Captain Sam Merrett has seen a dream come to life as his 65-foot, metal-hulled sail freight boat, ‘The Apollonia’, has successfully completed three seasons delivering cargo – largely malt, grain, corn, pumpkins and red oak – from Hudson to New York City and back without burning fossil fuels, using only the wind and sun to propel and navigate.
The Oceans 8 Films team had been following the progress of rebuilding the boat and filming began at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, in May 2020. That Sam’s Quixotic vision would be successful was never guaranteed, especially in these days when everyone, it seems, needs everything overnight, or faster (thanks to Amazon!). Sam’s way, by sail-power, takes a purposely slower view, if just as efficient. Today it is the only sail-freight boat operating in United States waters.
The Oceans 8 Films team had been following the progress of rebuilding the boat and filming began at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, in May 2020. That Sam’s Quixotic vision would be successful was never guaranteed, especially in these days when everyone, it seems, needs everything overnight, or faster (thanks to Amazon!). Sam’s way, by sail-power, takes a purposely slower view, if just as efficient. Today it is the only sail-freight boat operating in United States waters.
