Part 1. A photo essay
Our fine 300 ton, 180 foot long solid riveted steel sailing ship at ADAMS & KNICKLEs wharf in Lunenburg at the end of a voyage and thinking about the next one….
Getting the ship ready for sea is a big complex job calling for lots of crew and savvy direction. This includes all kinds of good “sailorizing” jobs. Sort and bending on sails are but two of them. Here the crew are doing just that with her hand sewn cotton sails, all made onboard at sea in the warm tradewinds.
When we are ready, crewed up, stowed and drilled a plenty, off we sail.
The North Atlantic can be rough sometimes….
And stay blustery for awhile too…. But the ship handles it just fine.
And soon enough we are in better weather. The sweaters and long pants come off and we are warm again.
We will see strong weather again but ghosting along in the tradewinds is not so bad..
Lots to do in a blue water barque in the balmy tradewinds – sailmaking is one of them. Paying attention to the cat is another.
Rigging too. Here a wire seizing goes on a new piece of standing rigging. Parceled and served and slathered with the ambrosia of Stockholm Tar
Mid ocean on a fine day after some drills, its great to launch the boat and take a look at out cathedral of the sea.
Bowling along on a 30 day passage in South Pacific tradewinds.
Time to set studding sails from the days of clipper ships.
One by one they get hoisted aloft
All studding sails – aka “stunsles” – aloft and drawing.
And from the sea
Aloft and stow!
And into port the Picton Castle sailors go.
Or to an isolated Pacific anchorage
What a way to sail and live…
Yet good work proceeds apace on board. Rebuilding a ships boat
Or fashioning a new royal yard.
Its nice to have a ship big enough to carry these boats so we can explore small islands and coves in the tropics. Here in Mangareva.