Clarification Of The Term "Voyage" In The Northeast Grain Race Rules

In May of 2022, the Hudson River Maritime Museum will be running a Grain Race in cooperation with the Schooner Apollonia, The Northeast Grainshed Alliance, and the Center for Post Carbon Logistics. Anyone interested in the race can find out more here.

The Grain Race Rules state the following: "Over the course of one Month (May for Grain, October for Pumpkins) participants may enter one cargo voyage." This may not be as clear as possible, and so this supplement to the rules is being issued.

The One Voyage requirement will be satisfied so long as the cargo involves only one Point of Origin OR Destination. For example, a voyage from a single malt-house to three breweries in the same trip will qualify. Similarly, picking up Grains at more than one farm to deliver to one Producer would qualify as a single voyage. 

Cargo must be distinguished for each segment when accounting for ton-mile points. For example, a load of 3 tons from one point of origin dropped at three locations with one ton each can only count each ton from the start to its destination. While the first leg will gain 3 ton-miles per mile traveled, the second will only gain two, and so on. The same principle applies for multiple points of origin.

What does not qualify as a single voyage is picking up cargo at more than one point and delivering at more than one point. Similarly, Voyages are one direction, not round trips, so return cargoes cannot be counted as part of the same voyage.

Fuel accounting is not effected by multiple legs being involved in a voyage. All fuel burned or grid power used on all legs of a voyage must be accounted for.
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You can find more information on the Grain Race here.

Author

Steven Woods is the Solaris and Education coordinator at HRMM. He earned his Master's degree in Resilient and Sustainable Communities at Prescott College, and wrote his thesis on the revival of Sail Freight for supplying the New York Metro Area's food needs. Steven has worked in Museums for over 20 years.

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