verplanck, NY.

After yesterday's early start, we're back to a normal schedule on the Half Moon.

0745 hours

The crew kicks off a cool morning with a warm oatmeal breakfast. By day's end, we'll have reached this trip's final destination.

0800 hours

Time to be on our way. Since we've recruited our dockside assistant to come sailing with us, Mr. Hensel rigs Line Three to a tripline. He'll free the other three docklines from the dock. Then, as the Half Moon pulls away leaves port, he can hop on board and we can free the remaining dockline from the deck.

0830 hours

Within a few minutes, the Half Moon is on its way downriver. We'll next return to King Marine on September 13 for the student crew turnover.

Since our arrival last night we've shed three crew members, but gained another. We reconfigure the duty roster to ensure that all positions are covered.

1000 hours

Our "new" recruit, Mr. Dangerlousi, is at the helm as we travel south through Haverstraw Bay. The wind is still steady and northerly, so we'll continue motoring through the day.

Mouse over to tension the shrouds.

1100 hours

Work continues as the ship glides along. Ms. Waiboer and Ms. Niehaus are in the fore top, tensioning the upper shrouds. This removes unwanted "wriggle room" in both the those shrouds and the upper mast they support.

Meanwhile, Mr. Fronhofer and Ms. DuBois stand lookout as the ship approaches the Tappan Zee Bridge, marking the southern end of Haverstraw Bay.

Otherwise, it's a fairly casual morning on the ship for most of the crew.

1145 hours

Happy birthday, Sara! Mr. McLaughlin surprises Ms. DuBois with a coconut-coated birthday fruitcake.

She's happy to share her cake with the rest of the crew, who have suddenly emerged from the woodwork.

As the crew munches on birthday cake, the Half Moon continues apace along the Palisades.

1215 hours

Yet another crew member has come to the end of his personal voyage. The ship has reached Yonkers, so it's time for Lenny Kluz to return to dry ground!

We pause off the Yonkers waterfront while Mr. Hansen runs Mr. Kluz in to shore.

After dropping Mr. Kluz off at the Yonkers Pier (which hosted the Half Moon for two Octobers in a row), Mr. Hansen returns to the ship and we continue on our way.

1330 hours

Ms. Waiboer takes in the scenery as we come to the Manhattan waterfront.

1400 hours

This photo comes from a friend of the ship, Bliem Kern, who just happens to spot the Half Moon as it passes by his home. Can you find us on the water?

1415 hours

Lunch is served as we reach the southern end of Manhattan and the mouth of the Hudson River. The crew have a variety of soups and sandwiches to choose from.

1445 hours

As we continue on into New York Harbor, the crew admires some familiar sights.

Our destination — the Kill Van Kull, a waterway separating Staten Island from the New Jersey coastline — is within sight on the horizon, but the current there is so strong we don't want to enter until 2000 hours. With plenty of time to spare, we continue straight on through the upper harbor.

The Kill Van Kull also factored into the voyage of the original d'Halve Maen on this day, 401 years ago; see Robert Juet's journal entry at the end of this log entry to learn more.

Mouse over to ride the waves!

1500 hours

Over the course of two days, we've journed from the smooth, fresh waters of the upper Hudson to the briny chop of Raritan Bay. As the ship rolls over the waves, it fills the air with a pleasant sea spray.

1600 hours

The vast expanse of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge marks the border between the Upper Harbor and Gravesend Bay. We've gone nearly all the way to open ocean now.

1700 hours

After continuing well out into Gravesend Bay, we come about and the mast teams hustle into place.

Within a few moments we set the sails, letting the wind carry us back into the Upper Harbor.

1715 hours

Just look at the briny foam we've kicked up in our wake as we scream across the water! Very well, this photo may be of the wake of a high-speed ferry.

The principle remains the same: with both courses drawing under strong and steady winds, we're making excellent time as we sail back inland.

For the those among us who will continue on as senior crew during the Voyage of Discovery, this time is a good opportunity to continue practicing their sail handling.

1745 hours

The fore deck crew makes a few adjustments as we pass back under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and re-enter the upper harbor.

The Kill Van Kull isn't just a swiftly flowing estuary, it's also the heavily trafficked entrance to the industrial Port of New York. To enter this waterway safely, we need to douse the sails and return to engine power.

Mr. Hansen gets in on the action as we put the main course in its gear.

1845 hours

As we change course, heading into the setting sun, Ms. Waiboer and Mr. Dangerousli climb aloft to furl the main course.

Ms. DuBois finishes her stint at lookout as we head toward Staten Island.

Meanwhile, the rest of the crew sets the "dinner table" (actually the main cargo hatch).

1915 hours

Mr. McLaughlin serves shepherd's pie for dinner.

No time for seconds; we're heading into the Kill Van Kull now, and must navigate around tugboats, barges, ferries, and cargo ships.

1930 hours

Mr. Van Aken steps in at lookout as we approach our destination.

2000 hours

Shortly after dark, the Half Moon pulls up to the Atlantic Salt facility, which also hosted us at this time last year. They've prepared a pair of large fenders and a gangway for our arrival.

2100 hours

This is a tricky docking situation, since we need to account for the high wakes passing industrial traffic will kick up through the day and much of the night. We take extra time to adjust the lines and fenders until the captain is satisfied.

2200 hours

Our transit voyage to Staten Island has reached a successful conclusion, but for many in the crew, the true voyage has just begun.

We'll spend the day tomorrow docked at Atlantic Salt, cleaning and maintaining the ship, so the log will pick up again in two days, on September 8th, when the Dutch students arrive!

Next Time: Velkom on Boord!

Robert Juet's Journal

We pick up Juet's account of the expedition of d'Halve Maen with a traumatic event. Hudson and his men have just entered what is now known as Raritan Bay, and are exploring the waterways surrounding the mouth of the Hudson River...

On September 6th, 1609:

The sixth, in the morning was faire weather, and our Master sent Iohn Colman, with foure other men in our Boate ouer to the North-side, to sound the other Riuer, being foure leagues from vs. They found by the way should water two fathomes; but at the North of the Riuer eighteen, and twentie fathoms, and very good riding for Ships; and a narrow Riuer to the Westward betweene two Ilands. The Lands they told vs were as pleasant with Grasse and Flowers, and goodly Trees, as euer they had seene, and very sweet smells came from them. So they went in two leagues and saw an open Sea, and returned; and as they came backe, they were set vpon by two Canoes, the one hauving twelue, the other fourteene men. The night came on, and it began to rayne, so that their Match went out; and they had one man slaine in the fight, which was an English-man, named Iohn Colman, with an Arrow shot into his throat, and two more hurt. It grew so darke that they could not find the shipe that night, but labored too and fro on their Oares. They had so great a streame, that their grapnell would not hold them.

— Robert Juet's Journal.