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History on the River in Essex

Dubbed “America’s first yacht,” the Onrust is back again for another summer season bringing passengers up the Connecticut River, following the route of the original 1614 ship. It’s the third season the historically accurate replica of the first European vessel to enter the Connecticut River will be in the water. Guests and visitors are invited to take a step back in history and recreate the journey of Dutch explorer Adriaen Block.

“We are extremely pleased to have the Onrust back in the water for the 2019 season,” said Tom Wilcox, the interim director of the Connecticut River Museum. “It is a wonderful vessel and a great opportunity to reenact the very same voyage that took place 400 years ago. That’s an opportunity that doesn’t come around every day.”

Steeped in history, the Onrust (Dutch for unrest or restless), which has a home port in the Hudson River in New York City, spent this past season at Dauntless Shipyard in Essex. It’s an auxiliary sailboat (it has an engine in case the weather doesn’t cooperate) that is 52 feet long with a 14-foot beam and draws about five feet of water. It is a replica of the boat that Block and his crew built after his first ship, the Tyger, went up in flames in New York Bay.

“Getting out on the beautiful Connecticut River is always wonderful, no matter what kind of boat you are in, but to see and experience it from the deck of the Onrust is something very special,” said Wilcox.

Official excursions on the vessel began last weekend, carrying visitors north to Hamburg Cove and south to Goose Island. While enjoying the coastline of the river, passengers will hear stories told by the captain and an educational discussion about the wildlife and bird activity on and near the shore.

In May, the boat was used primarily for school on field trips, with classes from all over the state coming to the Essex port to engage in a real-life history lesson.

“It’s a special experience, especially for school-aged children to have the opportunity to experience history in a different way,” said Wilcox.

The Onrust was reported to have taken her last voyage sometime in 1616 with Captain Cornelius Hendrickson at the helm. Block has been immortalized as the namesake of a small island off Long Island Sound that many people enjoy visiting today, Block Island.

Cruises on the Onrust set sail Thursdays through Monday at 2, 4 and 6 p.m. June through October; tickets range from $12 to $33. For more information, visit www.ctrivermuseum.org.