Marion-Bermuda nav trophy awarded

The Navigator’s Trophy for the 25th annual Marion-Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race was awarded on June 28 by Ocean Navigator to Max Fletcher of the sloop Majek. Owned by Abbot Fletcher, Majek, a 37-foot Tripp Javelin, sails out of Casco Bay, Maine. Majek was first in Class F and first in the 85-boat fleet on corrected time.

Ocean Navigator sponsored the trophy, which is awarded to the navigator of the first yacht on corrected time using celestial navigation during the race. Out of a fleet of 85 boats in this year’s delightful sail across the Gulf Stream, 63 yachts opted to use celestial, gaining a rating credit of 3% for their efforts. At least six of the top finishers in each of the six classes, and 46 of the overall top 50 boats on corrected time, found their way to Bermuda using celestial. It is gratifying to us here at Ocean Navigator to know this skill lives on.

Navigators reported anywhere from spot on to five miles difference between celestial and GPS positions when competitors got within 50 miles of the island (the point at which celestial-only boats were allowed to use electronics).

By Ocean Navigator