S/V NAVIGATOR, our Island Packet 40 will depart Bermuda bound for Norfolk Virginia on, June 9th, 2025. 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: Roger Leonard (Florida), Scott Abbott (Virginia), Jay Fenske (Virginia), Laura Fenske (Virginia), Captain David Gifford of Maryland (First Mate) and Captain Frank Mummert of Maryland (Skipper).
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.
17 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
From: Tom Tursi
Subject: Wx 6-7
Date: June 7, 2025 at 10:34:51 AM EDT
To: Frank Mummert, David Gifford
Cc: MD School
The usual succession of Lows are expected to come off the US East Coast and turn NE toward New England or out to sea for the next few days. Atlantic High looks well established for next few days giving you 10-20 kt SW winds, sometimes backing to S or SE; these will be a challenge to your crew's sailing skills as SW will put you hard on the wind if you are headed toward a point S of Hatteras when exiting the GS. Careless helming and footing off at exhilarating boat speeds during the early days will be hard to resist, and you will end up too far N when you enter the GS. Pinching the wind will slow your boat speed excessively and increase leeway to N.
You could also plan on the straight line option directly toward Norfolk, but this is likely to push you further N as you cross the GS and put you in a quandary once you exit the GS if a CF comes through giving you strong NW winds right on your nose .
No hurricanes in view.
Say Hi to your crew...
T
From: Tom Tursi
Subject: Wx 6-8
Date: June 8, 2025 at 7:34:41 PM EDT
To: S/VNavigator"
Cc: MD School
With that large Atlantic High sitting off to your E combined with the expected coastal Lows, looks like you'll be in the pinch zone between them and have persistent SW-S 10-20 knot winds for next few days. No hurricanes expected for the week.
Have a great trip and let us know when you depart
T
From: S/V Navigator
Subject: BDA DAY 1 6/9
Date: June 9, 2025 at 10:07:13 AM EDT
To: Tom Tursi, MD School
We are underway for Norfolk. We have cleared the island and are circling north of the reefs so that we can aim for Cape Hatteras. Our winds are currently in the 10 to 12 knot range. We have set the mainsail and hope to turn to the NW at our next waypoint, to set the Genoa out. From there, it is sail west, fingers crossed.
It was a busy morning. The crew was all onboard by 0630, Bermuda time, and we were cleared out of Customs, paid up at the marina and at the fuel dock before 0900. After taking on 49 gallons of diesel, we were out of the Cut by 0930.
It looks like we should have some good sailing for the next two days, so we look forward to peaceful sailing and tropical nights.
Captain Frank Mummert aboard S/V Navigator
From: Tom Tursi
Subject: Wx 6-9
Date: June 9, 2025 at 12:44:46 PM EDT
To: S/V Navigator
Cc: MD School
Looks like you've hit the sweet spot in the weather forecast. Consistent SW to S 10-20 knot winds for next few days. Sometimes higher; sometimes lower. No hurricanes.
Pay attention to your leeway.
Sail on!
T
From: S/V Navigator
Subject: BERMUDA DAY 2 6/10
Date: June 10, 2025 at 8:27:51 AM EDT
To: Tom Tursi, MD School
It is a little past 8 AM out here on the briny blue and we are sailing right along. The wind continues to hold out of the South and we have a very comfortable sea state. The boat is well-balanced and we are traveling along at a solid 6 knots. At this rate, we will be a quarter of the way along this long leg well before noon.
Yesterday was a lot of the same as today. Once we cleared Bermuda and set our sails, the only thing to do was keep sailing west. We have seen flying fish and man-of-wars, but no dolphin yet.
Overnight, the wind came up and the sky clouded over, but we were still well under control. We might have seen some gusts up into the twenties, but the flat sea state let us cruise along. We must have had a following current because our speed over ground was after topping 8 knots.
The crew is in good spirits and looking forward to seeing all of our loved ones, hopefully this this weekend!
Captain Frank Mummert aboard S/V Navigator
Sounds a lot nicer than our second night with T-storms and water spouts! Fair winds!
From: Tom Tursi
Subject: Wx 6-10
Date: June 10, 2025 at 3:07:40 PM EDT
To: S/V Navigator
Cc: MD School
You guys are just living right! This is the absolute best of ocean sailing and you are having a rare but beautiful experience; hope it does not spoil you for what to expect in the future.
No significant change is forecast for the next few days; expect SW 10-20 knot winds to continue; sometimes higher or lower, and lower as the week progresses. There is a Low expected off Cape Charles tomorrow producing 30 knot SW winds in the pinch zone closer in to shore, but this should be gone before you get there. No hurricanes.
Looks like you made about 140 nm in first 24 hours... Sail on!
T
From: S/V Navigator
Subject: BERMUDA DAY3 6/11
Date: June 11, 2025 at 8:13:35 AM EDT
To:Tom Tursi, MD School
We have had some of the best sailing on this trip that we have experienced. We have consistently run 6 knots or better since leaving Bermuda and our noon-to-noon run yesterday was qty nautical miles. In addition, the sea state has been generally benign and the wind direction consistent within about 20 degrees. The crew has responded to this by keeping us quite close to the track line from Bermuda to Cape Hatteras and we have almost no northward drift.
We have seen birds and flying fish, and the odd man-of-war will float by with a gentle “ola” as they go.
The boat and crew have fallen into a rhythm of watches, meals, cleaning and training. We expect to continue this pattern until Friday, when we anticipate entering the Gulf Stream.
Captain Frank Mummert aboard S/V Navigator
Kudos on you arrow-straight course held. Sounds like a wonderful cruise.
From: Tom Tursi
Subject: Wx 6-11
Date: June 11, 2025 at 5:19:34 PM EDT
To: S/V Navigator, MD School
You continue to be blessed by the angels, Davey Jones and King Neptune. That Bermuda High is firmly anchored over Bermuda and seems to intend staying there for the next several days giving you continued S to SW 5-15 winds, sometimes 20 knots and lighter later in the week. No gales showing in the pinch zone. Gulf stream is running straight as an arrow to the NE. No hurricanes in sight.
You all are no longer authorized to complain about the weather at anytime in your remaining lives...
Sail on!
T
From: S/V Navigator
Subject: BERMUDA DAY 4 6/12
Date: June 12, 2025 at 8:43:57 AM EDT
To: Tom Tursi, MD School
Well, we have finally given up our perfect weather sail. The crew got a little bit of a challenge about 1500 yesterday (3:00 PM to you lubbers) when we ran into some rain showers. The wind didn’t come up excessively, nor was there any lightning, but there was a drenching rain for about 45 minutes.
Tell the truth, the rain was not unwelcome. After three days without showers, a fresh water rinse felt good.
Unfortunately, while the wind strength did not change, the direction did. We spent an hour sailing almost due north, then tacked and sailed almost due south. Then, the storm passed us and took all of the wind with it. We had a true wind reading between 1 and 4 knots. So, we had to rely on the engine to keep us going.
After a couple of hours, the wind returned and we were able to shut off the engine. The wind stayed fair for us until this morning. A line of showers has taken the wind and we are once again motor sailing. In addition, because of lightning on the horizon overnight and predictions of squalls on the Gulf Stream, we are now sailing with the first reef in the main and a reduced headsail. We are less than 100 miles to our waypoint, which is either in or just before the Gulf Stream. We hope to go back to full sails after we pop out the other side.
Captain Frank Mummert aboard S/V Navigator
From: Tom Tursi
Subject: Wx 6-12
Date: June 12, 2025 at 8:00:31 PM EDT
To: "S/V Navigator
Cc: MD School
Continued SW winds anywhere from 5 to 20 kt and showers and Tstorms through weekend. Looks like you are approaching the GS; best of success crossing; you are positioned well for that. No hurricanes.
Sail on!
T
From: S/V Navigator
Subject: BERMUDA DAY 5 6/13
Date: June 13, 2025 at 8:59:29 AM EDT
To: Tom Tursi, MD School
Apparently, my complaints about the rain yesterday did not offend, because the weather was another perfect day for sailing. We had a continuous 10-15 knots of wind from the South and Southwest and were able to enter the Gulf Stream right about 6:00 PM.
We continued to sail through the night, with a reef in the main and a jib for a headsail. We did this because the Gulf Stream is known to drag squalls up from the south, with lightning and considerable wind. As it turned out, we did run between two squalls, a little after midnight but, except for a little rain and a truly impressive light show, we were unaffected by these. The two cells did join together behind us and we would have felt sorry for anyone in that mess, but we escaped unscathed.
I had hoped to be able to say we were through the Stream this morning, but it wasn’t to be. We have been sailing west since our encounter with the squalls, but our westward progress exactly matched othe eastward flow of the current and we found ourselves just drifting north. We weren’t able to angle south far enough to get moving, so we reluctantly doused the headsail, started the engine and are motor-sailing up the course to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. We anticipate that, after coming through the western wall of the Stream, we can go back to sailing, but we won’t know until we get there.
Right now, we anticipate an arrival in the marina early tomorrow morning, depending on tides. However, we may be close enough this evening for cell service, so you may hear from your wandering sailors tonight.
Captain Frank Mummert aboard S/V Navigator
From: Tom Tursi
Subject: Wx 6-13
Date: June 13, 2025 at 2:05:12 PM EDT
To: Frank Mummert, MD School
ANZ828-140215- Cape Charles Light to Currituck Beach Light to 100 NM offshore- 1043 AM EDT Fri Jun 13 2025
TODAY SW winds 5 to 15 kt, becoming S to SW 10 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Scattered showers and tstms.
TONIGHT SW winds 15 to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Scattered showers and tstms.
SAT SW winds 15 to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft. Scattered showers and tstms.
SAT NIGHT W to SW winds 15 to 25 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft. Scattered showers and tstms.
SUN W winds 10 to 20 kt, becoming S to SW 5 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
SUN NIGHT SW winds 10 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 6 ft.
S/V Navigator arrived in Norfolk this morning at about 0830, concluding out 2025 ocean training cruises. All is well with the crew and they are waiting to be cleared by customs, which is proving to be a bit of a process on a Saturday morning. But they will get sorted soon and be on their way with a bit of a spring in their step and the swagger of seasoned sailors. Congratulations to all of our 2025 ocean sailors!
Sounds like an awesome sail on the return trip
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