S/V NAVIGATOR,
our Island Packet 40 departed Bermuda bound for Norfolk Virginia today, June 9th at 10:44 AM.
The student crew arrived on the evening of June 6th. June 7th and
8th were spent in preparation for the voyage. The crew
members
as show from left to right are: Robin Bauer (New Jersey), Andy Uribe (Virginia), Captain Tom Tursi of
Pennsylvania (Skipper), Charlie Myers
(Texas), and Joe Ziolkowski (Michigan). Captain Tim Cook of Washington DC
(First Mate) is behind the camera!
NAVIGATOR will make the passage to Norfolk via a
non-stop ocean route. The cruise has an estimated distance of 670 nautical
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 via SPOT, CLICK HERE.
12 comments:
Hello all! Be sure to click on the spot link above to follow the progress of NAVIGATOR and her crew. One note on the SPOT transmissions… The SPOT is far from infallible and a loss of signal is quite common. There have been times where we had no position update for more than a day. Reasons can range from a weak satellite signal, a sail bag inadvertently shifted and blocking a clear "view" of the sky, or SPOT batteries getting weak. The crew checks in with me electronically at intervals, and we will address such issues. Also, sailboat tracks are affected by wind direction, current, etc. and rarely result in a straight-line course. I’ll post updates here which will include position reports from the crew. ~ Rita
Captain Jochen Hoffmann, a long time Maryland School Ocean Instructor is providing weather guidance to the crew. I'll include his reports to the crew here on the blog, beginning with this one relayed prior to departure:
From: Jochen Hoffmann
Subject: BDA 2 WX
Date: June 8, 2022 at 7:33:35 AM EDT
To: S/V Navigator
BDA 2 Wx
06/09 SSE 10-15 becoming S late
06/10 S 12-18 decrsg late, showers likely
06/11 S 10-15 becoming 8-12, iso shwrs
No tropicals
Jochen
From: Navigator IP40
Subject: Departure 6/9
Date: June 9, 2022 at 12:57:40 PM EDT
To: MD School, Jochen Hoffmann
Crew hale and hearty. All preparations completed for cruise. Departed Bermuda 1044 EDT on 6/9
Captain Tom Tursi aboard S/V Navigator
From: Navigator IP40
Subject: Status 6/9
Date: June 9, 2022 at 1:05:17 PM EDT
To: MD School
Watch schedule: 12-4 Andy & Joe. 4-8 Tom & Charlie. 8-12 Tim & Robin.
Skies partly cloudy. Wind 15-18 S.
Just finished lunch prepared by Charlie.
Sailing now on reefed mainsail; will put out Genoa soon after the next course change.
Captain Tom Tursi aboard S/V Navigator
Fair winds, sailors! Enjoying following your trip and hope to sail it one day w/Captain Tursi.
From: Jochen Hoffmann
Subject: Wx 05/09
Date: June 9, 2022 at 8:56:41 PM EDT
To: S/V Navigator, MD School
Bermuda doppler radar shows showers per previous report.
Graphic charts forecast indicate sustained S then SW winds 10 - 20 thru 06/13.
Jochen
A bit jealous of those steady winds ( last week... not so much) but very happy crew of Navigator are moving safely along.
From: "Navigator IP40"
Subject: Status 6/10
Date: June 10, 2022 at 8:56:15 AM EDT
To: MD School, Jochen Hoffmann
Position 3303N. 6636W
Great sailing since leaving Bermuda! Winds 15 to 20 SE on departure shifting to S and SW. Boat speed averaging 6 plus. Making course for Diamond Shoal. Forecast later in week calls for North winds, so we may need to change course more toward Norfolk before then. All crew doing well in spite of the rocking and rolling sailing conditions. Charlie prepared lunch yesterday of turkey and cheese sandwiches with yellow tomatoes because we could not get reds in BDA. Joe prepared chicken stew dinner last evening. Weather this morning is cool and humid but turning sunny. Everyone is enjoying the sailing!!
Captain Tom Tursi aboard S/V Navigator
From: "Navigator IP40"
Subject: Status 6/12
Date: June 12, 2022 at 9:21:37 AM EDT
To: MD School, Jochen Hoffmann
Saturday was a rough day at sea with winds SW 25 to 30 and waves 8 to 10 feet making for boat rocking and rolling and very difficult to move around below deck. Slippery footing due to salt spray made for slips, falls and lunges for handholds, but no injuries except minor nicks and bruises. Eventually we struck the Genoa and continued on double reefed mainsail and staysail. This brought boat speed way down and wave bounces to a more manageable level at 3.5 knots in 25 knot winds!! Overnight winds were 10 to 15 and we variously sailed or motor-sailed maintaining course to our waypoint at Diamond Shoal east of Cape Hatteras which is 200 miles distant bearing 295M. We had a few rain squalls overnight and this morning but no lightning. We are currently sailing in 15 to 20 knot winds from SW with reefed mainsail, staysail and reefed Genoa on a course of 295M at 4 to 5 knots in warm, humid conditions.
Captain Tom Tursi aboard S/V Navigator
From: Jochen Hoffmann
Subject: BDA 2 Wx 06/12-06/15/22
Date: June 12, 2022 at 9:26:00 AM EDT
To: S/V Navigator, MD School
06/12 SW 15-25 becoming SSW 10-20 late showers thunderstorms likely
06/13 SW 10-15 becoming SW 15-20 late chance showers thunderstorms
06/14 SW 15-25 becoming WSW 15-25 late
06/15 NE 10-20 becoming ENE 10-20 then E 5-15 late
06/12 Weak front S of Hatteras at 36N extends W of 70W extends as CF E of 70W
No Tropical storms
Jochen Hoffmann
From: "Navigator IP40"
Subject: Status 6/14
Date: June 14, 2022 at 12:37:53 PM EDT
To: MD School
We are about 35 or 40 miles from Chesapeake Bay as of noon today. Skies overcast with little wind and we are motorsailing in calm conditions. Yesterday was beautiful with bright sunlight and clear skies with 15 knot winds from SW but without the 25 knots expected so we had a great sailing day most all day. By evening we struck the Genoa and motor sailed overnight. There has been very little opportunity during the entire cruise for celestial shot practice due to rough weather or cloudy skies, but all had at least a few opportunities to practice and both Robin and Andy took shots for which they completed calculations and plotting with some instructive results. We expect to be in to Little Creek by late tonight.
Captain Tom Tursi aboard S/V Navigator
We arrived in Norfolk at 10:25 PM on June 14.
Captain Tom Tursi aboard S/V Navigator
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