0630 hours

Starting Position: Anchored south of the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge.
Latitude: 41˚ 56.3' N
Longitude: 073˚ 57.1' W

Day Three of the second leg of the Fall Voyage of Discovery.

We have a big day ahead of us, and we rise early to catch the flood tide.

0730 hours

After quickly rummaging their gear, the crew report to their stations to once again weigh anchor. We've started circulating students into new positions so that by the end of the voyage, everyone will get to experience every aspect of this procedure.

Lilly has moved across the orlop deck, and is now tending the incoming rode, keeping its path clear on the way to the lower capstan.

Ellie and Mr. Burmester are tending the lower capstan itself, preventing overrides, while Kevin feeds the rode back foreward to Mr. Prime at the bits.

0745 hours

Out on the fore channel, Mr. Woodworth stands at the ready. When the capstan team hauls up the anchor, he quickly secures it and we're on our way. Without the presence of strong winds digging in our anchor, weighing proves to be much easier today — or maybe it's just our more experienced crew!

0900 hours

We have two goals to accomplish today: reaching our next destination, and collecting data for the student presentations. The crew rev themselves up before launching into their work.

0915 hours

The Celestial Tracking team consists of Cassie, Kevin, Ntando, and Peter. They'll chart the altitude and azimuth of the sun throughout the morning and early afternoon, waiting to capture the moment the sun reaches its highest point.

0930 hours

Tahjha is a member of the Mechanical Advantage (Distance) team, which will collect its data during an organized effort later today while we're underway. For now, he bides his time by making notes in his Crew Rating Log.

With the Half Moon underway, it's time to fly its colors. While Jacob stands lookout, Colton learns how to put a flag in "stays." This is the procedure of bundling the flag with a tripcord so we can run it up the mast in windy conditions without snagging on the rigging, then release it to fly freely with a light tug from the deck.

0945 hours

Kevin and Cassie are still hard at work, alternating readings with their team partners.

1030 hours

General ship operations remain in effect even while the students are busy gathering data. The crew still has to eat, after all! In the galley, Jacob helps prepare lunch.

Meanwhile, one deck up, it looks like the mechanical advantage teams are about ready to start.

1145 hours

Let's wrap up the morning by taking another tour of the ship.

When they aren't engaged in data collection, the students use their time to pursue personal interests. On the foredeck, Mr. Brudos teaches Peter some new knots.

At the same time, Mylah and Tahjha are taking the opportunity to climb aloft, taking in the view from the main top.

Ellie is finishing out her hour at lookout.

On the orlop deck, Courtney and Lilly are taking a few minutes to hang out before they go on duty with the rest of Starboard Watch at noon.

Colton is in the same situation. He's using his free time to study his Crew Rating Log.

In the galley, Port Watch member Cassie and Mr. McLaughlin already have lunch ready, so they've moved on to cooking tonight's dinner.

As we reach midday, Mylah and Tahjha return to the deck along with Ms. Niehaus. They're both members of Starboard Watch as well, so they go check in as their watch rotation relieves Port Watch.

1200 hours

As we click over into the afternoon, Ntando has just a few moments left at helm before her relief steps in.

1215 hours

The Celestial Tracking team has stepped up their efforts as we reach midday, and are now taking readings every five minutes. Peter goes over the Rating Log with Ms. Niehaus between readings.

1230 hours

Tahjha has the helm well under control as we pass Catskill and the Rip Van Winkle Bridge.

Back to work! Peter and Kevin take another celestial reading.

1245 hours

In the galley, Jerryangelo and Colton both help Mr. McLaughlin with dinner. These two sailors have struck up a fast friendship in the few days they've served together on board.

Meanwhile aboveboards, the entire Celestial Tracking team is hard at work as the sun reaches its highest point. (Due to Daylight Savings Time, local noon currently falls closer to 1 PM than it does to 12 PM.)

1330 hours

The sun has reached its zenith and is starting to set, so the pressure is off for the Celestial Tracking team. Peter and Kevin both take the opportunity to go aloft.

While Kevin and Peter are in the rig with Mr. Hensel and Ms. Waiboer, lunch is served on deck. Today we're having rice, beans, and cheese quesadillas.

Kevin and Peter haven't gone aloft solely to admire the scenery; they've climbed up to help unfurl the sails so we can go sailing as soon as we reach Athens Channel.

The rest of the crew anxiously awaits their return to deck — so they can eat and everyone else can go for seconds!

1345 hours

Mr. Burmester steps in at the whipstaff so helmsman Jerryangelo can grab a bite to eat. I think Mr. Burmester's enjoying himself!

1430 hours

We've just motored through the length of Athens Channel. As we reach its northern end, we set the fore course, purposefully backwinding it to help turn us about.

Once we've turned to a southerly bearing, the winds are at our backs and we can truly sail. Jerryangelo and Courtney wait the command to release the starboard clew, bunt, and martnet...

...while Ms. Backman and Colton do the same to port.

Overhaul! The wind fills our sails.

1530 hours

We've spent the past hour leisurely sailing south past Hudson, and are now once again approaching the southern end of Athens Channel.

As we pass the Athens Lighthouse, we brace to the wind and turn back upriver, entering the channel again.

While we've been sailing the Mechanical Advantage (Distance) team has been hard at work constructing simple machines and testing their properties.

Mouse over to help Courtney haul that clew!

With the Half Moon once again heading upwind, we douse the main course and resume traveling under motor.

We'll keep working with the sails for a while just for practice.

1545 hours

The Mechanical Advantage (Force) team has collected their data now as well. The data collection phase of the voyage is winding down.

1600 hours

Although the sun is well on its way to the horizon, the Celestial Tracking team is still charting its course, now with the help of other students like Mylah.

We're making slow but steady progress up the channel, frequently adjusting the sails for the wind.

As we approach our destination, however, we douse the sails for the day.

1615 hours

We'll be spending the night anchored just off Peckham Materials, which is where the ProLog transit voyage began. Peckham Materials has effectively been the Half Moon's seasonal base of operations for several years now.

Mouse over to let fall the anchor!

1630 hours

Let fall the anchor! Fifty feet of anchor chain runs out the hawsehole in a flash.

1645 hours

Ending Position: Anchored off Peckham Materials at Athens Channel.
Latitude: 42˚ 16.1' N
Longitude: 073˚ 48.0' W

As a long day winds down, groups of students take turns practicing how to sweat and tail lines, using the same block-and-tackle systems we utilize to haul the anchor to the channel.

1800 hours

Jacob and Kevin accompany Ms. Waiboer and Mr. Hensel up the fore mast to furl (securely bind) the sails for the evening.

1830 hours

Once the sails are furled, interested students can spend the remaining daylight climbing the main mast for fun, if they so wish. Mr. Burmester accompanies the climbers aloft.

Here's a civilized-looking bunch! The ladies have taken over the galley to enjoy a lasagna dinner and discuss creative plans.

1900 hours

The sun is setting, so Mr. Burmester returns to the deck with Ellie, the last climber of the day.

Meanwhile, Lilly and Tahjha end their day by sitting back and relaxing on the fore deck.

1930 hours

Just after sunset, Captain Reynolds convenes the crew around the capstan for tonight's anchor watch briefing and to read off mail call.

Peter's parents do their job of thoroughly embarassing their son with their affection. Everyone enjoys hearing from shore (whether they admit it or not).

2045 hours

As the evening winds down and Captain Reynolds finally has a free moment, the first students approach hom with their Crew Rating Logs, seeking to undergo his evaluation. Courtney is the first crew member to reach the rank of Ordinary Sailor/Lichtmatroos, followed by Ellie and Mylah.

2145 hours

Autumn is definitely upon us, and the night grows overcast and chilly. The students retreat to their sleeping bags to finish out the evening reading or updating their journals. Rest up everyone; tomorrow brings another big day!

Next: Student Presentations!

Robert Juet's Journal

After spending the night anchored in the bay between the modern cities of Beacon and Newburgh, d'Halve Maen sails up what the Dutch traders of New Netherland would dub the Lange Rack, or Long Reach, the stretch of river we passed through yesterday. Before the ship weighs anchor, the two Lenape captives seized in Raritan Bay six days ago escape through a gun port and swim to freedom; to say that their taunts back to the ship were delivered "in scorn" is probably something of an understatement. Juet's estimation of twenty leagues' travel (roughly sixty miles) is not necessarily trustworthy, but his reference to "other Mountains" indicates that the ship at least comes within sight of the Catskills, likely placing the ship's evening position somewhere between the modern towns of Saugerties and Catskill. It is here that d'Halve Maen's crew first encounters the Mohicans, to whom they seem to take an immediate liking.

On September 15th, 1609:

The fifteenth, in the morning was misty vntill the the Sunne arose: then it cleered. So wee weighed with the wind at South, and ran vp into the Riuer twentie leagues, passing by high Mountaines. Wee had a very good depth, as sixe, seuen, eight, nine, ten, twelue, and thirteen fathoms, and a great store of Salmons in the Riuer. This morning our two Sauages got out of a port and swam away. After we were vnder sayle, they called to vs in scorne. At night we came to other Mountaines, which lie from the Riuers side. There wee found very louing people, and very old men: where wee were well vsed. Our Boat went to fish, and caught great store of very good fish.

— Robert Juet's Journal.