John Kretschmer Sailing is happy to refer clients to Nathan Zahrt and Vivian Vuong of Ocean Passages, LLC who will be conducting training passages both aboard their Compass 47 sloop Ultima and on select charter boats. Experienced, capable, smart and enthusiastic, Nathan and Vivian are just the crew we’ve been looking for to expand offshore sailing opportunities for our friends and clients, especially as our schedule fills quickly and we will be concentrating on slightly fewer but far flung passages in the future.
Ultima is a true sea boat. Designed by Angelo Lavranos, who honed his trade working for Sparkman & Stephens, the Compass 47 is famous for its sea-kindly motion and striking lines.
Robustly constructed in South Africa in 1981, Nathan and Vivian have painstakingly refit Ultima for serious sailing. She has three cabins, two heads and accommodates up to five crew safely and comfortably. She’s an ideal boat for offshore training passages and has been one of my favorites ever since I first came across one in Fort Lauderdale in the mid 80s.
Nathan, age 40, is a professional sailor. He has a Yachtmaster Offshore ticket, a USCG 50-ton Master’s License and has logged thousands of blue water miles including two transatlantic passages. He has delivered a wide array of boats in the Atlantic and Pacific. I can attest that delivering boats is the best preparation for any offshore sailing skipper. Not only has he seen plenty of nasty weather but as a former Peace Corps volunteer and EMT, he’s trained and able to cope with a variety of challenging conditions. He’s patient, wise beyond his years, a natural teacher and dedicated to helping others prepare for ocean voyaging.
Vivian, age 35, is an experienced sailor, a certified yacht chef and one of the most personable and friendly people I have ever met. She has crossed the Atlantic twice, delivered boats and worked as professional crew aboard super yachts, and owned a 37’ sloop. She’s most at home aboard Ultima and is ready to welcome you aboard. Vivian is also an accomplished photographer and filmmaker. From flying a drone to seeing the sea through the eyes of a professional, she’s ready to share her insights when you sign aboard.
Tadji and I have sailed with Nathan and Vivian and we share the same philosophy, that time spent sailing, especially deep ocean sailing, is time well spent. We are also dear friends and have spent a lot of time discussing the essence of offshore training passages. They completely agree that empowering the people who sign aboard and encouraging the crew to participate in every as aspect of a voyage, is the key to successful passage-making. I am certain that you will enjoy sailing with them aboard Ultima and other boats. They’re dedicated to offering the same experience that I have been offering aboard Quetzal for 17 years. Their company, Ocean Passages LLC, is operated independently but John Kretschmer Sailing is including their schedule here on our web site and I encourage you to consider sailing with them.
Please see their 2022/2023 schedule for available passages and contact Tadji or me for more information about this great sailing opportunity.
Ultima Sailing & Workshop Schedule 2024
Many thanks for your interest in John Kretschmer Sailing, we appreciate your ongoing support and friendship through the years.
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Ultima Sailing & Workshop Schedule 2023
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We are very pleased to announce our 2023 schedule with plenty of exciting passage opportunities!
Many thanks for your interest in John Kretschmer Sailing, we appreciate your ongoing support and friendship through the years.
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Vivian and Nathan also delivered! During our 10 days together in January of 2021, a great mix of education, exploration, and good eats made for a productive and pleasurable experience for all aboard. The education offered subtly and engagingly empowered the crew (us and one other couple) increasing our skills and then trusting us to handle Ultima in all conditions around the clock. Thus, building our confidence seemingly without effort.
After our adventure deep into the Caribbean Sea, we circumnavigated St John, USVI which provided multiple educational opportunities of anchoring and picking up a mooring ball. Both crew couples gained experience handling Ultima with excellent coaching at the helm and bow so that by the end of the trip each couple could maneuver Ultima into an anchorage or mooring field and secure her for the night independently. The circumnavigation also provided the opportunity to explore both on foot and underwater. We hiked to beautiful vistas and snorkeled with sea turtles and fishes, observed octopuses, and even witnessed a sleeping nurse shark! Snorkeling excursions in Great Lampshur Bay, and Caneel Bay on St John, and in West End Bay on St Croix were the highlight for Pam whose passion for sailing extends to exploring the abundant life above and below the surface.
Lastly and perhaps most significantly was the food! Vivian offered an amazing cuisine proving that meals on a boat need not be mundane. The crew enjoyed gourmet food and drink, eating to our palates’ content, yet maintaining our figures. Yes, the food was so tasty and abundant we felt we should have gained weight, yet to our surprise, we did not!
Our time spent aboard Ultima was an all-around great experience and we are thankful for the time shared with Nathan and Vivian!
