Course: Offshore Passage Making,
Norfolk to Bermuda
Date: June
6-13, 2002
Vessel: IP40 ENCHANTMENT
Students: Ken
Fess, Ludwig Hoogstoel, Mark Schnabl and Tom Tontarski.
First Mate: Mike
McGovern
Captain: Jeff Troeltzsch |
June
5, Wednesday
First Mate Mike McGovern and I were aboard ENCHANTMENT, IP40 in St George's
Harbour, Bermuda after the outbound cruise from Norfolk. Our return crew arrived
and we introduced ourselves, stowed personal gear and began discussions of our
upcoming cruise back to Norfolk; they included Ken Fess, Ludwig Hoogstoel, Mark
Schnabl and Tom Tontarski.
On
June 6 & 7 we conducted pre-departure training and yacht inspections in
preparation for the blue water ocean cruise. In the afternoon, we checked out of
Customs and Immigration to permit an early departure next morning.
June
8, Saturday
0800: Departed St. Georges, Bermuda; entered town cut on mid-ebb, proceeded
around North side of Island. Motor sailed under main only; wind speed less than
5 knots; rigged cockpit awning for sun shade.
1330; Lost sight of Bermuda; estimated visibility at 22 nm; very clear, flat,
hot day.
2330: All crew members on deck. New Moon, great stars, the Milky Way is a swath
of white wash paint. Discussed ancient star navigation techniques i.e. Altitude
of Polaris, known azimuths, east west orientation; established a base for star
Dead Reckoning. Several intense
green burning shooting stars with tails like sparklers.
June
9, Sunday
0400: Wind 9 knots SW; full sail at 80 degrees apparent wind angle (AWA); 0 %
cloud cover; three Bull Nose Beluga Whales 50 yards off starboard beam.
1100: Wind less than 5 knots; motor sailing; another very hot day.
2015: Great sun set “big fiery egg.” Civil Twilight; do star sights to get a
reliable fix
June
10, Monday
0200: Wind speed 10 knots; full sail; another stellar star night. Update star
DR. Phosphorescent trail behind
boat.
0900: Wind is phasing W to SW averaging less than 10 knots. Discuss “False
headers” and why you don’t want to fall for them. Scrapple for breakfast
refused by crew members familiar with its’ contents.
1900: Large group of playful White Sided Dolphins & Pilot Whales stay with
us until sun set.
June
11, Tuesday
0630: See the leaders in the Annapolis to Bermuda Race; three boats to the north
under spinnakers working thru light winds.
1300: Main body of race fleet is visible.
1800: Wind starts to build to 15 knots SW; 95 degrees AWA; conduct man overboard
drill under sail to recover lost hat; recovery time 10 minutes takes several
attempts.
2000: Black Hawk Helicopter circles the boat several times at very low altitude
then calls on VHF 16 and advises “entering a Naval Exercise Zone please
proceed due South True for 18 nm then proceed Due West True to avoid Fire
Zone.” Lots of airplane activity; during the night we see many naval vessel
lights.
June
12, Wednesday
0300: Enter main Gulf Stream NE drift of 1.5 knots; wave height 4 to 6 feet;
wind speed 15 knots at 65 degrees AWA.
1430: Exit Gulf Stream and leave naval exercise zone
1800; Catch a 30 lb Dorado; use a shot of rum in the gills to get him on board;
great eating with rice and tomatoes.
2300: Lots of shipping traffic on south bound lane.
June
13, Thursday
0700: First visible signs of approaching mainland; brown haze on horizon;
floating garbage, lots of shipping traffic and plane trails from converging
angles. Hawks Bill Sea Turtle off Port Bow.
1300: Contact Virginia Pilots “entering traffic Zone.” Pass a nuclear
submarine, an aircraft carrier, and several transport ships outbound. Tide is
beginning Flood at Chesapeake Bay Junction Buoy.
1600: Enter Little Creek; top off fuel at Taylor's Landing Marina; proceed to
home slip. Approaching thunderstorm hits
30 minutes later.
Bermuda
to Norfolk synopsis: Rhumbline distance: 657nm; distance sailed 724 nm; time on
course128 hours. Average speed: 136 NM per day.
Captain
Jeff Troeltzsch
S/V ENCHANTMENT, IP40
Little Creek Harbor, Norfolk, VA
June 14, 2002
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