testimonials
What Our Crew Has to Say
I did a passage from Baltimore to Bermuda (through the storied triangle!) with Nathan and Vivian. They are a delightful, capable team, always happy to share their knowledge. Nathan ran us through working with a sextant, MOB, Vivian cooked delicious hot meals, and while we had a lot of fun, there were moments of mild terror when the famed Bermuda Triangle decided to unleash its fury. I always felt in adept hands, and I not only had a fantastic time, I made new lifelong friends and learned quite a bit.
PJ Pesce
Los Angeles, CA
Nathan and Vivian of Ocean Passages LLC came highly recommended and surpassed all expectations for what I thought an offshore training passage could deliver. What they achieve is remarkable – they make accessible the indescribably beauty of an ocean voyage powered only by wind, and they bolster adventurous sailors with the skills and confidence to embark on their own voyages.
This couple has honed their craft sailing tens of thousands of miles with each other, and together they demonstrate the fundamentals of operating as an efficient blue-water sailing team. They foster the conditions needed for the crew to coalesce and excel by prioritizing a comfortable boat motion, plenty of rest, and delicious food. They are both insightful teachers, clear communicators, and exemplars of good seamanship, which they model for their crew along with hospitality, humility, and humor.
Vivian and Nathan are each individually accomplished and versatile ocean sailors and exceptionally well rounded. They also play to their strengths. Vivian is a gracious host and a culinary wizard in the galley. Even in rough seas, she conjures an astonishing variety of flavorful, freshly prepared meals, one tastier than the next.
Nathan is a wise old sea captain at heart – solemn and vigilant, but always approachable. He emphasizes restraint, prizing endurance and simplicity over speed and excessive gadgetry. In fact, Nathan sought to free us of bad habits borne of a racing mindset that places strain on equipment and crew alike.
Having sailed 1,000 miles with Nathan and Vivian, it is abundantly clear to me why John Kretschmer, the most experienced of ocean passage makers, sees in these two, a bright future for the discipline he helped pioneer. Simply put, Nathan and Vivian are the real deal.
And because they don’t operate a fleet of boats or draw from a stable of skippers, you sail with Nathan and Vivian every time.
I will be joining them for more mentorship and fun on another blue-water adventure in eight months. This time, I will bring with me my favorite novice sailor, my wife.
Ben Speciale
Philadelaphia, PA
How do you begin to put a lifelong dream into words? We recently completed an 850NM passage from St. Martin to Colombia via Bonaire (Dec 2023) with Nathan and Vivian and it's almost impossible to capture all the emotion and thrills of experiencing the open ocean for the first time. Although we had a fair amount of coastal sailing experience, we had never been out of the sight of land for days on end and we felt an extended training passage would be the next step towards a hopeful future of blue water cruising. We knew we were in extremely capable hands of two accomplished professionals, Nathan and Vivian, and they couldn't have been more welcoming and gracious as they shared their "floating home" with us. We immediately fell in love with both of them and felt a kindred spirit with these two "adventurers" who were living their dream and their passion. They opened themselves up to us, sharing, both the good and the bad aspects of their sailing journey and how they arrived at this current chapter. We left this passage feeling like we were all one big family with lasting friendships with our fellow crew members from California and Canada that will follow us for a lifetime.
Nathan and Vivian are extremely accomplished sailors who are both humble and patient as they assess and combine the skills of the training crew to give each member the experience of a lifetime. They also have incredible teaching skills and the ability to tailor many aspects of these passages to meet the personal goals of each crew member. The minute you step on their Compass 47 you feel right at home and are an integral part of the crew with real responsibilities and opportunities to expand your sailing and navigation skills.
Standing a night watch for the first time in open seas was both exhilarating and mesmerizing… as we marveled at the clear expansive night skies filled with stars and watched the artistic swirls of phosphorescence dancing in our wake, listening to the waves as they carried us along our course… other nights we were flying along downwind, dodging squalls and flying fish while keeping watchful eyes on commercial shipping during our watches! We tracked weather patterns as they came and went, honing our ability to predict weather changes and sail thru the incessant “heavy wind”, squalls, and rolling seas. Each day was a new opportunity to learn from these gifted sailors who even made time to show us how to take noon sights with a sextant and plot our progress as we made our way.
Nathan and Vivian set the example for us as crew sharing both food prep and cleanup duties…Vivian is an extremely talented chef with an extensive repertoire of delicious and nutritious meals that keep your palate entertained… and all of us asking for seconds! Our daily “Captain's Hour” was a highlight of every day, providing a fun opportunity to tease our brains with "what if's", or pull the thread on deep philosophical questions. Seeing these two accomplished sailors work together, changing out watches, preparing meals, and sharing tidbits from their extensive experience is an opportunity of a lifetime and one we're looking forward to repeating in the near future.
Michael & Sherry Higgins
Pensacola, FL
Ultima is not a Club Med on the water. It is a blue water sailboat subject to the vagaries associated with blue water passages. Captain Nathan and Vivian’s vast experience on the high seas brings much reassurance, but you can experience a vast range of exciting conditions worth every penny paid for the passage.
In the process, one learns a lot about sailing and seamanship. The food prepared by Vivian would make any Club Med envious. It is plentiful and will delight your palate pretty darn close to food served in a five-star restaurant.
Although I have been sailing all sorts of boats since I was 8 years old, my passage from Chesapeake to Bermuda on Ultima in October 2023 was my first true offshore passage. It was the experience of a lifetime. I would crew Ultima once again on a day’s notice. I left Bermuda having added 5 friends to my lifetime list and a mental treasure chest packed with breathtaking memories.
Norm St-Pierre
Professor Emeritus, The Ohio State University
Tangier, VA
I started dreaming about sailing the oceans while on a vacation in Costa Rica. I started to dream about sailing around the world. Almost 30 years later, I was finally going out on the ocean for more than a Caribbean charter. I have been lucky to learn to sail my own boats, experience some fantastic day sails and club racing but nothing compares to an Atlantic crossing. I had been on a waitlist for 3 or 4 years when I woke up to an email saying there was a cancellation and an opportunity to sail from Bermuda to Horta which was leaving in 10 days. When I mentioned it to my wife Jan she immediately said, “You have to do it!” The rest is history. History and beautiful memories.
Vivian and Nathan were gracious, generous, and caring hosts. Their willingness to share their combined experience made everyone on board feel safe. Learning happened every day, either by doing something as a crew on Ultima or through conversation. Vivian’s excellent culinary skills made every meal a mouth-watering experience. Nathan is no slouch either, when Vivian needed a break he could step in and create a pretty good meal himself. Captains’ hour was greeted daily with anticipation. What was the conversation going to be this time? It was never boring sailing with a Proctologist, a retired UCLA Business Professor, and a fellow Canadian who happened to be, in my definition a hipster. The entire experience has left me longing to be back out on the open seas. Nathan and Vivian made that happen for me. I am also very thankful for our weather router Trevor. Getting the AM and PM updates was always looked forward to. My recommendation, if you are thinking of doing an ocean passage and the opportunity comes along to do it with Vivian and Nathen, do not hesitate.
Say yes and never look back. My only regret, I waited too long.
Jim Barton
Ontario, Canada
What can I say? We crossed an ocean! Kretschmer is right, you can’t help but feel a bit like Columbus. While I could go on an on about catching yellowfin 20 miles out of Bermuda, outrunning the first named storm of the season, sextant sights, sail repairs underway, Portuguese man o’ war stings, making landfall after 13 days at sea, the clunk, or the company, suffice it to say that your passage will be the experience of a lifetime.
Fun. Exciting. Challenging.
What you really need to know is that above all, Nathan and Vivian are excellent sailors and consummate professionals. They work well together and love sharing their passion for the sea. Ultima is a beautiful, capable, seaworthy vessel, and they know her well. What you need to know is just how quickly Nato and Vi will make you feel welcome, safe, and right at home.
The conversation is lively. The food is phenomenal. The voyage will be epic.
Andrew Christie
Ontario, Canada
Have you ever longed for adventure? Wondered what sailors of yore experienced on the high seas-no land in sight? I have and still do. If you are like me, with some sailing experience (or maybe none), the thought of somehow shoving off for faraway shores is a daunting prospect. Coastal sailing in my distant past somehow didn’t give me the confidence to venture offshore. That’s when I found out about John, Nathan, and Vivian with John Kretschmer Sailing. My daughter, Lauren, and I have now sailed three times with this amazing group of sailors who are ready to teach all they know about navigating and sailing the open ocean. We have had such a positive experience that we have two more trips on the books!
Our most recent trip with Nathan and Vivian started in St. Martin sailing southeast to St. Lucia and back to St. Thomas. We took noon sights with our sextants learning celestial navigation, plotted our course on paper charts, and learned fundamentals of navigation, safety, points of sail, and in general good seamanship!
Nathan and Vivian are the ultimate hosts, sharing their home, Ultima, a Compass 47 with their crew. Nathan and Vivian are RYA Yachtmasters with years of delivery experience, and both he and Vivian are authors willing to share their experiences. The icing on the cake is Vivian’s cooking! She is an amazing chef who taught me tips for provisioning and cooking aboard. Her fried rice is now one of our family’s favorite meals!
There is something amazing once land fades from view and the sea turns azure blue! Time slows, and you are disconnected from the daily grind; the opportunity for self-introspection, personal growth, and bonding with like-minded sailors is unparalleled. If you take the leap and join Nathan and Vivian for a sail, I promise you that your life will be enriched, your skills will grow, and you will remember the trip of a lifetime.
David Kriet
Kansas City, MO
We sailed with Nathan and Vivian from Annapolis to Bermuda in the Fall of 2023. We experienced all kinds of weather from motoring down the Chesapeake Bay in a dead calm to entering Bermuda in a gale. We found the whole experience such a valuable step towards our dream of one day cruising on our own boat. We learnt so much about ways to set up the boat, safety and weather routing, all while enjoying fantastic food and great conversation!
Nick & Chelsea Wakeham
Annapolis, MD
Adventure, confidence, learning, and pure joy await you aboard Ultima! That’s what you’re signing up for when you jump on board with Nathan and Vivian. We (husband and wife) signed up for a passage training trip from the Solomon Islands (Maryland) to Portland (ME). This trip was our last step towards assuring ourselves that we were ‘on board’ for a life of passages and offshore cruising. After 8 days with Nathan, Vivian, and a wonderful crew, we are all in. The trip was full of learning and memorable moments. We left right before Hurricane Elsa (7.21) and pursued an alternative route that avoided contact with her. In nearing Nantucket, we encountered 72 hours of fog that propelled outstanding learning opportunities for navigating in tough conditions. Nathan and Vivian were outstanding mentors. They were clear in their explanations of processes and their thinking. They attended to crew morale wonderfully. Oh, and the food! Every single meal was exceptional!
After our 8 days aboard Ultima, we are ready to go. The trip with Nathan and Vivian was a moment of affirmation and clarity. Moreover, we look forward to long-lasting relations with Nathan and Vivian as we crisscross and, possibly, cross paths across the world.
Ed & Finese Buendia
Tacoma, Washington
Where to start? Nathan and Vivian or Ultima? Let’s start with Ultima.
As we left the protection of Benner Bay on the south side of St Thomas, USVI for the day trip to St. Croix, thoughtfully designed to facilitate gaining our sea legs, Ultima proved to be sea- kindly and fun to sail. Then, after spending the first night of our passage anchored in the comfort of West End Bay, St Croix, we sailed south deep into the Caribbean Sea weathering 30-35 knots and 7-to-9-foot seas on the beam. Ultima took it all in stride – as if riding on rails. It was exhilarating!
Vivian and Nathan also delivered! During our 10 days together 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 for 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, Caneel Bay on St. John, and 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 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!
Pam and Taylor Davis
Naples, FL
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