CELESTIAL, our IP 440 will depart Crown Bay Marina, St Thomas USVI on May 7, 2010 after two days of preparation. The crew members are: Captain Jochen Hoffmann (Virginia), First Mate Mike McGovern (Delaware), and student crew members David Lovett (Tennessee), Brooks Hull (Michigan), Allan Peppelman (Pennsylvania) and Roque Reis (Brazil). CELESTIAL will make the passage to Norfolk via a planned non-stop ocean route. The cruise has an estimated distance of 1500 miles, and will take 11-13 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!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Ocean Crew to Depart; St Thomas USVI - Norfolk, VA
CELESTIAL, our IP 440 will depart Crown Bay Marina, St Thomas USVI on May 7, 2010 after two days of preparation. The crew members are: Captain Jochen Hoffmann (Virginia), First Mate Mike McGovern (Delaware), and student crew members David Lovett (Tennessee), Brooks Hull (Michigan), Allan Peppelman (Pennsylvania) and Roque Reis (Brazil). CELESTIAL will make the passage to Norfolk via a planned non-stop ocean route. The cruise has an estimated distance of 1500 miles, and will take 11-13 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!
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At 1500EDT Captain Jochen called and said they were ready and would be departing momentarily. They plan to set a rhumbline course targeting Cape Fear to avoid a dip in the Gulf Stream, and will adjust course later as the cruise progresses and weather and Gulf Stream conditions evolve. All crewmembers are healthy and anxious to get to sea
Ao Mar!
"Oh Deus. Tende piedade de nós. O seu oceano é tão grande e nosso barco é tão pequeno..."
Nenhum barco é pequeno diante do oceano se o sonho de sua tripulação é simplesmente chegar em paz e em segurança.
Bons Ventos e mar Manso nos próximos dias ao Celestial.
Thank you for this blog. I'll be watching for news of the voyage. Hello Brooks!
Roque, we want a great journey for you and all crewmembers. Take care!!! kisses for you! Ana e Belinha.
We'll be following CELESTIAL's progress via Skymate and will post the progress here.
Enjoy!
Captain Tom Tursi sent the following weather update via Skymate to the crew of CELESTIAL at 2:30 PM EST on Saturday, May 8, 2010:
"A cold front will cross Hatteras Monday and reach 27N70W Wednesday with a southwest gale. A low will develop 37N64W Wednesday. The Gulfstream is flowing West to East along 34N starting at 76W; no south bulge noted."
We received this communication from Captain Hoffmann via Skymate at 3:53 PM EST Saturday May 8, 2010. Skymate charges by the character. :-) Anyone want to give a try at the translation?
"M-D-M bettr All gd spirits Wx stdy SE 11-16 flat seas ptly cldy C 331 T S 6.2 Gd chute wind Set @ 1100 aftr MOB trng Cel shots on Venus/Sun/Moon Reducg for fix. Expct 48 hr run of 290 NM J"
Mal-de-mer (seasickness) better. All good spirits. Weather steady, wind from the south east at 11-16 knots, flat seas, partly cloudy. Course 331 degrees true, Speed 6.2 knots. Good chute wind – set at 11:00 after Man Over Board training. Celestial shots on Venus, Sun, and Moon – reducing shots for fix. Expect 48 hour run of 290 nautical miles. Captain Jochem Hoffmann.
Tom Kopcik
Crew of Celestial Norfolk – St Thomas 11/08
Perfect Tom, thanks!!! :-)
This morning's position is posted on the google map link above. I'll post a new position at least once a day, sometimes twice. Just keep clicking on the same link and it will bring you to the updated map. Zoom out using the control on the top left of the map to see more of the overall picture.
Happy Mother's Day!
Thank you Tom, for the translation, and Rita, for the wonderful information and google earth link! Can't begin to explain how terrific it is to have the ability to stay linked in to the trip. Signed, a grateful wife.
I'm bummed. Brooks tried to call while I was in the grocery store, where reception is lousy and the call was dropped. I abandoned my cart in the middle of the aisle and zipped outside but no return call. On the way home, a voice mail notice popped up - so at least I got to hear his voice. Sounds like all is well. It was Brooks who had mal-de-mer but he says in his message that he is better now.
A word about the time stamp on the google map ...
Skymate reports CELESTIAL's position to us in Coordinated Universal Time, abbreviated UTC. Other terms used to refer to UTC include "Greenwich mean time (GMT)", "Zulu time" and "world time."
Eastern Standard Time (EST) is 5 hours behind UTC. UTC is also on a 24 hour clock. So if the time stamp is 08:20:00 UTC then the EST is 03:20:00 or 3:20 AM. If the timestamp is 20:40:00 UTC, then the EST is 15:40:00 or 3:40 PM.
Navegar é preciso viver não é preciso
Que a precisão da navegação, possa até desviá-los da rota mas não dos objetivos
Que a navegação seja tão exata, tão perfeita, tão precisa, que os cálculos desapareçam
E que vocês possam admirar a maravilhosa imprecisão que é viver
Pois, pessoas tão diferentes e tão imperfeitas estão juntas, dependendo uma das outras
Para viver e chegar sempre e para sempre. Nada certo, nada preciso.
E se não chegarem? ................. O importante é que foram. Pois viver não é preciso
Deus abençoe vocês, agora todos meus irmãos.
WAGNER ROQUE REIS
I Saw your position on the google map. The route is direct to destination. This is very nice.
I hope it stays that way.
The boat sailing very fast. The crew is adjusting well...?
Good winds for the whole crew.
Captain Tom Tursi sent the following weather update via Skymate to the crew of CELESTIAL at 11:16 AM EST on Monday, May 10, 2010:
"A cold front extends from 29N65W to Bahamas. High Pressure will build to Thursday. Southeast of front, winds will be from the Northeast 20 knots or less. The Gulf Stream is flowing Northeast where your route will intersect. No hurricane activity."
Hello to all crew! We (from Latitude) are hoping you guys be just fine when arrive at Norfolk. Roque we all are truly missing you. Please take care and be save to return to us. And to the crew: don´t forget giving Roque a baptism by trowing him to the sea before finishing the trip. OK? He may look as he won´t like but he will love it! Have a great trip!!!!
We received the following communication from Captain Hoffmann via Skymate at 5:29 PM EST on Monday May 10, 2010 (translated version):
"Our position at 0800 is 24.45N 070.16W. Motoring over glassy sea. Last evening we got perfect shots/fix of Sirius, Venus, Arcturus. At breakfast we saw and recovered a styrofoam fishing float trailing a long floating line and Sargasso weed. We cut and secured the line to remove danger to other boaters/propellers. We dropped the float and sailed away from it for 15 minutes before using motor to assure we weren't fouled in any line ourselves. Training: perfect search and recovery of float using a Williamson Turn. Afternoon training: fire fighting. Wildlife to date: Dolphin, Bermuda Longtail, small black sea birds, huge sail fish broaching in the distance, jelly fish, crabs in weed. Expect a cold front tonight.
Captain Jochen Hoffmann
S/V CELESTIAL"
We received the following communication from Captain Hoffmann via Skymate at 3:12 PM EST on Tuesday May 11, 2010 (translated version):
"Our position at 0800 26.14N 071.34W. Cold front since 2200. Winds NNE 20-26, seas 6-9 ft. We've double reefed the jib and main. Close reaching on a course of 359 per ships compass. High pressure at 1021 millibar. Good discussions on heavy weather sailing. Crew excited how CELESTIAL moves."
From Latitude Charter to Rita Hanson: Good morning Rita. We are trying to follow the progress of Celestial´s navigation, but we probably are doing something wrong ´cause we can´t see them at the google map. Can you give us some instructions how to follow them? You can send the instruction to the follow e-mail: inesprol@latitudecharter.com.br.Thank you.
Will do! If anyone else has trouble with the above link, e-mail me and I will send the full address. I can't post the full address here because it's too long and gets truncated.
Also, once you click on the link, it may take a minute to load all the points, so give it a bit of time.
Hello to Captain "Dad" Hoffmann and the crew! Glad to hear things are well and sorry I missed you message...I'm in CA now! Look forward to hearing and reading more soon!
From Captain Tom Tursi to CELESTIAL on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 4:38 PM:
"Low deviation Northeast of Bermuda Wednesday. Will intensify Thursday to gale Northeast of Bermuda; drag cold front to you by Friday. Expect winds from the Southwest 20 or less. No change in Gulf Stream."
To: Rita Hanson
Can you send the link for the Google Map to rich2997@cox.net?
Richard Schroeder - N5VYQ
We received the following communication from Captain Jochen Hoffmann this morning, Thursday May 13, 2010 at 9:18 AM EST:
"Position at 0800 30.27N 73.29W. Southwest winds at 4-6. Motoring since 2000. Great spinnaker day yesterday. Celestial shots challenging in swells, got 1 fix. Pod of dolphins; 1 flying fish high into cockpit. Great stir fry dinner. All is well."
Captain Jochen Hoffmann
S/V CELESTIAL
Thursday May 13, 2010
Based on position reports of 5/12 and 5/13, distance traveled in 24-hours is as follows:
146.1 s.m.//126.95 n.m.//235.1 km
Richard Schroeder - N5VYQ
We received this communication from Captain Jochen Hoffmann today Friday, May 14, 2010 4:17 PM via Skymate:
"Day 9, Friday Time: 1500. We have entered the Gulf Stream! What we have been lacking in wind since our glorious Spinnaker day 2 days ago, students have made up in enthusiasm. Student Skipper-of-the-day has led an abandon ship simulation, discussion on sail tactics, and the captain called for a night-time MOB exercise during the last midnight watch shift. Again, that drill went flawlessly. The boat's engineer is doing his Brazilian fans proud. He fixed our freezer issue and sealed a leaky forward hatch. From all on board, a fond HELLO to Brazil."
This weather update sent from Captain Tom Tursi to the CELESTIAL crew today at 4:21 PM EST:
"High Pressure system to persist for a few days. Winds SW-W below 15. Best to all."
FAMILIES AND FRIENDS!!!!
CELESTIAL's Current ETA in Norfolk at Vinings Landing Marina is Sunday evening, May 16th, 2010.
Rita,
From Norfolk, they continue on to Lankford Bay Marina near Rock Hall. Yes? Your estimated ETA at Rock Hall?
Thank you.
Annette,
No, their destination is Norfolk. CELESTIAL will lay over there and await the next ocean crew. We'll make two trips to Bermuda, then to Mystic CT, then a few training cruises up in New England before returning to Rock Hall. She'll finish the season with a Delmarva circumnavigation in August.
Please post the address for the Marina in Norfolk. I'm finding more than one that calls itself Vikings Landing. Thank you!
Annette,
Vinings Landing (not Viking)
http://www.viningslanding.com/
Rita
Received the following communication from Captain Hoffmann this morning, Saturday May 15, 2010. Please note new ETA!!
"Day 10, Saturday. Land Ho; Terra Vista!! Made soundings @ 0645, passed Cape Hatteras Diamond Shoal Light at 0700. At 0800: 35.15N 075.15W; Fuel-9/16, Water 3/10. Winds SW 20-25 since last night on our quarter plus Gulf Stream current 2-5 knots are pushing us at 7-8 kts ahead of ETA. Now expect landfall by midnight tonight. A pod of breaching whales plus dolphins on the bow are a good omen. This terrific crew has really kept the boat moving and has taken care of each other. They can look proudly at their achievements as ocean mariners. Capt HJH"
Hi everyone,
This is a little late, as Michael is sitting here at home with me as I send this to the blog I did not know existed until this very moment!!!
Hope all had a great time.
Glad to hear everyone is safe and had a good time.
Joani DeHaven-McGovern
Hi Joani,
Too bad you didn't know about it sooner! CELESTIAL arrived at Crown Bay Marina at 2:00 AM this morning. By this time the crew is home or on their way. Any input from the crew on this blog as a wrap up would be great!! Good job to all. I know Captain Hoffmann is very pleased.
Thanks to Roque Reis for the crew pic!! Captain Hoffmann couldn't say enough good about this crew. Congratulations to all!
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