Norfolk to Bermuda Cruise #1

HALIMEDA, our Island Packet IP45 sailing yacht departed Norfolk this morning on an ocean training cruise bound for Bermuda, a distance of 650 nautical miles, with a crew of six sailors headed by Captain Jochen Hoffmann. We'll periodically post her position based on reports from the onboard Skymate satellite tracking system.

Halimeda; St Thomas to Norfolk Ocean Training Cruise

Halimeda departed St Thomas, USVI on Wednesday, May 7 at 0800 for a 1500 mile training cruise to Norfolk by direct ocean route. We expect to receive once daily position reports from her Skymate automatic tracking system and voice reports at three or four day intervals. As of 2200 EDT on May 7th she was located about 40 miles NNW of St Thomas on a track towards Cape Hatteras and Norfolk. On board are Captain Jack Morton, First Mate Jim Bortnem, and student crew Bob Mains, James Turner, Mike Robinson and Eric Mendelsohn. Click on comments below for further updates as the cruise progresses.

Bahamas to Norfolk Ocean Passage, May 2-10, 2008

After a valuable two days of preparation, which included ship's checks, man up the mast, sea anchor deployment, emergencies procedure, engineer briefings, and navigation briefings, the crew of CELESTIAL prepared to shove off at 1600hrs on Saturday May 3rd.

Their intended course from North Man O War cut is 12 degrees true to Diamond Shoal, before heading for the Chesapeake Bay. Their ETA at Taylor's Landing Marina in Norfolk is noon on Saturday, May 11th.

Both ship and crew are in fine shape for this ocean passage. On board are Captain Andy Prescott, First Mate Billy Psimas, and crew members David Gifford, Roque Reis, Bob Roe, and Bob Hickey.