Whilst our North American loved ones are getting ready for Halloween and fall activities back home, we here on the Picton Castle are enjoying the weather that we’ve been so blessed with. The sun is powerfully hot, yet not the hottest we’ve endured on this voyage, luckily the wind is constant, and if you’re lucky enough to get a job in the shade it’s quite pleasant to work in. The winds have picked up but the seas are small, there’s a light sway of movement on board, making it easier for the various departments to get their tasks completed. The evenings cool off to a pleasant and comfortable sleeping temperature. Fingers crossed this weather will hold out. The Captain says it can get very hot in the Tores Strait.
Busy busy morning on deck; it sounds as though we’re in a shipyard or workshop. Lots of noise! The engineers have left their sunless engine room and are working on welding projects on the well deck. Rune, of Norway, is angle grinding the main mast bottle screws on the port side shrouds. The carpenter team are ripping up old caulking on the quarterdeck planks to be replaced. Abbey, of North Carolina, has been aloft all morning, working on patching servings. James, of Rhode Island, is repairing a block on the port fore brace.
It’s been a sailmaking frenzy this morning, having five crew members stitching away with yards and yards of canvas flowing out over their laps, the ship’s deck blanketed with white canvas, resembling a sailmaker’s loft. John, of Massachusetts, and Kimba, of Ontario, stitched away at the tabling on a new main topmast stays’l. Annie of Ontario, Kristen of Alberta, and Erin of Bermuda, seamed together cloths of canvas for the new spanker.
It’s amazing to witness the inner workings of the ship after we’ve been underway for 6 months now! The crew know the routine, understand what is expected of them and realize that every day we’re learning new skills or getting plenty of practice and every day there is new stuff to think about.
From: Vanuatu
Towards: Bali
Date: Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Noon Position: 15°00.0′ S x 159°26.4′ E
Course + Speed: W 1/2 N + 4.0 kts
Wind direction + Force: SE by S + 4
Swell Height + Direction: 1 1/2m + SE
Weather: Bright, Sunny, Hot
Day’s Run: 95.8 nm
Passage Log: 96 nm
Distance to Port: 973 nm
Voyage: 10832.4 nm
Sails Set: All sails