Bermuda to Norfolk Virginia Ocean Training Cruise, June 7-15, 2019

S/V NAVIGATOR, our Island Packet 40 will depart Bermuda bound for Norfolk Virginia on June 9th.  The student crew (pictured here hard at work) arrived on the evening of June 6th.  June 7th and 8th were spent in preparation for the voyage.  The crew members are: Captain Tom Tursi of Pennsylvania (Skipper), Captain David Gifford of Maryland (First Mate), and student crew members Jonathan Sparling (Texas), Paul Oppenheimer (Massachusetts), Richard Baker (Vermont) and Ronald Spiers (Georgia). NAVIGATOR will make the passage to Norfolk via a non-stop ocean route. The cruise has an estimated distance of 670 nautical 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 via SPOT, CLICK HERE.

Norfolk Virginia to Bermuda Ocean Training Cruise, May 26 - June 3, 2019

S/V NAVIGATOR, our Island Packet 40  will depart Norfolk Virginia on May 28, 2019 after two preparation days. The crew members are: Captain Tom Tursi of Pennsylvania (Skipper), Captain David Gifford of Maryland (First Mate), and student crew members Christopher Quinn (New Jersey), Sarah Grainger (New York), Susan Quinn (New Jersey) and Jonathan Karpfen (California). NAVIGATOR will make the passage to Bermuda via a non-stop ocean route. The cruise has an estimated distance of 670 nautical 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 via SPOT, click HERE.

Bermuda to Norfolk Virginia Ocean Training Cruise, June 7-15, 2018

S/V NAVIGATOR, our Island Packet 40 departed Bermuda bound Norfolk Virginia at 10:45 AM EDT on June 9th.  The student crew arrived on the evening of June 6th, and June 7th and 8th were spent in preparation for the voyage.  The crew members are: Captain Tom Tursi of Pennsylvania (Skipper), Captain Jerry Nigro of New York (First Mate), and student crew members Chase Miller (Massachusetts), John Leighton (South Carolina), Mike Crombie (Ontario) and Paul Brana (Vermont). NAVIGATOR will make the passage to Norfolk via a non-stop ocean route. The cruise has an estimated distance of 670 nautical 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 via SPOT, CLICK HERE.

Norfolk Virginia to Bermuda Ocean Training Cruise, May 26-June 3, 2018

S/V NAVIGATOR, our Island Packet 40  departed Norfolk Virginia at 0950 on May 28, 2018 after two preparation days. The crew members are: Captain Tom Tursi of Pennsylvania (Skipper), Captain Jerry Nigro of New York  (First Mate), and student crew members Alan Kronish (Florida), Doug Smith (Virginia), John Hall (California) and Naomi Emmerson (Nevada). NAVIGATOR will make the passage to Bermuda via a non-stop ocean route. The cruise has an estimated distance of 670 nautical 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 via SPOT, click HERE. 

Bermuda to Norfolk Virginia Ocean Training Cruise, June 7-15, 2017

S/V NAVIGATOR, our Island Packet 40 departed Bermuda bound Norfolk Virginia at 9:30 AM EDT on June 10th.  The student crew arrived on the evening of June 6th, and June 7th and 8th were spent in preparation for the voyage.  The planned departure date was June 9th, but was delayed due to high wind and seas. The crew members are: Captain Tom Tursi of Pennsylvania (Skipper), Captain Jerry Nigro of New York (First Mate), and student crew members Adrian Ciuperca (New York), Joe Jacobs (New York), Matt Emerick (Mississippi) and Steve Thorup (California). NAVIGATOR will make the passage to Norfolk via a non-stop ocean route. The cruise has an estimated distance of 670 nautical 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 via SPOT, click HERE.

Norfolk Virginia to Bermuda Ocean Training Cruise, May 26-June 3, 2017

S/V NAVIGATOR, our Island packet 40  departed Norfolk Virginia at 1018 on May 28, 2017 after two preparation days. The crew members are: Captain Tom Tursi of Pennsylvania (Skipper), Captain Jerry Nigro of New York  (First Mate), and student crew members Jeffrey Crawford (New Jersey), Keith James (Alberta Canada), Manfred Tiedemann (North Carolina) and Vincent Di Stefano (Virginia). NAVIGATOR will make the passage to Bermuda via a non-stop ocean route. The cruise has an estimated distance of 670 nautical 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 via SPOT, click HERE. 

Bermuda to Norfolk Virginia Ocean Training Cruise, June 6-13, 2016

S/V NAVIGATOR, our Island Packet 40  will soon depart Bermuda bound Norfolk Virginia.  The student crew arrived on the evening of June 5th, and June 6th and 7th were spent in preparation for the voyage.  The planned departure date is June 8th, but that is delayed due to TS Colin. The crew members are: Captain Tom Tursi of Pennsylvania (Skipper), Captain George "Nordie" Norwood of Florida  (First Mate), and student crew members Ronald Heald (NSW, Australia), Samir Dobric (Florida) and Don Chabon (Massachusetts). NAVIGATOR will make the passage to Norfolk via a non-stop ocean route. The cruise has an estimated distance of 670 nautical 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 via SPOT, click HERE. 

Norfolk Virginia to Bermuda Ocean Training Cruise, May 26-June 2, 2016

S/V NAVIGATOR, our Island packet 40  departed Norfolk Virginia at 1345 on May 27, 2016 after two preparation days. The crew members are: Captain Tom Tursi of Pennsylvania (Skipper), Captain George "Nordie" Norwood of Florida  (First Mate), and student crew members Ellen Dawson (Indiana), Walter Ried (Ontario), James Lyon (Maryland) and Carl Dickisson (Florida). NAVIGATOR will make the passage to Bermuda via a non-stop ocean route. The cruise has an estimated distance of 670 nautical 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 via SPOT, click HERE. 

Bermuda to New York Training Cruise; June 9-17, 2015

S/V MONTAUK LIGHT, A Skye 51 will depart Bermuda on Thursday June 11th, 2015 after two preparation days. The crew members are: Captain Jerry Nigro of New York (Skipper), Captain Tom Tursi of Pennsylvania  (Instructor), and student crew members Jim Gravelle (Virginia), Don Policky (South Dakota), Tim Jenkins (Florida) and Christian Marston (New Jersey). MONTAUK LIGHT will make the passage to New York via a non-stop ocean route. The cruise has an estimated distance of 650 nautical 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.

Florida to Bermuda Training Cruise, May 26-June 4, 2015

S/V MONTAUK LIGHT, A Skye 51 will depart West Palm Florida on Thursday May 28, 2015 after two preparation days. The crew members are: Captain Jerry Nigro of New York (Skipper), Captain Tom Tursi of Pennsylvania  (Instructor), and student crew members Scott Murphy (Texas), Jared Smith (New Jersey), Rocky Vinciguerra (New Jersey) and Mick Meckler (Pennsylvania). MONTAUK LIGHT will make the passage to Bermuda via a non-stop ocean route. The cruise has an estimated distance of 800 nautical miles, and will take approximately 8 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.

Transatlantic: Portugal-Madeira-St Thomas, November 2014

On November 8th, MONTAUK LIGHT, a Skye 51, will depart Portugal for a 3200 mile transatlantic ocean passage from Portugal to St Thomas, USVI with an intermediate planned stop in Madeira.  The crew of five are associated with the Maryland School of Sailing and Seamanship, having been prior students, instructors and/or ocean mates.  The crew members are: Jerry Nigro (S/V MONTAUK LIGHT owner/skipper, Maryland School graduate and ocean mate), Mike McGovern (Maryland School graduate and ocean mate), Jochen Hoffmann (Maryland School graduate, instructor and licensed ocean captain),  Lee Tucker (medical doctor, Maryland School graduate, instructor, ocean mate and licensed near coastal captain) and Tom Tursi (Maryland School founder, instructor and licensed ocean captain).

S/V MONTAUK LIGHT will make the 500 mile passage from Portugal to Madeira, and then will depart for St Thomas after a few days.  The crew will then proceed on a SSW course in order to get further south and into the trade winds, then curve westerly to head for St Thomas.  They expect to make 150 NM per day. The picture above shows the planned route and the prevailing winds.  If the weather follows the predicted pattern, S/V MONTAUK LIGHT should be sailing off the wind the entire trip.  The prevailing wind and water currents in the Atlantic rotate clockwise, and the rhumb-line for this cruise is in the SE corner of that quadrant.  The prevailing winds could be interrupted by storms or weather systems, and we will be following that closely.

Bradley Mabe, a professional meteorologist and Maryland School graduate, will be providing weather forecasts to the crew for the duration of the trip.  Communications between Bradley, the crew and the school will be via e-mail over single side band. 

We will discuss the route, weather and actual progress here on our blog as it happens, so please join us! To follow the discussion, add comments or ask questions, see the comments to this blog post. To follow their actual progress on Google Earth, click HERE.

Bermuda to Norfolk Ocean Training Cruise, June 6-13, 2014

CELESTIAL, our IP 440 departed St Georges Harbor, Bermuda on June 8, 2014 at 11:45 AM EDT after two preparation days. The crew members are: Captain Tom Tursi (Pennsylvania), First Mate George "Nordie" Norwood (Florida), and student crew members Bob Louton (Pennsylvania), Wayne Rigby (Delaware), Greg Sachs (New York) and Jerry Murphy (Virginia). They are picture here in Bermuda during their "departure Dinner".  CELESTIAL will make the passage to Norfolk, Virginia 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.

Norfolk to Bermuda Training Cruise, May 26-June 2, 2014

CELESTIAL, our IP 440 will depart Vinings Landing Marina on Wednesday May 28, 2014 after two preparation days. The crew members are: Captain Tom Tursi (Pennsylvania), First Mate George "Nordie" Norwood  (Florida), and student crew members Les Holden (North Carolina), Jake Jacobson (Virginia), Larry Elliott (Pennsylvania) and Jack McDonald (Maryland). 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.

Norfolk VA to St Thomas USVI Ocean Training Cruise November 2013

CELESTIAL, our IP 440 departed Taylor's Landing Marina on November 4th, 2013 at 3:30 PM EST after two preparation days and one weather delay day which was put to good use.  The crew members are: Captain Jack Morton (Florida), First Mate David Gifford (Maryland), Second Mate Tom Tursi (Pennsylvania) and student crew members Claude Bilodeau (Quebec), Theo Wolfensberger (Illinois) and George Norwood (Florida). CELESTIAL will make the passage to St Thomas USVI via a non-stop ocean route. The cruise has an estimated distance of 1500 miles, and will take approximately 11 days, sailing both day and night. We will discuss the route, weather and actual progress here 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.

Bermuda to Norfolk Ocean Training Cruise; June 6-13, 2013

CELESTIAL, our IP 440 departed St Georges Harbor, Bermuda on June 7, 2013 at 5:00 PM EDT after two preparation days. The crew members are: Captain Jack Morton (Florida), First Mate David Gifford (Pennsylvania), and student crew members Donald Bentley (Florida), Regina Krieger (Massachusetts), Richard Eaton (South Carolina) and Michael Gaffney (Ontario). CELESTIAL will make the passage to Norfolk, Virginia 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.

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.

Northbound Ocean Crew Departs; St Thomas USVI - Norfolk, VA

CELESTIAL, our IP 440 departed Crown Bay Marina, St Thomas USVI at 1000 on May 7, 2013 after two days of preparation. The crew members are: Captain Jochen Hoffmann (Florida),  First Mate Steve Runals (Virginia) and student crew members Skip Stebbins (Illinois), Adrian Gnyra (Alberta), and Joseph Pazourek (Oklahoma).  A fourth crew member Richard Westrick participated in pre-departure preparations. CELESTIAL will make the passage to Norfolk via a non-stop ocean route. The cruise has an estimated distance of 1500 miles, and will take 11-13 days, sailing both day and night.  Initially, watch the schedule will be as follows:

12-4... Joe Pazoureck and Skip Stebbins

4-8... First Mate Steve Runals alone with auto pilot

8-4... Captain Jochen and Adrian Gnvra

Captain Tursi will be monitoring progress of the cruise and will be in contact with CELESTIAL's crew via a Skymate satellite system. We'll receive reports from the crew approximately every other day and Captain Tursi will supply the crew with detailed weather analysis.

More discussion on this soon, as well as weather updates, communication from the crew, and actual progress (see comments below), so please join us! To follow their actual progress on Google Earth, click here. For more information on The Maryland School, please visit our website.

Norfolk to St Thomas, USVI November 2-16, 2012

CELESTIAL, our IP 440 departed Taylor's Landing Marina on November 3rd, 2012 at 10:00 PM EDT after two preparation days. The crew members are: Captain Jack Morton (Florida), First Mate Jim Bortnem (Minnesota), and student crew members David Bradsher (Virginia), Ingo Stubbe (Massachusetts), James Barber (Massachusetts) and Richards Briggs (Tennesee). CELESTIAL will make the passage to St Thomas USVI via a non-stop ocean route. The cruise has an estimated distance of 1500 miles, and will take approximately 11 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.

Bermuda to Norfolk Ocean Training Cruise; June 6-13, 2012

CELESTIAL, our IP 440 departed St Georges Harbor, Bermuda on June 8, 2012 at 10:30 AM EDT after two preparation days. The crew members are: Captain Jack Morton (Florida), First Mate David Gifford (Pennsylvania), and student crew members George Norwood (Florida), Aaron Panken (New York), James Barber (Massachusetts) and Peter Fisher (Massachusetts). CELESTIAL will make the passage to Norfolk, Virginia 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 their actual progress on Google Earth, click HERE.

Norfolk to Bermuda Ocean Training Cruise, May 26-June 2, 2012

Left to right:  Jeff, Alexei, Rich, David, Dan & Tom

CELESTIAL, our IP 440 departed Vinings Landing on Sunday May 27, 2012 after 1-1/2 preparation days. The crew members are: Captain Tom Tursi (Pennsylvania), First Mate David Gifford (Pennsylvania), and student crew members Daniel Marques (New York), Richard Malerba (Georgia), Jeffrey Donnelly (Vermont) and Alexei Turmilov (Texas). 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.