Seamanship school offers trans-Atlantic

The Maryland School ofSailing & Seamanship is moving into a bit of the unknown next year, offering participants a chance to sail across the Atlantic.Beginning in May 2002, the school will send a 45-foot Island Packet sloop from Norfolk, Va., across to the Azores with a crew of four paying passengers. The vessel will continue to the Canary Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands, where the crew will arrive in October. The sloop will be engaged in coastal training programs at the Azores and Canaries. Each trip is preceded by two days of on-board preparation, including seminars and practical drills, according to spokesman Tom Tursi. Contact the Maryland School of Sailing & Seamanship for more information: (410) 639-7030 or on the Web: www.mdschool.com.