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Daily Log: ProLog: Wednesday, September 30th

Our thanks to the crew!
Back Row: Kees Collens, Rob O'Malley, Rachel Laufer, Kristen Daley, Lisa Johnsen,
Ankie van der Meer, Dave Wilber, Kipp Van Aken, Neil Evans, Lynn Hickman.
Middle Row: Ewout van Grondelle, Fred Kuntz, Andy Spence, Joe Burke, (see below*),
Deb Reif, Barbara Greene, Clint Greene, Joe Greene.
Front Row: Erik Berg, Captain William Reynolds, Clinton Greene,
Bob Hansen
, Nanne Kalma.
*If you're the gentleman standing directly behind the capstan, we're afraid we didn't quite catch your name. Drop us a line and we'll update the crew roster.

0900 hours

Starting Position: Docked at the Corning Preserve in Albany, NY.
Latitude: 42˚ 39.0' N
Longitude: 073˚ 44.7' W

As past and present crew members know, voyages on the Half Moon truly begin long before the student crew steps on board. In some cases, preparations for a Voyage of Discovery may involve a seperate voyage altogether! If we call the daily accounts of a Voyage of Discovery the Log, then perhaps we can call our account of these preliminary voyages the "ProLog."

At the end of September, more than a week before the students were due to arrive, the Half Moon was docked at the Corning Preserve at Albany, NY, having just served as the centerpiece to a Albany's successful Quadricentennial festival.

But that was then; now we need to move the ship downriver to Athens. As our morning begins, most of the crew has spent the night on board, with a few more joining us this morning.

Captain Reynolds convenes a standard crew safety briefing four our crew members, both newcomers and regulars.

0930 hours

At the end of the briefing, Mr. Van Grondelle gives the crew their first duties by making line assignments.

Shortly thereafter, we cast off our dock lines and pull out into the Hudson River, turning south toward Athens.

We wave goodbye to our shore supporters, Laura Linder and #, as we depart.

We take our last look at Albany for the year as we pass by the downtown waterfront.

0945 hours

Our mooring at the Corning Preserve was a change of pace for the festival; our usual host in Albany is the water pumping station at the southern end of the park.

Mouse over to give fire!

We fire a swivelgun salute to our friends at the pumping station as we pass by.

The singing duo of Nanne & Ankie, who spent much of the summer performing in the region (most notably for us, during the River Day Voyage), have finally joined us on board as crew members. We give Ankie van der Meer the honor of firing the first salute.

As we cross under the Dunn Memorial Bridge, we also come upon our fellow historical vessel, the USS Slater.

Mouse over to give fire!

We fire a second salute to the Slater as we pass by. Neil Evans, qualified crew member, friend of the ship, and owner of the Albany Pump Station restaurant (not to be confused with the water pumping station) gets the honors this time.

Why didn't Nanne Kalma get an opportunity to fire a salute? Because he's at the helm, steering us downriver.

Mouse over to send
Mr. Berg aloft.
Mr. Berg climbs the main mast rigging.

The Half Moon's fore and main masts are taller than clearance under the Dunn Memorial Bridge. Thus, to reach Albany, we always need to lower the top masts. Now that we're back downriver of the bridge, however, it's time to raise the masts once more.

Mr. Berg ascends the rig to prepare the main mast.

1000 hours

Mr. Van Grondelle oversees the operation on deck. Even with the help of the capstan, raising the masts is one of the most physically demanding tasks we perform on board, but over the course of the remaining morning, we gradually get the masts in place. Sorry, no photos -- the chronicler was needed on the capstan!

1100 hours

The trip from Albany to Athens only takes a few hours, so we post only a partial Duty Roster on the orlop deck. We expect to be securely docked by the time the Starboard Watch reaches the end of its shift.

1300 hours

Captain Reynolds continues to explore the river's seldom-used side channels on our way downriver, just as we did during our voyage up to Albany earlier this month. Mr. Berg uses the lead line to sound the depths.

1330 hours

sail1#10

#9sail2

#8sail3

1400 hours

#7music1

1500 hours

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#5harness2

1530 hours

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Mouse over to play along.

1600 hours

#3music3

1615 hours

With a low sun hidden by stormy skies, we reach Athens Channel, this voyage's destination.

1630 hours

Mr. Van Grondelle once again makes docking line assignments as we approach our mooring.

1700 hours

Final Position: Moored at Peckham Materials at Athens Channel, Athens, NY.
Latitude: 42˚ 16.2' N
Longitude: 073˚ 48.1' W

As we pull in to Peckham Materials, Ms. Laufer and Mr. Collens step ashore to handle our lines. With the crew working together, the Half Moon is soon securely docked, and the crew hurries to their respective homes. The ship will remain here in Athens Channel, one of its usual haunts, until October 9th, when students from the Masters School are due to arrive. During that time, we will provision the ship, bring new crew on board, and treat the Half Moon to a round of standard maintenance.

Next Time: The Voyage Begins...

Robert Juet's Journal

#2

#1

On September 27th and 28th, 1609:

The seven and twentieth, in the morning was faire weather, but much wind at the North, we weighed and set our fore top-sayle, and our ship would not flat, but ran on the Ozie banke at halfe ebbe. We layed out anchor to heave her off, but could not. So wee sate from halfe ebbe to halfe flood; then we set our fore-sayle and mayne top-sayle, and got downe sixe leagues. The old man came aboord, and would have had us anchor, and goe on Land to eate with him: but the wind being faire, we would not yield to his request; So he left us, being very sorrowful for our departure. At five of the clocke in the after-noone, the wind came to the South South-west. So we made a boord or two, and anchored in fourteene fathomes water. Then our Boat went on shoare to fish right against the ship. Our Masters Mate and Boat-swaine, and three or more of the companie went on land to fish, but coulde not finde a good place. They took four or five and twentie Mullets, Breames, Bases, and Barbils; and returned in an houre. We rode still all night.

The eight and twentieth, being faire weather, as soone as the day was light, we weighed at halfe ebbe, and turned downe two leagues belowe water; for, the streame doth runne the last quarter ebbe: then we anchored till high water. At three of the clocke in the after-noone we weighed, and turned downe three leagues, until it was darke: then wee anchored.

-- Robert Juet's Journal.

 

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