Alex is on his head cleaning rotation. (The head is the only toilet on the ship.)  All crew rotate on the hour to be sure duties assigned, such as cleaning the head, galley duty, fire & bilge watch and manning the helm.

The major loss of life amongst 17th century sailors was from communicable and nutritional diseases.  Most of these maladies are easily remedied today, with proper hygiene being the most important step in stopping communicable disease.  The cause of these diseases was not known then, but is well known to us today.  Aboard the Half Moon we rigorously protect against communicable disease with proper hygiene and sanitary measures.  The 17th century Dutch were known for their tidiness relative to other countries at that time.  This tended to carry over to their ships.  In a like manner, we know that a clean and orderly ship helps create good morale with the crew, and helps with safe operations in difficult times.

Peter works with Mr. Wolfe on galley duty.  Good food is as important to the health of a ship as good hygiene.  17th century sailors suffered nutritional diseases as well as communicable diseases, scurvy being the most well known.  Mr. Wolfe takes pains to ensure that we have a well balanced diet and plenty of fluids.

Latitude 40^o 39.9’; Longitude 74^o 01.6

On Bay Ridge Flats, New York Harbor

Bay Ridge Flats in New York Harbor is a welcome anchorage.  We have a view that encompasses The Narrows, sweeps over Staten Island and the industrial waterfront of Jersey City, and on to the Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines.  Tugboats surround us, with loaded and empty barges awaiting transfer, and ships laying in the Stapleton Anchorage off Staten Island.  One can feel the economic force of this area, centered on the harbor.

The day started early, rising to set sail and operate off the Palisades for some filming by the History Channel for a documentary of Henry Hudson.  The students have gained amazing skill with the sails in a short time.  Then it was on to Manhattan, both for the students and our new crew members from the Netherlands (Mr. Morel, Ms van den Berg, and Mr. Zantkuijl).  New York Harbor remains quite a site, even for those of us who have been here before, but it is a special treat for those seeing it for the first time.

Our afternoon included continued work on student projects, as well as some fun.  Deck wash is always a cool and refreshing time, as well as accomplishing needed cleaning.  Dinner was great (thank you Mr. Wolfe), finished off by a remarkable sunset.

The Half Moon traveling up the Hudson heading towards New York Harbor.

The Half Moon off the cliffs of the Palisades.

Peter working on his project.

Mr. Terry & Charles work together on science project.

Charles is using the refractometer to measure the salinity of the river water.  Refraction is the bending of light as it passes through media of different density.  This is what happens when you see a rainbow, or see light bending when you look into clear water.  Adding salt to water changes its density, and changes the angle at which the light refracts.  By measuring the angle of refraction one can measure the salt content of the water.  In the refractometer Charles can see a scale from which he can read the salinity in parts per thousand.

We arrived in New York Harbor and the crew is asked to wash down the decks of the ship. 

We do like to have fun when doing our chores.

                                                                                   Some of the crew got wet...

...and most enjoyed getting wet.

A very wet crew that received a well deserved soaking while working on the ship.  

Charles, Alex, Peter & Abel take a popsicle break.

Students in the forcastle talk about their day and work on their science projects.

Ryan aloft with Mr. Weisse.

Jeanette with Mr. Weisse aloft in the top of the ship.

Mr. Weisse takes a moment for himself playing a few tune on his trumpet as we anchor in Bay Ridge Flats, part of the immense and highly trafficked New York Harbor.

Sunset in New York Harbor with New Jersey with New Jersey off in the distance.