We sailed our Barque Picton Castle from Bermuda and anchored at Rose Bay not far from Lunenburg. The last passage of this monumental circumnavigation in this wonderful sea-proven ship we call “ours.” It was an excellent passage with very little time under power. And the weather stayed quite warm almost all the way up to the coast of Nova Scotia.
Rose Bay is a quiet bay with few houses and almost no wharves or boat traffic. A great spot where we could get a good night’s rest and await the good folks from Customs and Immigration (C&I) to come out to the ship to inspect us and clear us into Canada, before we head into the wharf on the following day. In Lunenburg so many family and friends were waiting excitedly on the piers there. We had sent all our paperwork in from the islands a couple weeks before we arrived at anchor in order to help the process go smoothly. All hands were clearly directed to declare everything, and so they did.
In the past we have arranged to bring C&I to the ship in Walter Flower’s whale watching boat Eastern Points before we head into port after a night’s sleep after the 800 mile passage. And sometimes they brought some Tim Hortons coffee and doughnuts with them when they came out with Captain Flower. This time was a bit different – ten officers came out an hour or so after we anchored and in their own boat which they trailered from Halifax or Dartmouth. After three hours they were done and with a friendly wave were off again.
The day was getting long after getting cleared in, so we waited until the next day to shine up the ship. This the crew did Saturday morning with the efficiency and effectiveness I have come to expect in this great gang. Then a final scrub and then loosed sail and laid down running gear to sail off the hook. In light winds the gang hove up the anchor and set all sail one more time and we steered for Sculpin Shoal in the outer bay and approaches to Lunenburg, and into the long-furrowed track towards Battery Point and into Lunenburg Inner Harbour. We had a 1400 date at Battery Point Lighthouse. With all sail set we were greeted by the “highliner” fishing boat the F/V Nellie Row with all flags a flyin’. It was grand.
As we sailed up the channel with Tammy at the wheel and Pearce helping, as we took in sail we could see what looked like thousands of folks on piers adjoining ours at Adams & Knickle. Some families had banners and special t-shirts made to claim allegiance to one Picton Castle crew member or another. It was a beautiful day. As we made to get close to the dock the west wind picked up just as we got lines ashore to back the Picton Castle in. Got the spring lines and head lines ashore at Adams & Knickle wharf, who are graciously hosting the Picton Castle as our wharf at 174 Bluenose Drive was condemned before we sailed on this voyage. We have been trying to get it repaired for years. Adams & Knickle is a venerable fishing company that has always been friendly to Picton Castle and other visiting tall ships.
Once alongside and secured in the proper seamanlike way these veteran PC seafarers know so well, it was hands to the braces, square the yards and up aloft to furl all the sails on every yard and jibboom, then 200 lines to coil down. One final all hands muster amidships and then- “that will do the watches.” A crew photo on the hatch with a life ring and then all family could come aboard to examine our magic carpet we call Picton Castle, that has been home for 14 months and more, and over 30,000 miles at sea.
There would be some welcome home celebrations ashore that evening at the wonderful Fisheries Museum followed by taking over Adam Bower’s Shipwright Brewing Company Taproom. More on this soon enough.
awarded
