Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Norfolk to Bermuda Ocean Training Cruise, May 26-June 2, 2013

CELESTIAL, our IP 440 departed Vinings Landing on Tuesday May 28, 2013 at 0600 after two preparation days. The crew members are: Captain Jack Morton (Florida), First Mate David Gifford (Pennsylvania), and student crew members George Steinmetz (Pennsylvania), Richart Conti (New Jersey), John Hontz (Virginia) and Michael Christakos (New Jersey). CELESTIAL will make the passage to Bermuda via a 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 the discussion, see the comments to this blog post. To follow their actual progress on Google Earth, click HERE.

11 comments:

Rita Hanson said...

From: Tom Tursi
Subject: Wx 5-28
Date: May 28, 2013 8:08:22 PM EDT
To: S/V CELESTIAL

Atlantic High persist to weekend. Expect mild SE winds. No Atlantic tropical storms.

Rita Hanson said...

From: S/V CELESTIAL
To: Tom Tursi
Sent: Wednesday, May 29, 2013 1:29 PM
Subject: position - status

Making good time, but not enough southing. No Herb yesterday - too much interference. Lost a big fish in the G.S. Folks in good spirits - Life is good.

position @ 1325 35 50 x 72 46. Jack

Rita Hanson said...

Just a note to readers... some short hand explanations:

wx = weather
CF = Cold Front
HP = high pressure
BDA = Bermuda
GS or G.S. = Gulf Stream
"Southing" = Headway in the southerly direction

Herb: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb_Hilgenberg

Feel free to ask questions!

Rita Hanson said...

From: Tom Tursi
Subject: Wx 5-29
Date: May 29, 2013 8:45:49 PM EDT
To: S/V CELESTIAL

BDA High persists several days. Expect S to SE10-15 to continue. No systems in sight. Too bad about the fish; your rod must be rusty.

Rita Hanson said...

From: S/V CELESTIAL
To: Tom Tursi
Sent: Thursday, May 30, 2013 1:29 PM
Subject: Status update

Ola, current pos @ 1310 Thur - 33 08 N x 71 31 W. Weather beautiful in Bermuda Azores high, but wind mostly gone, and finally motorsailing after two spectacular days of sailing. Life is good. Jack

Rita Hanson said...

From: "Tom Tursi"
From: Tom Tursi
Subject: Wx 5-30
Date: May 30, 2013 8:39:26 PM EDT
To: S/V CELESTIAL

No significant change. Expect S to SE10-15 thru Sunday. Maybe SE15-20 Monday. No tropical storms in Atlantic, although Pacific TS Barbara may cross Yucatan into Gulf

Rita Hanson said...

From: Tom Tursi
Subject: Wx 5-31
Date: May 31, 2013 7:50:45 PM EDT
To: S/V CELESTIAL

I wish for better news, but no sig change. High anchored mid-Atlantic. Low at FL Tuesday does you little good. Expect S to SE10-15 at least to Monday. No tropical disturbances

Rita Hanson said...

From: S/V CELESTIAL
To: Tom TUrsi
Sent: Sunday, June 02, 2013 12:39 AM
Subject: update - ETA

We're lucking into the best of a bad lot for weather. Wind is indeed on the nose, but light enough (< 7 kts) that we can power into it, and are making good time. Currently (2045 Saturday) about 75 nm from Bermuda (32 58 x 65 56) with an ETA sometime tomorrow morning or afternoon, depending on when the wind builds, and we have to tack in earnest. A flurry of celestial work proceeding apace, and folks are in high spirits. Life is indeed good. Jack

Rita Hanson said...

From: Tom Tursi
Subject: Wx 6-2
Date: June 2, 2013 7:35:29 AM EDT
To: S/V CELESTIAL

No sig change. Rec'd your ETA for today.

Rita Hanson said...

From: S/V CELESTIAL
To: Tom Tursi
Sent: Sunday, June 02, 2013 9:22 AM
Subject: wx - ETA

ETA late afternoon. Winds continue contrary. J

Rita Hanson said...

From: S/V CELESTIAL
To: Tom Tursi
Sent: Sunday, June 02, 2013 5:21 PM
Subject: arrival

Arrived customs ~ 1400, topped fuel, and water, and secure at corner berth south of Dowlings. All is well. No cell service - will get phone card in the AM, and call.


Jack