After yesterday’s variable and squally conditions today turned quite the opposite, the wind came up in the morning and the engine was secured. All sail was set to dry and the ship began to move along slowly on a sunny day.
A good portion of the afternoon was dedicated to getting the ship stowed for heavy weather: a fast moving low pressure centre is headed out from Atlantic Canada and will pass to the north of us tomorrow. While we expect to be well away from the worst of it, it is always best practice to have the ship prepared well in advance and for heavier weather than you expect. All of the preparations and reading of safety gear is very familiar to the crew members that did the eastbound crossing with us.
It was also decided this afternoon to send down the Royal yards. While not necessary to have them down for the weather, it will be less windage and it is always good drill for the crew to be able to get the yards up and down at sea, something very few ships do at all any more. PICTON CASTLE usually sends at least one yard up or down at sea during a voyage. The yards came down during the afternoon watch. A good job was done by the Mates and crew involved and they came down in smart fashion.
SHIP’S WORK: Re-stow for sea; spot painting; Continue work on the new Upper Topsail and send down Royal yards.
FROM: La Rochelle, France
TOWARDS: Quebec, Canada
TIME ZONE: ZD +2
NOON POSITION: 37°40’N / 051°41’W
DAYS RUN: 131nm
PASSAGE LOG: 3328nm
DISTANCE REMAINING: 1077nm
COURSE AND SPEED: SW, 3kts
WIND: NNW, Force 3
WEATHER: Sun w/ cirrus, cumulus and stratus clouds, air temp: 22°C, water temp: 24°C
SWELL HEIGHT & DIRECTION: NE’rly, 1 – 3ft
SAILS SET: All Sail, except Fore Royal