A photographic and literary log of the 70-plus islands of New York City hiding in plain sight, with musings on sailing and regional history, based on a 3,000-nautical-mile sailboat expedition of NYC's islands
Archipelago
is a mesmerizing photographic and literary log book that unravels the mysteries of more than 70 islands dotting the sea from New York Harbor, at the mouth of the Hudson, to Fishers Island Sound. This magical island world, hiding in plain sight off the shores of Manhattan, is revealed from aboard documentary filmmaker and writer Thomas Halaczinsky's 30-foot sailboat. His course follows the route of Adriaen Block, the first European who, in 1614, sailed and mapped this area. On old marine charts, these islands have curious-sounding names such as Money Island, Pot Island, and Rats Island, while names such as Rockaway, Jamaica Bay, and Montauk speak of the indigenous people who once inhabited the land. Rooted in history, local tales are interwoven with current themes such as climate change, and wrapped in the narrative of sailing, in quest of a sense of place.