The 2007- 2008 Clipper Around the World race ended the first part of Leg 7 of this amateur sailing race in New York City early Monday morning with the "Home Team" crossing the line first. Each of the ten identical boats represented a city or nation, New York with it's red, white, and blue sail cover rocked gently at the North Cove Marina in downtown New York. The boat that I came to see was Hull & Humber that represented the city of Hull, home of William Wilberforce, whose efforts in the British Parliament legally ended the slave trade in the UK.

Hull & Humber was carrying a special sail the flew from her 90-foot mast; it was an 18th Century canvas sail, not like the modern plastic-based sails carried on these 68-foot ocean racing hot rods. The sail carried the message of WISE: Wilberforce Institute on Slavery and Emancipation located in Hull. The sail read, "Bearing Witness Ending Slavery: An International Forum, Newport, R.I. April 2009." WISE was using the sail of Hull & Humber to spread the message world-wide much as AMISTAD  was spreading the message of "Remembering the Past, Confronting The Future". 

Photo opportunities with the sail, the boat, and, as seen here, the Lord Mayor of Kensington-on-Hull, the Honorable Elaine Garland was at the dock and at the conference on Combating Modern Slavery held later in the day.

Representing AMISTAD America, Inc. at the conference was a wonderful experience as I was treated to some very interesting presentations by academics, business people, IT specialists, museum directors, and the U.S. Attorney's office. A personal highlight occurred when I got to have a reunion with my friend and mentor, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. The photo taken in front of the sail has the First man to sail Solo Around the world Non-stop and the First Black man to sail solo around the world under the five great capes.

Chandler Saint of the Harriet Beecher Stowe House and Venture Smith Project was on hand to represent the U.S. contingent at the conference. A scroll signed by all the participants will join the ones signed in other cities touched by the race in their conferences around the world pledging to help stop modern slavery.

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