Ship's Crew | Shore Support

William Reynolds: Ship's Captain

Captain William Reynolds has been captain of the Half Moon and Director of the New Netherland Museum since 1998. Before coming to the Half Moon, he captained numerous seagoing vessels, both historical and industrial. His background also includes training and work in the environmental sciences. He currently lives with his family in Selkirk, NY, and is looking forward to seeing the new student crew meet the challenges this Voyage of Discovery places before them.

Kipp van Aken

Kipp van Aken is serving as the Half Moon's chief engineer. Mr. Van Aken has a background in history, anthropology, and business, is a graduate of Hope College, and holds an MBA. He is a veteran of the US Navy Submarine Force and is retired from Southern California Edison's San Onofre Nuclear Station. He is a direct descendant of three early Dutch families in New York and is an original shareholder of the ship.

Bob Breur

Bob Breur is a 68-year old wood carver and figurative sculptor. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1960-1967 as a JC Electrician and Polaris Missile technician. He worked for IBM as a field engineer from 1968-1995. He holds a Master's licence for 100-ton vessels in inland waters, such as the Hudson River and Long Island Sound. He has worked as a Sea Tow captain for 6 years. Mr. Breur's own boat is currently the Cape Dory 36, sailing out of Cornwall-on-Hudson.

Bob Breur is on Starboard Watch.

Mary DeFazio

Mary DeFazio has an environmental science background. Previously she has worked for Nature's Classroom (external site), NYC DEC, and Boy Scout programs. She enjoys getting out on the water and sailing with the Half Moon whenever possible to get away from her normal routine working for New York State.

Mary DeFazio is on Port Watch.

David Ellis
Fall 2005 Voyage of Discovery Alumnus

David Ellis is an alumnus of the Voyage of Discovery program. He first sailed on the Half Moon in 2005 and has been an active volunteer ever since. Besides volunteering on the Half Moon, Mr. Ellis enjoys camping, swimming, mountain biking, and taking pictures. He has completed his first year at Hudson Valley Community College, where he is studying Broadcast Communications. Mr. Ellis made the President's List during his first and second semester with a 4.0 average. This fall, he will be studying Television Production at the New School of Radio and Television. At Hudson Valley, he is the web editor of the student newspaper, The Hudsonian. Mr. Ellis is excited to be sailing on a week-long voyage once more.

David Ellis is on Port Watch.

Bob Hansen

Ship's mate Bob Hansen started sailing on the Hudson on the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater; later, on two engineless sloops. Since the 1990s, he has served as a volunteer and mate on the schooners Spirit of Massachusetts and Ernestina, as well as other vessels.

Having recently retired from a career as a self-styled "bureaucrat" with the New York State government, Mr. Hansen has now turned his attention to serving as second-in-command on board the Half Moon.

Dawn Hopper

Dawn Hopper is a South Carolina native who now lives in Kingston. As Dutchess County Tour & Travel Marketing Manager, she is part of the top-notch team who organizes the Half Moon's visits to Poughkeepsie.

Dawn Hopper is on Starboard Watch.

Glenn Humphrey

Glenn Humphrey (or "G") is enjoying his first long transit voyage on the Half Moon. Previously he sailed on several sail training weekends and shorter transits. G has also sailed with the Clearwater and a few small craft. Normally G works for Nature's Classroom (external site), doing hands-on outdoor education. Having also worked for NYS DEC doing environmental education, ever since taking that first tour a few years ago G and his wife Mary have relished the chance to come aboard and "live" history. Maybe he'll see you on board sometime. After all, his favorite quote is, "Ships are safe in harbor but, that's not what they're built for."

Glenn Humphrey is on Port Watch.

Steven de Jong

Maritime matters have always had an attraction for Steven de Jong, who is serving as bosun and ship's director during our summer season. He was particularly oriented with sea life during his childhood and later on in a more nautical sense. In 1991 he started sailing at sea in Greece , and continued sailing in the Mediterranean for more than ten seasons. In 2000 he completed his professional education and earned his license for sailing on commercial sailing ships worldwide. In 2002 he started working in wooden boatbuilding (Dutch replicas), and since 2005, he's been building small wooden boats, all of American origin. Last year he started to pass on this knowledge to at-risk youth in Holland.

steven = nn. Dutch maritime term for a ship's stem (also used for the stern).
afstevenen = vb. Dutch verb to go somewhere with a fixed plan.

Hubert de Leeuw

Hubert de Leeuw is a Dutchman who lives in Antwerp, Belgium. He discovered "New Netherland" in 1992 and has explored it ever since—its past, present, and future. His focus is on the pre-history of New Netherland 1609-1624. He has been on the Half Moon many times to enjoy and help out, but this is his first time sailing on it in the Long Island Sound. He is grateful to Chip Reynolds for this opportunity to explore, discover, and experience New Netherland history.

Hubert de Leeuw is on Starboard Watch.

Laura Lee Linder

Laura Lee Linder is a former teacher, retailer, and museum curator who helped build the Replica Ship Half Moon in 1989. A Skidmore College graduate, she is a Registered Historian with the Association of Public Historians of New York State. She is the Town of Charlton (Saratoga County) Historian. She is also chair of the Archives & Historical Concerns, First Reformed Church of Schenectady.

Mrs. Linder is a longtime member of the New Netherland Institute; Schenectady/Nijkirk Council; NY State Archaeological Association, Historical Societies & Museums; and the NY State Archives Partnership Trust, and is a Cooperative Extension 4H leader.

Laura Lee Linder is on Starboard Watch.

John W. Mangrum

Originally hailing from the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA, John W. Mangrum holds one of the most anachronistic positions the crew of a 17th-century wooden sailing ship could imagine: the Half Moon's webmaster. Seldom seen in front of the camera, the self-titled "Ship's Chronicler" oversees the daily updates to this website during our voyages. A roleplaying game designer in a past life, Mr. Mangrum has been sailing on board the Half Moon since the summer of 2004. What started as a simple, impromptu dockside tour of the ship has since turned into a life of adventure. Mr. Mangrum would also like to say howdy to his nephew Baxter, who turns three during this voyage and has certain nautical leanings himself.

Gary Masouredis

Gary Masouredis is a life-long sailor and history buff.  His interests include ecology and anthropology.  He is a retired dentist and is serving as cook on this voyage.

Keith Maurer

Keith Maurer was born in Albany and developed an interest in sailing from his early years in college. He joined the Half Moon in 2008 to expand his skills, to learn more about life on the ship, and to learn about the local history of his home town. Some of the skills he learned on the Half Moon have transferred to other ships and have inspired work on his own project boat. Mr. Maurer still sails on the Half Moon several times a year, and hopes to develop his skills with further involvement and ever-changing challenges. He hopes training on the Half Moon will lead to other tall ship sailing experiences.

Keith Maurer is on Port Watch.

Tony Ravinsky

Tony Ravinsky has lived his whole life by the Hudson River. He was born and raised in Hastings-on-Hudson, then moved to Poughkeepsie after college. He and his wife Anna have been sailing out of Chelsea Yacht Club for over 24 years, and have always loved the Hudson River. Mr. Ravinsky loves photographing the sailboats and ships on the Hudson and the places along the river.

Tony Ravinsky is on Port Watch.

Evi Robinson
2008 Masters Voyage of Discovery Alumna

Evi Robinson is a student at the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY. She has continued to sail on the Half Moon regularly since her first voyage as a student crew member.

Evi Robinson is on Port Watch.

Sean Shoemaker

Ahoy! Sean Shoemaker is an intern with the New Netherland Museum. He is currently in pursuit of a Bachelor's degree in Journalism at SUNY Albany. His interests include music, photography, video, soccer, and long walks on the beach.

Sean Shoemaker is on Starboard Watch.

Gene Tozzi

Gene Tozzi is from Rosendale, NY. This is his second time as a member of the Half Moon’s crew. He sails both modern and historic boats and works as a photographer.

Gene Tozzi is on Starboard Watch.

Alex Whyte
2009 Fresh River Voyage of Discovery Alumnus

Alex Whyte is going into his junior year at Lake Travis High School in Austin, TX, where he is moving after he leaves the ship. He loved his experiences on board in 2009 and 2010, so he's extremely excited for this trip and more to come (because he IS coming back)!

Alex Whyte is on Port Watch.

Dave Wilber

Dave Wilber is from Vischer Ferry, NY. A business analyst in the power industry, Mr. Wilber is an avid downhill skier in winter. He builds cedar strip canoes that he paddles and sometimes sails on the many Adirondack Lakes.

Dave Wilber is Starboard Watch Captain.

Steve Eftimiades

Steve Eftimiades is caretaker of the Queens County Farm Museum. He has sailed on the HMS Rose, the Maryland Dove, and the USS Constellation. He is semi-retired, and currently manager of his own real estate. He also builds period furniture, mostly for museums.

Nancy Gill

Nancy Gill delivered her husband Gene Tozzi to the Half Moon in Kingston, and was then kind enough to stick around and help tend our lines from shore.

Jacqueline J. Helma

Jacqueline J. Helma, of Kingston NY, has been a Creative Memories consultant for 16 years. She created an Album of Sail on the Half Moon 12 years ago after sailing to Verplanck during her time as a docent at the Hudson River Maritime Museum. She is now a member of the Kingston Sea Shanty Singers. After her trip on the Half Moon, she learned about the Maine Windjammer Association and sails regularly on board the American Eagle with Captain John Foss. Maine has the best rocks in the world!

Carolyn Niehaus
2000 Fall Voyage of Discovery Alumna

Carolyn Niehaus has been an active member of the Half Moon since 1999 when she started giving tours as a docent through her social studies class. Ms. Niehaus is an alumna of the Fall 2000 Voyage of Discovery, as well as other voyages, and is running the New Netherland Museum's home office in Albany while the ship is abroad.

Woody Woodworth

Woody Woodworth has a home in Schenectady, NY. He has worked as a professional photographer for three decades. He joined the Half Moon in 1998 and is best known for keeping the ship's head working.

...and last but not least, we'd like to thank two off-site crew members: Vicki Cardoza, who prepared several meals for us, and Karen Preston, our ground transportation coordinator.