On Monday afternoon, June 29th 2009, our fourth and final 2009 Bermuda Training Cruise departed St. Georges Harbor, bound for Mystic, Connecticut via a non-stop ocean route. The cruise has an estimated distance of 670 miles, and will take approximately 6 days, sailing both day and night. Aboard CELESTIAL are: Captain David Appleton (PA), First Mate David Gifford (PA), and crew members Bill Walther (NY), Bob Hickey (NJ), Charles Perrell (MD), and Gerald Wall (NY).
On Sunday, Captain Appleton reported the following by e-mail:
"Update: Crew arrived en mass @ 1600 on Saturday. We got them aboard and stowed. Installed Genoa, it looks fine. We worked our buns off today getting most work in. We also calibrated the knot meter which thinks we only went 588 nm, which is inaccurate, unless they moved Bermuda closer to Little Creek while I wasn't looking........."
Plan to set sail about noon tomorrow. We've gone through all the general emergency gear and below and above decks orientation. Crew is currently working on presail check lists. We'll move to shell station dock after close, then fuel first thing in the morning and go on the hook to finish presail business.
WX (weather) looks good, a lot of SW winds, possible W to NW when we cross a cold front Wednesday..... but that remains to be seen.
So far all is well, and crew in good spirits. Should be fun. Will email from Skymate Wed or Thurs."
On Monday afternoon, Captain Appleton called by cell phone to say they were underway. They had put the sails up in the harbor and sailed out. Winds were from the southwest at 15-18 knots, and good weather is expected for the trip with favorable winds at least through Tuesday. They have a strategy for the gulf stream and are underway and in good shape! In his usual good humor, Captain Appleton also reported that "we've all had showers and no one is puking yet!"
Please read the COMMENTS to this post where we will follow their ocean cruise with reports from the crew, discussions on weather and reports on actual progress. You can follow CELESTIALS progress on our google map by clicking here.
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9 comments:
Fabulous! Thanks for the update. It looks like quite an expanse of blue water. What's the first sign of land you will see? Please tell Gerry we love and miss him and can't wait to hear all the sailing tall tales of 50 foot waves etc. - - - - Love, Meryl, Rebecca and Emma.
Go Dad(Bill)!
Love, Dorian (sue+chris)
We are so excited for you all! Cant wait to hear the stories when you get back! Charles,make sure the captain has the wheel on those "Man OverBoard" excercises :)
Big Hugs from Jo~, Joseph & Skipper
On Wednesday, July 1, 2009 we received this communication from Captain David Appleton via Skymate at 01:31 EDT:
All is well, good progress. cloudy conditions thwart celestial navigation excercises. Wx excellent for sailing. We'll enter Gulf Stream tonight or tomorrow morning. Winds SW to W.
Follow CELESTIAL's progress by clicking here.
**WAVES** looks like you guys are passing the NC coast right about now!! Do you see us all on the shoreline waving? Special note: my dad (Charles) likes to push people overboard... maybe it's just me he likes to push in, I'd still keep my eye on him if I were you!
GIANT HUGGS to you Daddy!! Love you and see you soon!! Tracey and Steven
Glad to hear all is well. Tara & Suzie miss Bob H. all is quiet here Bob, expect your driver's license has been suspended due to a clerical error (Port Jervis). I am working on fixing it. better stay on the boat!!! But seriously, no speeding leadfoot!
Love,
the Wife
Getting close!!
Click here for position as of 2:10 PM Friday July 3rd.
Land Ho!
Captain David Appleton called this morning and reported that land was sighted at 0730 EDT this morning, Saturday July 4th. When I spoke with him at 0830 EDT, they were approaching Montauk Point and would soon be entering Block Island Sound. From there they will head for Watch Hill, and go behind Fisher's Island and then proceed up the Mystic River to Mystic, CT. They are hoping to make a stop at the Mystic Seaport Museum before proceeding to Mystic Shipyard. They expect to reach port by approximately 3:00 PM EDT today, Saturday July 4th. The crew was in high spirits and Captain Appleton reported they were all fine!
To see their location as of approximately 0100 EDT this morning, click here.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD (CHARLES)!!
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