As any experienced volunteer with the Half Moon knows, Voyages of Discovery actually begin long before the students step on board. A great deal of preparation goes into any trip aboard a sailing vessel. Before our student crew can board the ship, we have to transport the Half Moon from its usual environs on the Hudson River to New London, Connecticut, where the Voyage of Discovery awaits.

We like to acknowledge these prep periods as "Day Zero." In this case, the unofficial first "day" of the Fresh River Voyage of Discovery consists of an entire voyage in itself!

Many thanks to our shakedown voyage crew (left to right): Greg Weiss, Randi dell'Acqua, Sarah Read, Nick & Nora Reynolds, Captain William Reynolds, Keith Cardoza, Tyler Giles, Jurgen Schuijer, Tim Bouchard, Heather Smith, Bill Bouchard, Kelsey Saulnier, Armin Poes, Gary Coolidge, David Rocco, and Bob Hansen. (Not pictured: Vicki Giles and John W. Mangrum.)

Friday, June 20th: The Half Moon departed from Athens, New York, traveling downriver to Kingston.

Saturday, June 21st: The Half Moon continued to Raritan Bay, south of New York Harbor.

Sunday, June 22nd: The Half Moon passed up the East River and into Long Island Sound, anchoring at Duck Island Roads.

Monday, June 23rd: The Half Moon arrived in New London, Connecticut.

Particular congratulations to the new crew members who earned their official crew shirts! (Or, in some cases, earned a new one after a long hiatus.)

(We accidentally let a few new crew members depart before we could present them with "the orange"; drop us a line!)