Saturday, May 29, 2010

First Bermuda 2010 Training Cruise Departs

CELESTIAL, our IP 440 departed Vinings Landing Marina, Norfolk, VA today May 29, 2010 at 11:00 AM after two preparation days. The crew members are: Captain Harry Privette (Maryland), First Mate Lee Tucker (Virginia), and student crew members John Mitchell (California), Craig Newland (Missouri), Scott Duncan (Massachusetts) and Bill Zissimopoulos (Washington). CELESTIAL will make the passage to Bermuda via a planned non-stop ocean route. The cruise has an estimated distance of 650 miles, and will take approximately 6 days, sailing both day and night. We will discuss the route, weather and actual progress here on our blog as it happens, so please join us! To follow their actual progress on Google Earth, click HERE.

14 comments:

Marguerite said...

Great to see their route, will be following progress! thank you!

Rita Hanson said...

This afternoon's position is posted on the google map link in the main blog entry. I'll post a new position at least once a day, sometimes twice. Just keep clicking on the same link and it will bring you to the updated map. Zoom out using the control on the top left of the map to see more of the overall picture.

If anyone else has trouble with the above link, e-mail me at office@mdschool.com and I will send the full address. I can't post the full address here because it's too long and gets truncated.

Rita Hanson said...

A word about the time stamp on the google map ...

Skymate reports CELESTIAL's position to us in Coordinated Universal Time, abbreviated UTC. Other terms used to refer to UTC include "Greenwich mean time (GMT)", "Zulu time" and "world time."

Eastern Standard Time (EST) is 5 hours behind UTC. UTC is also on a 24 hour clock. So if the time stamp is 08:20:00 UTC then the EST is 03:20:00 or 3:20 AM. If the timestamp is 20:40:00 UTC, then the EST is 15:40:00 or 3:40 PM.

Marguerite said...

thank you - looks like they are making good progress - and no dodgy weather!

Rita Hanson said...

Captain Tom Tursi sent the following weather update to CELESTIAL via Skymate on Sunday May 30, 2010 at 10:00 AM EST:

"High to persist for several days. Expect S to SW winds below 20 knots. No tropical storms; no Hurricanes. Gulf Stream flowing NE; no dips; no eddies."

Rita Hanson said...

The following communication was received from CELESTIAL via Skymate on Monday May 31, 2010 at 1:06 PM:

"All is well. w-22SW s-8SW. In Gulf Stream. Position S 35 37N 71 59W. Course over ground 140M; Speed over ground 7.5."

Rita Hanson said...

Captain Tom Tursi sent the following update to CELESTIAL on May 31, 2010 at 5:00 PM:

"High will persist and move East. Winds SW below 20. Tue Bermuda wind NW 5 to SW. No Tropical storms, no Hurricane activity. Received your 5-30 status. Skymate track ok."

Rita Hanson said...

On Monday May 31st at 7:14 PM we received the following communication from CELESTIAL via Skymate:

"All is well. Position N34 30 W69 25.8 Winds 10SW S-3SW. Course over ground 124M Speed over ground 6.0 Estimated ETA in Bermuda 6/2 PM. Working on ASA 108 and celestial training. Pizza for dinner!

First Mate Lee Tucker
S/V CELESTIAL"

Marguerite said...

fantastic to hear they'll be arriving in Bermuda on June 2nd, weather here is lovely!

Rita Hanson said...

We received the following communication from the crew of CELESTIAL via Skymate today at 5:37 PM EST:

"All is well. Winds 14 knots from the Southwest. Seas 2 ft. Speed over ground 6.5 knots. Three full sails. Position at 1730 33.29/66.55. ETA in Bermuda estimated at 1730 June 2."

Rita Hanson said...

Captain Tursi sent the following weather update to CELESTIAL at 4:30 Pm this afternoon:

"High moving East of Bermuda. Expect S to SW winds below 10 knots. No tropical storms or hurricane activity."

Anonymous said...

Thanks for keeping us updated! Stephanie - Sacramento, CA

Rita Hanson said...

Hello Friends and Families,

CELESTIAL and crew have arrived in Bermuda. All is well!

Thanks for following the journey.

The next crew will arrive in Bermuda this Saturday June 5th for the return trip to Norfolk.

Anonymous said...

Thank You Rita! Stephanie - Sacramento, CA