0700 hours

Current Position: Anchored off Beacon, NY.
Latitude: 41˚ 30.88'
Longitude: 073˚ 59.57'

Day Four of our Voyage of Discovery.

We rise today to greet this view just south of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. We have a long day of travel ahead of us, so we need to get going right away.

0745 hours

After the crew is roused and rummages their gear on the orlop deck to get it out of harm's way, we prepare to weigh anchor. Jacob assists Henk Morel as they guide the anchor rode around the lower capstan, preventing tangles.

To the fore of them, Mary is stationed on the port side of the orlop deck to help haul the loose anchor rode back toward the hawse holes after it passes around the capstan.

Standing nearby, Kristie and Mrs. Mahigian are positioned as communicators, relaying information between the captain on the Quarter deck and the orlop deck team working below.

Behind the stairs, Casey and Thwe-Thwe fake the rode (which is to say, neatly fold it for its next use) after Mary pulls it back to them.

Mr. Schuijer is in charge of the orlop team. He works at the hawseholes, ensuring that the anchor chain runs in freely, and belaying the end of the rode on the Sampson bars as a safety measure.

Above decks, the captain gives the command, and once again the capstan team leans into their bars, bringing up 150 feet of rode, plus 50 feet of chain, plus the anchor, one step at a time.

0800 hours

Weighing anchor goes smoothly today, without the sort of snag we encountered on Day Two. The anchor is soon free, and we begins to gently turn upriver.

0815 hours

With a few final heaves, the fore deck team of Mr. Linehan and Mark Morel (as well as Mr. Moore working down on the channel) pull the anchor onto the channel and safely secure it in place.

We are now underway, and soon pass under the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. As we set out, our plan is to motor as far north as Kingston, anchoring out of the main channel.

1000 hours

We are now passing Poughkeepsie and are making excellent time.

1015 hours

As the Half Moon travels upriver, the students turn their focus toward collecting data for their research projects. Casey reviews the students' ship log as she and her compatriots continue to take readings.

Some students require a fixed position to gather useful data, such as those studying lines of position and current speed. While under way, they focus on learning how to conduct the other available experiments. Here, Mr. Chalker teaches Daniella how to read a sling psychrometer.

Some students, however, are free to begin their research right away. Here, Keith reads a quadrant to measure the altitude of the sun.

1030 hours

A few feet away, Mary and Jasmine devote their full attention to their experiments in mechanical advantage, under Mr. Chalker's supervision.

In the foc's'le, Muhammad works with Dr. Jacobs, using a refractometer to measure the salinity in the water samples we collected during our journey upriver.

Mr. Chalker introduces Jasmine and Mary to the concept of simple machines by using a few planks and a capstan bar to rig a basic lever. Indeed, given a lever long enough and a place to put her fulcrum, even Jasmine can lift Mr. Chalker off the deck.

1045 hours

Now familiar with the basic principles, Jasmine and Mary turn to our block-and-tackle rig, using it to measure mechanical advantage (and the effects of friction) as they lift a lead ingot.

1100 hours

Jesse takes a break from his other duties to learn the use of a refractometer as well.

Beniah keeps his focus on his project with Keith, regularly measuring the sun's effect on our photovoltaic cell array.

Here's a sight we would have never seen at the start of the voyage: old salts, basking in the sun on the fore deck between experiments and work details.

Kristie continues drawing water samples from the river and measuring their temperature, comparing them to that of the air.

1115 hours

Jasmine and Mary have completed their physical tests and are now crunching the numbers to see just what they've discovered.

1200 hours

We're already approaching Kingston, well ahead of schedule. By now, we've decided to take advantage of our favorable weather and currents and continue on all the way to Athens Channel.

Lunch is served on the orlop deck. Today we're having a relatively simple meal of double-decker sandwiches and fruit.

1445 hours

This historic lighthouse mark the southern entrance to Athens Channel, our destination for the day. (You can see a map of Athens Channel here.)

Normally we would enter Athens Channel directly, but today we've made the uncommon choice of taking the roundabout route. We'll motor along the main channel, then turn around and enter Athens Channel from the north, hopefully giving us an opportunity to take advantage of the light northerly winds and get in a bit of sailing.

1500 hours

Research continues apace, meanwhile. Note that we on the Half Moon maintain a "catch and release" policy with our river water samples.

x

3300 hours

As we motor past Hudson, NY, our students gather on the fore deck -- Muhammad as lookout, the fore mast team in anticipation of action, and the rest just to kick back.

Mouse over for a closer view.

On board the Half Moon, we believe in "cook's perogative," which can also be phrased as, "What the cook wants to do, the cook gets to do." (When a cook's unhappy, the whole crew's unhappy.) Mr. Gorter takes a break between meals and takes the opportunity to climb to the main top with Mr. Schuijer.

Back down on the deck, Sierra continues her own comparative temperature research.

We are now rounding the northern tip of the Middle Ground Flats and entering Athens Channel from the north. Unfortunately, the northerly winds seem to have turned in step with us -- we're still backwinded.

1545 hours

We elect to give sailing a try regardless, just in case the winds turn in back our favor. Mast teams at the ready! Daniella and Jacob prepare to overhaul the clews, bunts, and martinets, while behind them Dr. Jacobs and Mary are ready to haul in the tacks.

Meanwhile, Sierra and Muhammad are prepared to haul in the sheets. The tacks and sheets pull the outer corners of the sail fore and aft, respectively, helping shape the sail to best capture the wind.

Mouse over to set the main course.

Overhaul! The main course falls into place.

1615 hours

Unfortunately, we only get a few puffs of wind and slowly crawl our way down the channel. Not terribly exciting, but still a good practice session.

Mouse over to furl the fore top.

1700 hours

We're nearing our destination -- frequent summer host Peckham Materials -- and decide its time to put the sails back in their gear and furl them for the night.

1715 hours

As we rev up the motor, we maneuver into position alongside Peckham Materials' floating barges.

1730 hours

Our students are now experienced line handlers, and are assigned dock line positions. Their work will securely fasten the ship to its moorings during our layover here in Athens.

1745 hours

With the afternoon coming to a close, Jacob and Daniella once again summon the crew for their once-delayed research project. Now that we're moored, there's no chance of the tide sneaking in at the last minute and interfering with their plans.

The entire crew lines up at two different stations alongside the starboard rail. Daniella and Jacob show them how to use directional compasses, and direct them to mark the bearings of two landmarks:

This beacon just
across the channel...

...And the lighthouse at the
southern end of the channel.

Everyone then secretly gives Jacob or Daniella their findings, hops in the other line, and repeats the process. These two students will compare the crew's reports for their project.

1815 hours

As we relax for a moment, we discover that Mr. Schuijer has a sliver worked into the palm of his hand (a far from uncommon malady on board a wooden vessel). Mrs. Mahigian help him dig it out with a pair of tweezers.

In reality, it's not quite the grisly field surgery Daniella's expression makes it look like here.

1830 hours

Jacob and Daniella are the only students who've been waiting for the Half Moon to stop moving for the sake of their research.

Mr. Linehan guides Casey and Jesse through their first practice runs testing the speed and direction of the channel's current.

They will continue taking readings on a regular basis until sunset today and through tomorrow for their presentations. Tomorrow they'll also add depth soundings to the mix.

Meanwhile, down in the galley, Thwe-Thwe helps prepare dinner while Keith and Muhammad mix up a jug of iced tea.

1845 hours

Dinner is served! Tonight's meal includes pasta, rice, with taramisu for dessert. The students take their dinner up to the fore deck, a popular hangout scuttlebutt says the students have dubbed "Candy Island."

2100 hours

Captain Reynolds calls for the nightly anchor watch briefing. The students have a new side project tonight; along with keeping watch over our mooring lines, they'll use the quadrant to track the star Arcturus. Captain Reynolds has also uncovered the times of a few satellite flashes and possible falling stars the anchor watch detail will want to keep an eye out for.

2200 hours

Lights out! Tomorrow will bring us a relaxed day of data collection and exploration.