The Picton Castle (and her crew) are almost halfway to Pitcairn Island in just ten days – it has been a fine passage so far. Pretty much upon departure from the Galapagos we have had a fresh and useful breeze filling the sails and pulling us onward, ever further and deeper into the South Pacific Ocean.
The gang has become both used to and proficient at taking sails in when it breezes up, and likewise, setting them again as it settles down again. Flying jib, main t’gallant staysail and spanker being the main ones in question. If it really pipes up, t’gallants come in too.
We are pretty settled into our sea routines now. There have been whales about and almost every day we have dolphins at the bow or abeam. Booby birds continue to hang out with us and snare the odd flying fish scattering out of our way as they take to wing. Booby birds should be called “poopy” birds, as that seems to be, apart from fishing, their main aim in life – to defile our decks!
Lots of jobs going on aboard. Dan is cleaning up the carpentry shop and getting all the tools clean and sharp. Diane is a painting fool, spreading fresh paint everywhere. Liam and Amelia are tarring the rig – when they are not tarring themsleves, the decks and everyone below them…. Ollie and others have been replacing buntlines. Eden and Toad varnished the jibboom today. Maybe that’s why the ship is sailing so well! For the last hour we have been making 5.7 knots without the wheel being move a spoke. In fact, the helmsman just stands near the wheel, just in case. Nice barque!
Dirk has been introducing the intricacies of sextant navigation to a good many – interest has not waned yet. Wrapping up rope splicing classes with making rope grommets. Next will be seizings. Tomorrow is Saturday and thus a half work day for all hands. Of course, this is apart from steering and sailing the ship. And tomorrow AM we will reach the halfway mark. Halfway to Pitcairn Island. 1,350 miles in ten days – not too bad.
Tammy, Dirk, Dustin, Donald and I had an executive meeting last night to figure out the billeting at Pitcairn Island. Looks good so far.