 |
1700 Hours
As we begin our log, the senior and re-enactor crew members have recently arrived on the Replica Ship Half Moon at Peckham Materials, NY. Everyone has come to participate in School for the Sailor, a full weekend of intensive sail training in and around Athens Channel.
Several more re-enactors are due to join us tonight, but an evening full of activities still stands between us and that late hour.
|
Sail training begins as soon as the new crew members step on board. The re-enactor crew is divided into two teams; while one team trains on the main mast, the other learns how to work the fore.
|
Some of our re-enactors have already suited up in full kit; others will join them as the afternoon progresses.
|
 
For an additional taste of the past, some crew members have brought other artifacts of nautical history. While sailors on board the original Halve Maen in 1609 were not yet using hammocks (above right), they would have stowed their gear in sea chests just like those pictured (above left).
|
As we prepare to depart, Captain Reynolds discusses our plans with Half Moon volunteer and School of the Sailor event planner Steve Eftimiades.
|
Sail training continues on the fore deck. Each line on a sailing vessel such as the Half Moon serves a specific purpose, and as you can see, there's no shortage of lines to learn.
|
1715 Hours
 
Captain Reynolds gathers the crew around the capstan for an introductory briefing. Before he gets down to business, however, he spots what appears to be a problem with the way Peggy Huckel is coiling a line -- she's working her way from a loose end rather than starting from where the line is belayed on the pin rail. He steps in to offer a friendly correction, but it's a trick! Turns out Peggy's coiling a loose line that was merely concealed along the pin rail -- both ends are free!
|
Setting the chuckles aside, the captain discusses the safety protocols we use on board the Half Moon. He informs the crew on how to avoid all manner of potential hazards, ranging from using three points of contact when climbing aloft to personal safety and social responsibility.
|
Ultimately, he turns the crew's attention to our immediate plans. We intend to leap straight into 17th century sailing techniques by leaving the dock without use of the engine. However, a mild southeastery wind is lightly pushing us against the barge to which we are moored , so this will take some timely and delicate maneuvering.
|
1730 Hours
As Steve Eftimiades pulls up our gangplank, we make our final preparations for departure.
Once we leave, we will immediately need to turn against the wind to avoid the swampy western shore of Athens Channel, just ahead of us.
|
Several crew members trained in the rig climb aloft to man the top sails.
|
1745 Hours
Meanwhile, Roy Vitters takes his post at the helm. The original Half Moon was commissioned about a century before the now-common ship's wheel was invented, so it uses a simple lever system called the whipstaff.
While Roy familiarizes himself with the positions of the whipstaff (he's currently indicating "half right")...
|
...one deck down, Nick unlashes the tiller. The ship's whipstaff, tiller, and rudder are now free to maneuver.
|
Mouse over to take in line three.
 |
Under the captain's command, we haul in our mooring lines and leave port.
|
Mouse over to see the sail set.
 |
We've already set the main course; we now immediately turn to setting the fore course.
The main course primarily serves to provide the ship with forward momentum, while the fore course will be used to maneuver.
|
Simultaneously, Captain Reynolds and mate Bob Hansen set the lateen sail on the mizzen mast. The lateen is primarily used just for this occasion: steering the ship into the wind.
|
1800 Hours
This combination of sails allows us to turn the bow of the ship against the southeastery wind, pointing us down the channel. We are now heading north through Athens Channel under sail power alone.
Its purpose met, we quickly strike the lateen.
|
Mouse over to see the fore top set.
 |
Now underway, we set the top sails for increased maneuverability.
|
With the Half Moon's sails now properly set and drawing wind, the only remaining step is to neatly belay and coil our lines.
|
1815 Hours
We continue to practice setting and dousing the sails while underway. If the ominous weather reports we're tracking are accurate, today may be the only opportunity we'll get to sail this weekend, so we want to make the most of it.
|
1845 Hours
A welcome tray of fruit, crackers, and cheeses makes its way around the thankful crew -- they've already built up quite an appetite.
|
The cat's out of the bag! Some of the re-enactors have been showing Captain Reynolds their personal historical artifacts, and he seems to getting a bit too much satisfaction out of examining one such handmade cat-o'-nine-tails.
|
1900 Hours
Randi dell'Acqua is our cook for the day; the cook for the rest of the weekend, Laurie Waller, is not due to arrive until later this evening. Down in the galley, Randi and her galley assistant Henk are busy preparing dinner: a hearty beef & vegetable soup, with sides of salad and cornbread.
|
1915 Hours
Up on deck, our new crew members continue to enjoy the sailing -- and the view of the Hudson River Valley.
|
1930 Hours
We settle into a relaxed work pace as the sailing continues, occasionally bracing to the wind as needed.
|
Our rig crew has been manning the mast tops since our departure. We relieve our top men, allowing the pair to return to deck, rest up, and experience more of the ship.
Here, Eugene Andreassi climbs aloft to relieve the main top.
|
2000 Hours
We're losing daylight, so with a certain reluctance we opt to wrap up sailing for the day. As we turn about and start motoring back south, we turn our attention to striking the sails.
Shortly afterward, dinner is served and quickly devoured.
|
2015 Hours
With the sails in their gear, we're still motoring back toward Athens Channel as the sun sets.
|
2030 Hours
We set anchor in Athens Channel, just off our prior position at Peckham Materials.
2045 Hours
Before we can call it a night, we need to furl the sails -- binding them tightly to the yardarms to shield them from wind and weather.
We send rig teams up the shrouds on both masts.
|
As senior crew members supervise, our new crew members furl the sails.
2200 Hours
Our final four crew members have started to arrive. As they wait at a nearby boat launch, we send out the ship's Zodiac to retrieve them.
Once all hands are on board, our crew members gradually settle into their bunks, with the last murmurs dying out by 2400 hours. A late night, and with an early start tomorrow!
|
| |
|
|
|