0700 hours

Starting Position: Anchored off Peckham Materials in Athens Channel.
Latitude: 42˚ 16.2' N
Longitude: 073˚ 48.0' W

Day Six of the video shoot, and the final full day of the voyage.

We rise to discover that sweltering heat and humidity won't be a problem today; a low pressure front has rolled in overnight, bringing unseasonably cool temperatures, densely overcast skies, and the ever-present chance of rain.

0830 hours

After breakfast and rummaging, Ms. Niehaus meets with the students to brief them on the morning's activities.

0945 hours

The major shot we need to tape today is a crew shirt presentation ceremony. The students gather around the capstan while the video crew sets up.

1000 hours

Captain Reynolds directs the cast and sets up the staging.

With the camera rolling, we "present" the students with their official crew shirts. In real life, of course, most of these sailors already had crew shirts when they arrived on set!

Midway through the scene, we switch from cinema to reality for a special surprise. When the students think they're taping a second take of the scene, Captain Reynolds starts handing out special Half Moon Film Crew shirts, unique to this voyage!

1300 hours

With rain pouring down outside, lunch is served belowdecks. The galley reaches maximum capacity!

1330 hours

Regular ship duties have been going on throughout all the taping, of course. After lunch, galley assistant Matt B. washes dishes.

To keep the students dry and comfortable, we've closed the main hatch, sealing off the stairs. Everyone now has to go through the scuttles when they want to go between decks, just like sailors of old.

Despite the rain, the time has come for the Half Moon to return to the dock. Bosun Laufer assigns positions to the crew for weighing anchor.

1400 hours

On deck, Captain Reynolds gives a safety briefing to refresh the student crew on correct use of the capstan.

1415 hours

Jack, Jason, Evi, and Abby are the primary capstan team, with additional crew members waiting in the wings. More are working belowdecks to guide the anchor rode.

Mr. Boyle is out on the channel, and the Cardozas will be doing the heavy lifting with the tackles from the fore deck.

With all hands laying in, the anchor is soon up and secure, and the Half Moon turns toward its next destination - a staggering distance of some 60 yards away!

1515 hours

Mr. Weisse acts as shore crew as the Half Moon swings in to the dock at Peckham Materials.

He tosses the Line One heaving line to Bosun Laufer, waiting on the port fore channel, who then guides it down to Mr. Linehan inside the ship.

1600 hours

Soon enough, the ship is secured and the gangway is back in position -- just in time for the rain to peter out again.

The students relax below decks, waiting for their next assignment.

1715 hours

Captain Reynolds convenes the crew around the capstan for a meeting. He needs volunteers for a major job on shore. He actually gets a few hands in the air when he proposes digging a 10-foot hole in the parking lot, but lots more shoot up when he upgrades the mission to a walk into down to get ice cream.

Lest we forget, Alex isn't the only birthday boy on this voyage; Nick also turns 15 today! Ms. Niehaus makes sure everyone knows of Nick's special status (until the rain washes the tattoo off, of course).

Mouse over for a backhand toss!

While waiting for other sailors to grab rain gear and orange crew shirts, Matt G., Jack, and Deniro entertain themselves by the main mast.

1730 hours

Actual shore leave is a vanishingly rare treat during Voyages of Discovery, but after a long week of "hurry up and wait" filming, we feel the students deserve the afternoon off.

Everyone sets out on foot toward downtown Athens, about half a mile down the road.

Along the way we come to the neighborhood playground. While here, we learn three things:

1. These students love to climb,...

2. If they have this much energy, we aren't working them nearly hard enough, and...

3. After it rains, the slides are probably full of water.

While most of the crew stays at the playground, a select few continue down the road to the convenience store, picking up a few gallons of ice cream for later.

Mouse over to swing, daddio, swing!

Those who remain behind do a comendable job of burning up all of their excess energy.

1815 hours

When the ice cream team returns, it's time to head back to the ship. We get everyone back on board just before a heavy downpour blows in. Good timing!

1930 hours

Still buzzing with activity, the students amuse themselves on the orlop deck, grooming each other while waiting for dinner.

Mouse over to do whatever Stephen Says!

2000 hours

This is the students' last night on board, and we keep it fun, playing games right into anchor watch. Before dinner, Mr. Linehan leads the students through a long round of "Stephen Says." After dinner, it's another suspenseful night of rooting out werewolves among the crew!

Ending Position: Docked at Peckham Materials in Athens, NY.
Latitude: 42˚ 16.2' N
Longitude: 073˚ 48.1' W

Next Time: That's a Wrap!