Shipping Cargo by Sail

Just like the old days… goods being moved by sailboat. Grain de Sail is a modern cargo vessel powered by wind that is able to cross oceans.

It took the custom built ‘Grain de Sail’ 28 days to deliver her cargo from Saint-Malo, France to the Port of New York. The 80-foot two-masted boat was designed to cross the North Atlantic under sail in an initiative to minimize the environmental impact of shipping the company’s goods: wine, coffee and cocoa.

Stashed below deck in a climate controlled hold are 18,000 bottles of wine.
This photo shows a crew member unbolting the hatch cover to the cargo hold.

The hatch was carefully hoisted off the boat using the halyard, allowing access to the hold.

Deck officer Goulwen Josse directs the discharge operation.

The first case of ‘2018 Nuits-Saint-Georges’ wine is brought ashore and stacked on a palette by longshoremen.

The company expects to make two trans-Atlantic deliveries per year.

The ‘Grain du Sail’ boat will be docked at the Brooklyn Navy Yard for about a week before starting her return trip. You can visit the boat and by reserving a time slot (free).

Greta Thunberg in New York

After two weeks at sea, Greta Thunberg arrived in America. Boris Herrmann and Team Malizia sailed Greta across the North Atlantic - from Plymouth to New York. Thunberg is determined to tell U.S. policy makers a thing or two about climate change at the United Nations in Manhattan.

Greta Thunberg in New York at the Statue of Liberty aboard Malizia II

Thunberg sailed aboard Malizia II, an IMOCA class racing yacht, in order to minimize her own carbon footprint and not taking a plane.

Greta Thunberg at the Statue of Liberty in New York

Boris Herrmann and Team Malizia offered Thunberg the ride after hearing her speak to a group of school children and expressing interest in delivering her message to North and South America.

Greta Thunberg at the Statue of Liberty sailing towards her destination: Manhattan.

Greta Thunberg at the bow of Malizia II

‘Unite Behind The Science’ is a message Team Malizia is promoting. They outfitted the sailboat with CO2 sensors and are collecting ocean data on all their voyages.

‘Unite Behind The Science’ and ‘A Race We Must Win’ are clear messages in Malizia’s sails

The United Nations arranged a sailboat flotilla to welcome Greta with colorful sails.

Approaching Manhattan Thunberg waves to passengers aboard the Staten Island Ferry.

Greta Thunberg greets passengers aboard the Staten Island Ferry as she approaches Manhattan.

Greta Thunberg - Destination: Manhattan

Greta Thunberg’s father Svante accompanied her on the trip. Skipper Boris Herrmann in the background.

Boris Herrmann and Greta Thunberg were welcomed by thousands of fans and journalist from all over the world at North Cove Marina in downtown Manhattan.

Boris Herrmann and Greta Thunberg exit the press conference

Greta Thunberg Sails to New York

photo: ©Anders Hellberg

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg is traveling to New York by sailboat to speak at the United Nations Climate Action Summit in September.

The 16-year old Thunberg and her father are being ferried across the North Atlantic by professional offshore sailor Boris Herrmann and his teammate Pierre Casiraghi aboard Malizia II — a foiling IMOCA 60 racing sailboat.

Sailing, she says, will limit her carbon footprint.

Thunberg started a school strike every Friday in front of the Swedish parliament to send a clear message to politicians, and says the strikes will continue until Sweden is in alignment with the Paris Climate Accord.She has inspired kids in many countries to follow suit. Social hashtags are #FridaysForFuture and #SS4C.

Team Malizia is collaborating with the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Munich, and the Geomar Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research in Kiel, Germany. They have outfitted the boat with CO2 sensors and are collecting ocean data on all of their voyages.

Sea Smoke on the Hudson

A thick layer of sea smoke blanketed the lower Hudson River and upper bay this morning. It's one thing to see fog roll in, but to see tall wisps of steam waft up from the water is more rare and enchanting.

Sailors aboard the Zanabe had the perfect eye-level view of the phenomenon:

According to a paper by Woods Hole researchers, sea smoke occurs when very cold air comes into contact with warmer water -- and the difference in temperatures has to be in the range of at least 5 to 15 degrees Celsius. That's about 40 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Huge difference!

The water temperature at The Battery was 36F this morning, and the air temperature was -2F: the perfect differential for a stunning display.