October 103-104 Cruise

Maryland School of Sailing and Seamanship
Cruise Report

ASA 103 – 104 Basic and Intermediate Cruising/Bareboat Chartering Class, October 4 – 11, 2008

Student Crew:
Robert deGroof
Ellen deGroof
Kevin Daylor
Charles Davis

Captain/Instructor:
David Appleton

This turned out to be an example of our typical 103-104 class preparing novice sailors for the demands of bare boat chartering. We spent the first 3 days fulfilling the requirements and learning the skills outlined in the ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising course before embarking on a 5 day cruise mastering skills of the 104 Bareboat Chartering Course. This seemed to be a very satisfying experience for the crew and instructor alike. For the full report, see the Coastal Cruising reports on our website: http://www.mdschool.com/Reports-2008/Chesapeake/index08.htm


Capt. David Appleton, Instructor
Lankford Bay Marina, Rock Hall
10/12/2008

Norfolk to St. Thomas USVI, November 2008

CELESTIAL, our IP 440 will depart Taylor's Landing Marina today, November 6, 2008 after several days of preparation. The crewmembers are: Captain Jochen Hoffmann, First Mate Louise Orion, and student crewmembers Paul Kidd, Matt Carlson, Tom Kopcik, and Larry Weld. CELESTIAL will make the passage to St. Thomas via a planned non-stop ocean route. The cruise has an estimated distance of 1500 miles, and will take approximately 11 days, sailing both day and night. Please read the COMMENTS to this post which will discuss the planned route, weather and actual progress.