After serving four months aboard the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, it is incredibly difficult to summarize the experience in any amount of words. I served as a crew member as the good sloop plied the Hudson River from the post-industrial valley town of Kingston to the bustling shores of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Along the way we sailed past historic bridges and lighthouses spread out over ninety river miles of the scenic Hudson River Valley. We enjoyed rain and rainbows, sunsets worthy of a Hudson River School painting, and city lights off in the distance of many unique Hudson Valley towns. The crew busied ourselves with teaching fourth graders all about their river ecosystem on schooldays, and with entertaining guests on chartered sails on evenings and weekends. Our crew played music together, played games together, slogged through the rain together, and all made sure that this 50 year-old replica of a historic cargo vessel sailed safely from dock to dock and would keep sailing for 50 more years. Mere photos of the ship can never do justice to the myriad of tasks that are involved in operating a historic tall ship, or to the vibrancy of the community aboard the vessel.  But as my tribute, here is a photo montage of the fine and splendid sloop Clearwater that has served as my workplace, my home, and my community for the spring and summer of 2019.

Croton Point Park at the annual Great Hudson River Revival music festival

Running under the jib

Sailing through the Hudson Highlands

Kingston Lighthouse

Under sail past the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse

The entry to the Hudson Highlands, and the river’s only feudal ruins, Bannerman’s Castle

Safely docked at the town of Cold Spring as lightning flashes illuminate the boat in the Hudson Highlands

Clearwater on the Hudson, seen from Mount Beacon

A rainbow through the rigging

Preparing to dock after a rainstorm

Dusk falling over the Mid-Hudson Bridge in Poughkeepsie

Manhattan skyline at night

Esopus Meadows Lighthouse

Passing the West Point Military Academy

Docked at night, city of Newburgh lights across the river

Clearwater, illuminated by docklights

Crew Hammock Tree near the Tappan Zee Bridge

Approaching the Bear Mountain Bridge

Approaching the George Washington Bridge and the skyline of Manhattan

Silhouetted at dusk