O Captain my Captain!

Our fearful trip is done

The ship has weathered every rack

The prize we sought is won.

- Walt Whitman

At 9:11 p.m. EDT on May 27, 2003, Great American II with Rich Wilson and Rich du Moulin on board crossed the finish line at Ambrose Light after 72 days, 21 hours, 11 minutes and 38 seconds at sea, beating the speed record set by the clipper ship Sea Witch in 1849. One could almost hear the collective sigh of relief that these two adventurers were safely home from their 15,000-mile voyage, beating the 154-year record of their nemesis, while taking 360,000 school children along for the ride. Family, friends and students had to wait until the next day to sight GA II as she sailed through the fog that surrounded New York Harbor on Wednesday morning, May 28. Among the vessels that sailed into the harbor to catch a first glimpse of the returning trimaran were the main spectator boat, a Moran tug carrying family and friends, and a group of Rich du Moulin's sailing friends on board John Thomson's Seafood. What an exciting and emotional moment it was to spot Great American II in the distance, her huge sail appearing to touch the sky as she slowly made her way into the harbor. As GA II neared the Statue of Liberty, the "emotional" finish line for GA II, the Zachary Reinaur sprayed a plume of water to celebration the conclusion of the record-breaking Hong Kong to New York ocean passage. As GA II sailed into the Chelsea Pier in New York City, the crowd on the dock cheered, champagne flowed, reporters gathered for interviews, and the two Richs were reunited with their families. With interviews completed, the group moved to a tent set up to celebrate their homecoming, complete with a delicious lunch, speeches by both sailors, and just enough time to ask questions about their adventure.

The voyage took GA II south through the South China Sea (past Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia), through the Sunda Strait to the Indian Ocean, around the Cape of Good Hope and into the south Atlantic catching the SE trades near the Equator, working the doldrums north of the Equator, and onto the North Atlantic, past Bermuda, across the turbulent Gulf Stream and into New York Harbor. Along the way, the two Richs gathered a lifetime worth of experiences. As GA II sailed through the South China Sea, she turned off her lights at night to prevent being seen by pirates. Their safe passage was assured when four ships encountered GA II late in the night and turned off their engines allowing GA II to continue on course. On the way to the Indian Ocean, GA II was becalmed through the Sunda Straight, as the two Richs "watched" as Sea Witch passed them by on her way to the Cape of Good Hope. When GA II finally approached the Cape, the wind picked up. Rich Wilson, who is no newcomer to adventure having completed three previous long-distance voyages, referred to the strong currents against the high winds GA II encountered as they rounded the tip of South Africa, as having "never seen anything so confused." For more of their adventures (i.e., Fred, the flying fish, King Neptune, poisonous sea snakes, playful dolphins), go to www.sitesALIVE.com.

GA II and the two Richs were honored a second time at a luncheon on Friday, May 30 at the Seaman's Church Institute. The Rev. Jean R. Smith, the executive director of SCI welcomed Rich Wilson and Rich du Moulin, who is a vice-president of the SCI, by saying, "Welcome back! You are now part of maritime history. It is good to have you safe and home." As lunch was served, Rich Wilson, who started his career as a math teacher in Boston, spoke about bringing excitement into the classroom with "real world problems." He continued, "These voyages bring history, geography, math, sciences, nutrition and marine biology to children. You never know what it is that will excite a kid." Wilson, who is severely asthmatic, and decided at a young age to not let his physical condition alter what he wanted to do in life, mentioned one student with whom he had a 40-minute conversation while on board GA II. It turns out that this young student, a diabetic unable to participate in many activities, followed GA II each day. At the end of the conversation, the young student's mother got on the phone and told Rich Wilson that they were changing their vacation plans so they could take their son to Vancouver to see the ocean for the first time. Rich then presented to the Seaman's Church Institute a ceremonial basket of tea, a flag of New York State that they flew from Melbourne to New York, and a burgee with the latitude and longitude of GA II on April 26. The inscription on the basket of tea reads: Godspeed to the People of New York from the People of Hong Kong. SAR, China. This basket of tea is transported across the ocean from Hong Kong (departure March 16, 2003) to New York aboard the yacht Great American II sailing in the wake of the famous tea clipper "Sea Witch" which sailed on the same route in 1849 in 74 days, 14 hours. (Donated by the Wallen Group, Ltd, Hong Kong in celebration of its Centenary. Founded in Shanghai April 21, 1903). Each of these items will be on exhibit at the Seaman's Church Institute in the near future.

Rich du Moulin, who has been involved with the Seaman's Church for a long time, said he was "glad to end the voyage here," and thanked his family for their e-mails that kept him motivated through the long trip. He mentioned his love of racing against Sea Witch, enjoyed the four-hour watches (even in the middle of the night), looked forward to talking to the school children, and sailing with Rich Wilson whose "seamanship is unequaled by anyone." When asked what the first thing he would do upon returning home, the chef of GA II replied, "go to the nearest tavern for a cheeseburger, but stop on the way for a slice of pepperoni pizza, go by Carvel's for an ice cream cone, and stop in at the cinema for some buttered popcorn."

Rich du Moulin and Rich Wilson, sailors par excellence, who through their devotion to their sport and to the younger generation, have changed how students are learning by bringing real people with real consequences to classrooms across the United States. The rainbows they saw, the fragrances of Sumatra, the swift and awesome power of the Agulhas Current, the high winds round the Cape of Good Hope, the waterspouts, sea snakes, birds and flying fish, and GA II are now part of each student's experience. Let their curiosity and imagination soar, for who knows where it may take them as they start their own adventures through life.