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.

Carl Adair

This is Carl Adair's first sail aboard the Half Moon, and his first posting as ship's cook. A native of Rochester, NY, he is currently pursuing a Ph.D in English Literature at Princeton University. He loves to ring the dinner bell!

Kipp van Aken

Kipp van Aken is serving as the Half Moon's chief engineer. Mr. Van Aken has a background in history, anthropology, and business, is a graduate of Hope College , and holds an MBA. He is a veteran of the US Navy Submarine Force and is retired from Southern California Edison's San Onofre Nuclear Station. He is a direct descendant of three early Dutch families in New York and is an original shareholder of the ship.

Ron Groenestein

Check back soon for a full bio!

Bob Hansen

Ship's mate Bob Hansen started sailing on the Hudson on the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater; later, on two engineless sloops. Since the 1990s, he has served as a volunteer and mate on the schooners Spirit of Massachusetts and Ernestina, as well as other vessels.

Having recently retired from a career as a self-styled "bureaucrat" with the New York State government, Mr. Hansen has now turned his attention to serving as second-in-command on board the Half Moon.

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, the self-titled "Ship's Chronicler" oversees the daily updates to this website during our voyages. A roleplaying game designer in a past life, Mr. Mangrum has been sailing on board the Half Moon since the summer of 2004. What started as a simple, impromptu dockside tour of the ship has since turned into a life of adventure.

Carolyn Niehaus has been an active member of the Half Moon since 1999 and first sailed as a Voyage of Discovery student in the fall of 2000. Now, Carolyn enjoys working with the Half Moon both on the ship and in the office.

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.

Sarah Read

Sarah Read first sailed as a student on the 1999 Voyage of Discovery, and has enjoyed returning to the Half Moon whenever possible. She currently lives in Massachusetts and teaches at The Learning Center for the Deaf.

Jennifer Reilly

Jennifer Reilly is a science teacher and an experienced sailor on the Half Moon crew. Her early Half Moon voyages prepared her for a previous career as a professional rigger on ships for Hollywood. She now lives in Connecticut with her husband and the two cutest kids in the world, both of whom have also spent time sailing on board.

Nick Reynolds

This is Nick Reynolds' 33rd-and-a-quarter year on board the Half Moon, or so it seems. He will be going to Guilford College in North Carolina for exploring. He likes running and will be on the team at college.

Evi Robinson

Evi Robinson is a student at the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY. She has continued to sail on the Half Moon regularly since her first voyage as a student crew member.