After a couple of eventful days at anchor, Picton Castle and her crew said their farewells to Nova Scotia.
In a light offshore breeze, the gang hove up anchor and the ship slipped by Mosher Island into the open sea. Departure noted: West Ironbound Island bearing N by W, distant 5 miles. Dead reckoning begins now.
Pushing southeasterly in fair conditions with a couple fore and after sail set, finding of sea legs in moderate seas was on many a mind. Lumpy seas, cold breezes.
The ship let the gang settle into a quiet watch routine: helm, lookout, ship and deck checks, getting used to the perpetual motion of a ship at sea.
We made very good progress south overnight and welcomed the new day with a sunny morning, a moderate northwesterly breeze and a somewhat lumpy sea.
Topsl’s, fores’l, staysails and jib have us jogging along at 4 to 5 knots, making due South, the continental shelf well astern. A few porpoise have made passes at us.
As things stand, we expect to sail like this for the remainder of the day and into the evening. Winds are forecast to fall light before dropping out altogether overnight. Push on south we must, the Gulf Stream some 60 miles ahead.
Noon Position: 41°47 N, 63°32.5 W All’s well.