Captain Marvin Creamer's Circumnavigation Without Instruments

Accolades

During Marvin Creamer's tenure as Geography Professor, he produced two half-hour TV programs "Manufacturing in the Delaware Valley" broadcast live by Channel 6, Philadelphia. In 1955, he experimented with teaching geography from the air with a plane furnished by the Esso Corporation (now EXXON).

Creamer also served in the following capacities:

G.S.C. Director of Public Relations 1949 - 1955
President of the G.S.C. Faculty Association, 1956-1957
Campus Coordinator for a two-week Department of Classroom Teachers, NEA, conference attended by 300 U.S. teachers.
Chairman of the G.S.C. Social Studies Department 1964-1968
Selected for the N.D.E.A. summer institute for college geography teachers at the University of Minnesota 1967
One of two G.S.C. representatives chosen for a H.E.W.--U.C.L.A--sponsored seminar and tour of Africa, 1968-1969
President of the New Jersey Council for Geographic Education, 1955-1957
Chairman of the Borough of Glassboro Tercentenary Committee, 1962-1964.
Member of the Borough of Glassboro Bicentennial Committee and its "Special Envoy" to Portsmouth, England in 1976
Selected by the G.S.C. Student newspaper, The Whit, as "Outstanding Professor" in 1961. Side note: As an undergraduate, Creamer had founded and published The Half-Whit, a parody of the official student paper!
Named "Distinguished Alumnus" by the G.S.C. Alumni Association 1980.
The Glassboro Chamber of Commerce named Creamer "Man of the Year" in 1964
The Glassboro Chamber of Commerce named Creamer "Citizen of the Year" in 1980
Awarded the Good Citizenship Medal, by the National Committee of the "Sons of the American Revolution" in 1984
In 1985, Marvin received the Award for Excellence from the New Jersey Education Association.

Nautical Achievements:

Creamer sailed his 30-foot ketch, Scotia, from Cape May, N.J. to Bermuda in 1973 and 1975. He sailed Scotia round trip from Cape May to the Azores in 1974, and in 1976, from Cape May to England and back via the Azores and Bermuda.
In 1978, he sailed from Cape May to Ireland, the return trip with no navigational instruments.
After selling Scotia, Creamer purchased the 39-foot cutter, Navstar, and in 1980, sailed from Atlantic City, N.J.  to Dakar, Africa. The return trip via the Cape Verde Islands and Bermuda, was also without the use of navigational instruments.

Marvin made eight Atlantic crossings in a sailboat, three times without navigational instruments to guide him. His ultimate achievement in life, however, was the circumnavigation of the globe without using traditional navigational aids.

In 1982, Creamer purchased the specdially designed and built 36-foot, steel-hulled cutter, Globe Star, with which he made his historical voyage.

Awards for nautical achievements:
Medal of Achievement for Performance Cruising, by the Yacht Racing/Cruising Magazine (1980)
Navigation Medal from the Foundation for the Promotion of the Art of Navigation (1985)
The coveted "Blue Water Medal", sailing's highest honor, by the Cruising Club of America (1986)
Creamer was made an honorary member of the Slocum Society in 1984)
Creamer was made an honorary member of the Circumnavigators Club in 1984
Inducted into Cruising World's Hall of Fame, 1989
Presented the Creativity Award by "Odyssey of the Mind," 1995
Recipient, 1995 award from "Destination Imagination"


A brass plaque mentioning Creamer's extraordinary feat was set up in Red Bank Battlefield Park soon after completion of his historical circumnavigation. On the 25th anniversary of his triumphant return, this webmaster organized a special celebration on the same location that was attended by hundreds. Rowan University honored Creamer with a dinner on the 30th anniversary celebration at River Winds Restaurant near Red Bank Battlefield Park. In 2015, Rowan also dedicated a monument in Professor Creamer's honor. Reminding of Stonehenge, the 36' Globe Star's shape was outlined with large stones and a stainless steel post with signs pointing to major world centers was positioned where the mast would have been. At 100 years young, Marvin Creamer was still very alert and active, proving that salt makes a good preservative!


    Special recognition goes to    Bob Shryock, who reported regularly on Creamer's voyage and gave both TV and newspaper coverage to these events.




About Marvin Creamer
Blanche
The "Globe Star"
The Voyage
Accolades
Celebrations
A History Lesson
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