Picton Castle cast off from the main jetty at Luderitz, Namibia at 1445 Monday April 1, a bright sunny day. Not a cloud in the sky. It was blowing hard from the south. Good thing we are headed NW. There would have been nothing wrong with the ship staying put alongside an extra day to let the winds blow themesleves out. But it was a fair wind and we were all keen to get going. The ship is strong and the crew are used to heavy winds and seas. They know how to handle such like. We cast off and headed off the pier down channel. Hoisted the skiff which had helped push the bow away from the jetty and returning with our two line handlers, Nate and Edmund, Dustin running the boat. No pilot this time although we would be charged for a pilot, I was told, not the tug boat though. Small favours. No worries, heading out past Penguin Island and to sea. Blowing hard. Lower topsails and lower staysails. Later on the foresail. Quite dramaitc as we got away from shore. Stark and stunning. A strong sea running but not over 4 to 5 meters. Even out here, sea birds swoop down between the seas and sea lions play. Plenty spray. Should settle down in a couple days.
At 0430 next morning. Still blowing hard but I feel a lttle softening in the wind. She could stand her upper topsails, but these can wait until light. A clear starry sky. A freighter changed course by 40 degrees and was steering right for us until Spring called on the radio to ask him what his intentions were. That ship resumed course to avoid us. Good. This moment we see a small 98 foot fishing vessel punching straight into these winds and seas. Tough stuff. As for us, we have man-ropes rigged and deckhouse watertight doors shut. And we are sailing downwind.
Here at change of the watch, 0800, set upper topsails. Wind laying down. Seas still pretty large though.
Noon, wind and sea conditions continue to moderate. Seas down to 3 to 4 meters. Winds force 5 now. Set topgallants and inner jib, main tgallant staysail. Bosun Line is replacing buntlines on the main upper topsail. A sunny lumpy day. Sea a dark blue green. Ropework: knots, whippings, splices workshop this afternoon.
Sailing along nicely now. Seas well down. All hands getting back into the groove. Our new shipmates getting their sea legs nicely too.
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Wednesday April 3. 0900. Two days out of Luderitz, Namibia now 250 miles astern. 1,080 miles to St Helena, conditions looking good. Overcast this morning and warming up. Not bad. Seaming up a new canvas hatch coverr, Bosun doing this. Bending an outer jib. Rig checks ongoing. Monthly safety surveys wrapped up. Sailing along nicely at 5 to 6 knots, winds on the port quarter. Quite pleasant just now.