Saturday, June 19, 2010
Third Bermuda 2010 Training Cruise Departs
CELESTIAL, our IP 440 departed Vinings Landing today June 19, 2010 at 12:30 PM after two preparation days. The crew members are: Captain Tom Tursi (Pennsylvania), First Mate Jerry Nigro (New York), and student crew members Carol Wills (New York), Bodo Walters (Pennsylvania), Jocelyn Henderson (Washington DC) and Bernard Marchive (Washington DC). 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.
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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.
Captain Jochen Hoffmann sent the following weather update to CELESTIAL via Skymate today at 10:20 AM just before their departure:
"Today, High pressure system. Sunday, stationary front stalling along your track. Monday, a west to east cold front, currently at New Jersey, will drag to your track. Winds today from the southeast at 10 knots. Sunday to Tuesday from the southwest 10-15 knots, Wednesday from the southwest 15-25 knots. No hurricane activity."
Hello sailors and followers! CELESTIAL has just departed for our third of four Bermuda ocean training cruises for the 2010 season. Captain Tom Tursi is in charge of the vessel for this cruise, and Captain Jochen Hoffmann will be communicating with the crew for the duration of the cruise via Skymate, primarily regarding weather.
We can also track their position via the Skymate satellite receiver installed on the boat and will post their position on a google map for all to see. Use the link on the main blog post to see the google map.
Today's position before departure is posted and 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.
If anyone has trouble with the above link, e-mail me at office@mdschool.com and I will send the full address. I can't post the full address here because it's too long and gets truncated.
We received the following communication from the crew of CELESTIAL at 6:56 AM EST this morning, June 20, 2010:
"Departed Vinings Landing Marina 1237PM 6-19. All is well. 0645 Position 3628N, 7452W. Sailed C125 last night in S18 knot winds. Wind died at 0300; motoring C195. Clear & cool before sunrise. Now warming."
Captain Hoffmann sent the following weather communication to CELESTIAL today June 20, 2010 @ 12:59:28 PM EDT:
"Near Fronts weak, High pressure building Monday/Tuesday; Today to Tuesday winds SW 10-15 Tuesday/Wednesday SW 15-20; Gulf Stream dip still 34N 73W. No hurricane activity."
Captain Hoffmann sent the following weather communication to CELESTIAL this morning, Monday June 21, 2010:
"Weak stationary Front dissipates Wed...Gulf Stream good drift from 35N 74W to 34N 72W No hurricane activity."
We received the following communication this morning June 21, 2010:
"0300 squall (of course) all handled it well. 0900 Pos 3440N, 7327W, East edge of Gulf Stream,
winds 2 kt lift to 8 kt, favorable direction, now motor sailing in SW10 knots."
From: S/V CELESTIAL
Sent: 6/22/2010 7:07:59 A.M. EDT
Subj: 6-22 Position Report
"Excellent sailing yesterday: winds SW15-20 broad reach w/ 3 full sails in 4 ft seas 7 to 8 kt boat speed & 2 kt current lift. Moderated in evening. Motor sailed overnight course 115C. Today bright clear winds SW10. All are well and send best regards. 0645 pos 3343N 7059W"
From: Captain Jochen Hoffmann
To: S/V CELESTIAL
Date: 22 Jun 2010, 06:52:35 AM EDT
Subject: Wx 6-22
"High Pressure; Today & Wed SW 10-15 Th SW 15-25 Fri SW 10-15 No Hurricane activity"
So... who besides me want to be on CELESTIAL right now?!? Sounds like fabulous conditions!
From: S/V CELESTIAL
Sent: 6/23/2010 6:59:39 A.M. EDT
Subj: 6-23 position Report
"0645 pos 3332N 6822W. Yesterday light winds from SW; clear; hot. Deployed whisker pole & sailed wing on wing starboard tack; some motor sailing some without. Secured pole in evening. Overnight broad reach; peaceful; no squalls. All are well. ETA in Bermuda late Thursday 6-24."
From: Captain Jochen Hoffmann
To: S/V CELESTIAL
Date: 23 Jun 2010, 06:13:53 AM
Subject: Wx 6-23
"High Pressure system stationary; forecst unchanged frm 6-22; winds less near Bermuda. No Hurricane activity."
From: S/V CELESTIAL
Sent: 6/24/2010 9:16:14 A.M. EDT
Subj: 6-24 Position Report
"ETA after dark tonigt. Will layoff till daylight."
CELESTIAL and her crew arrived safely at St Georges Harbor in Bermuda this morning June 25, 2010. Captain Tursi reported that it was a fabulous passage and had nothing but great thigs to say about his student crew! Congratulations to all for a job well done.
The next crew will arrive on Sunday for our final spring ocean passage from Bermuda to Mystic Connecticut. Stay tuned to the blog for reports on this passage.
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