Synopsis

Captain Sam Merrett has seen a dream come to the life as his 65-foot, metal-hulled sail freight boat, ‘The Apollonia,’ has successfully completed three seasons delivering cargo – largely malt, grain, corn, pumpkins and red oak – from Hudson to New York City and back without burning fossil fuels, using only the wind and sun to propel and navigate. The Oceans 8 Films team had been following the progess of rebuilding the boat and filming began at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, in May 2020. That Sam’s Quixotic vision would be successful was never guaranteed, especially in these days when everyone, it seems, needs everything overnight, or faster. Sam’s way, by sail-power, takes a purposely slower view, if just as efficient. Today it is the only sail-freight boat operating in United States waters. Official Selections 2023: International Ocean Film Festival, DC Environmental Film Festival, Princeton Environmental Film Festival.