Picton Castle’s trading day was viewed by the villagers of Banam Bay, and a few more nearby villages besides, as a grand thing. Much excitement and anticipation on all our parts. So, what is this trading business in a remote village on a jungle island anyway? Well, its not haggling or scowling at what is […]
From Fiji, Picton Castle had another fine passage under sail to Vanuatu. Truly sweet tradewinds. One could almost get used to this! We anchored off Port Vila, Efate, Vanuatu after six days under sail from Suva, Fiji. As we approached the bay at dawn a big cruise ship overtook us, so we followed this ship
We had a fine visit at Suva, Fiji. After an excellent sailing passage from Tonga with a great pilot taking us up the channel into Suva, we anchored the Picton Castle at Walu Bay which is the industrial corner of Suva Harbour. From here we were welcomed at the Royal Suva Yacht Club (RSYC) as
Barque Picton Castle, at anchor at Walu Bay, Suva, Fiji The Picton Castle and her outstanding crew enjoyed a classic, even ideal, ocean passage from Tonga to Fiji. Four days of perfect South Pacific trade wind sailing. We all loved it. Now Wednesday morning, as dawn is breaking, the anchor watch is checking lines, slacking
With the boats loaded up again they headed for the pass not far away. Picton Castle, with engine silent, set a staysail and drifted off to leeward, safely and serenely. Quite a sight for crew to see. She was to remain close by, not more than six miles off in the lee of Palmerston. The
To say that Port Watch was excited to go ashore at Palmerston is an understatement. In the 24 hours prior, after our arrival, the official paperwork and documentation had been submitted and, finally, approved while we waited at anchor watching the island over the reef. At the appointed hour, the island’s boats pulled up alongside,
Palmerston, The Other Watch-Written By Dirk Lorenzen Read More »
Only moments after sending in the last Captain’s Log about getting to Palmerston Atoll and being at anchor in the lee of the reef, the starboard anchor lost its hold and slid off the shelf into deeper water. This happened at the 0800 muster and I could hear it make the jump. Soon this navy
After a good, sometimes boisterous, passage from Tahiti we sailed up into the lee of Palmerston Atoll in the Cook Islands for an unplanned visit. We are halfway from Tahiti to Vava’u, Tonga. When we were in Tahiti we had gotten an email from the island administration asking what was the ship’s ETA at Palmerston
We have been having quite the ride the last couple days aboard the Picton Castle in the South Pacific. The day came in partly cloudy with large seas and strong winds on the port quarter. We are under a modest sail plan and sailing along just fine. Stars overhead faded out as the sky brightened
Here as dawn approaches, the Picton Castle is sailing along in fresh southeast winds on the quarter. Blowing force 6, 7 in the gusts. Sail is reduced to upper topsails , inner jib & fore topmast staysail, foresail, and main topmast staysail. The ship is balanced well so steering is not hard. Seas running around
