0530 Hours

When we arise, the sun has barely risen, though we can't see it. In the wake of the recent rains and humid southerly winds, a thick fog settled over the region.

In 1609, fog like this could have stopped ships in their tracks until it passed. However, with modern navigational instruments, such as our radar, we'll simply have to take it slow and steady -- the voyage will commence as scheduled. The weather forecast predicts a comfortably warm day. The fog is expected to soon burn away, but we do have a chance of encountering some scattered rain this afternoon.

0600 Hours

Right on schedule, we cast off our mooring lines and bid King Marine a fond farewell, for now. We are now underway to Athens Channel, which is usually a 12-hour voyage for the Half Moon.

0700 Hours

We take every precaution while moving through the fog. Along with our electronic instruments, we also rely on more traditional and time-tested safety methods: A pair of keen human eyes acting as a lookout and regular blasts of our sound signal, a navigational standard.

As it happens, this can be an uncomfortable combination for the lookout stationed on the fore deck, but a pair of sound-dampening earphones presents a solution.

0800 Hours

We serve breakfast while underway. This morning, it's french toast and sausage.

The fog is already starting to boil away by the time we pass under Bear Mountain Bridge, but the towering walls of the Hudson Highlands act to trap the mists and shield them from the sun. Thus, we'll have to put up with the fog for a bit longer.

As usual, we divide our crew into two watches: one on duty from 6 to 12, and the other taking over from 12 to 6. Over the course of the day, everyone cycles through the various stations required to keep the ship running, from helping in the galley, to acting as looking, and even taking the helm.

Meanwhile, down in the galley, sailing masters Nick and Tyler have discovered that a cup of hot cocoa and an engaging boardgame act as a potent method for dispelling the morning's damp.

0900 Hours

Current Position: Motoring north past Pollepel Island
Longitude: 41˚ 27.78’
Latitude: 073˚ 57.74’

We've just reached the northern mouth of the Hudson Highlands, marked by the storied Pollepel Island and its famous landmark, the ruins of Bannerman's Castle. Pollepel Island (from the Dutch for Pot Ladle) is noted in the 1609 log of the Half Moon, and first named on Dutch charts from the 1630s. The morning fog has now dissipated to nothing more than a few thin vapors.

We're enjoying having a full crew on this voyage. With more hands to handle the work, individual crew members still hasve time to relax and take in the scenery.

1000 Hours

We do have serious business to attend to during the voyage, however. An important objective for the day is to ensure that all crew members are fully trained in the use of a safety harness and in the proper techniques for going aloft.

First, Captain Reynolds convenes the senior crew -- longtime volunteers who are familiar with the ship's operations -- on the Quarter deck for the yearly refresher course.

After ensuring that the old salts are proficient with their safety gear, Captain Reynolds goes aloft to discuss safe climbing methods.

1100 Hours

Now that the senior crew has been refreshed on their climbing safety skills, they relay the captain's lessons to our newer volunteers, here represented by our most senior (Arthur Fontijn) and junior (Tyler Giles) crew members. By the time we reach Athens, every crew member must successfully complete harness training. However, no crew member is required to climb aloft. Crew on board the Half Moon are required to use a safety harness whenever their feet leave the deck -- such as when climbing out onto the channel -- so it's not infrequent for an individual to make frequent use of harnesses without ever going aloft.

Those who do wish to climb, however, can proceed to their hang test (pictured to the left). While safely tethered to the shrouds, climbers must let their feet dangle and maintain a grip with just their hands for about fifteen seconds. This teaches climbers how tightly they need to grip to be secure, how difficult it is to support their weight, and demonstrates that they actually can do this.

Passing the hang test is a climber's final rite of passage before they're authorized to work in the rig.

1200 Hours

Current Position: Motoring north past Hyde Park.
Longitude: 41˚ 47.65’
Latitude: 073˚ 57.08’

Lunch is served on a sunny and warm weather deck. Today we have a choice of chili or cream of broccoli soup.

We've passed Poughkeepsie and are making good time. Our original intention was to motor to Rondout Creek, near Kingston, and complete our voyage Sunday morning. We will now continue on to Athens today.

1330 Hours

Another objective for today's voyage is to shake out the sails, which have not been used since last season. Before we can do that, however, we need to raise the course yards on the fore and main masts.

We start with the main yard. This is heavy work, so Grant Prime introduces our new crew members to the capstan.

Working together, the main yard is soon in position, and the fore yard follows thereafter. With the yards in place, a mix of new and experienced climbers go aloft to familiarize themselves with the sails and the top rigs.

1430 Hours

Meanwhile, down on deck, we sort out the running rigging, and new crew members are trained in the basics of line handling.

1500 Hours

Current Position: Motoring north
Longitude: 42˚ 08.02’
Latitude: 073˚ 54.69’

We're still on schedule, but the predicted rains have finally caught up with us. Work aloft is halted as our crew puts up a few extra tarps and dons their rain gear to shield themselves from the cool, intermittent rain.

1745 Hours:

Just as the rain is letting up, we enter Athens Channel and are soon moored alongside Peckham Materials in Athens, NY. At just under 12 hours, we've made good time.

The Half Moon will remain here in Athens through June so ongoing work and capital improvements can be made on the ship.

There's still plenty of life left in the day, so the crew focuses on various projects. Here, Grant Prime gathers the remaining crew in need of harness training to put them through their paces.

High above them, crew members have ascended the fore and main masts to unfurl the courses.

Meanwhile, Ned Moore constructs a gangplank and lashes it into place so we can come and go safely.

We are joined by two friends of the Half Moon who have come down to greet us and, perhaps, join us for dinner: Karen Preston, trip coordinator, who saw us off yesterday, and Michael Black, whose Liberty Paint Co. donates the paint for the ship.

We have just enough time left in the day to air out the sails and even take a few practice turns at setting and dousing the fore course.

As the light of day fades, our rig teams climb aloft once more to furl the courses for the night.

Once they come back down, it's time for dinner! (We aren't just being polite; our cook, Vicki Giles, is the furler on the right.)

1930 Hours

We've arrived in Athens ahead of schedule, and got in some extra sail handling. More will come tomorrow morning.

Friday, April 27 | Saturday, April 28 | Sunday, April 29