Welcome to the website of the 2009 Hudson Raft project. My name is Dallas Trombley and I am Captain of Assiduity, a twenty-four foot, biodiesel, solar, wind and electric-powered watercraft. Along with Robert Babcock-Ellis, our Navigator, and Todd Haggerty, our quartermaster and cook, I will sail from Albany to Manhattan in our self-built boat.
Over four years I have attempted to build a vessel which uses no fossil fuels and to sail from Albany to Manhattan. Four times I have been defeated. Once by sinking, twice by relentless storms and winds that pushed us upstream, and once by vandals who stole and burnt our ship before setting it adrift in the river while we resupplied ashore.
No man has ever come out ahead by quitting while behind. I have exhausted my mind and bank account, stressed the goodwill of friends, family and acquaintances, calloused my hands, lost girlfriends and expended every free moment to prove that the human mind and a sense of industry are equal to any problem.
I could never have gotten as far as I have without the help of Robert Babcock-Ellis who has contributed more than anyone else to the planning, building and execution of this adventure. Or my parents, or, well, any of the people who are listed on the right side of this page.
Please explore this site for pictures and notes about our previous expeditions and a description of the planning and building process this year. This project, which began as sort of a joke, has become an intellectual, philosophical and, of course, physical journey that has informed every aspect of my life. Check back often for updates, or try out the RSS feed to get an automatic notice when we update this page. Thank you for your interest.
-Dallas Trombley