Not surprisingly, we have been getting questions on when we expect our Barque Picton Castle to set sail on this, our long anticipated, great adventure of a world circumnavigation. A good question it is. After months of preparation and anticipation we were well on track to sail right about now, mid-November, then we hit a …
Regarding Hurricane Fiona now past. After extensive preparations with extra hawsers and massive chafe gear we were as ready as we could be for a hurricane here in Lunenburg. The winds picked up after dark. As did the rain. Starting around midnight It blew hard and harder – and cold – all through the night. …
Hurricane Fiona has done some serious damage in the West Indies and is now heading our way. It has increased in intensity on its way here. We are looking at stiff gale force Northerlies blowing off the land starting tonight and plenty of rain. We are well protected from Northerlies in Lunenburg Harbour. No …
After slamming Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Turks & Caicos islands, Hurricane Fiona is headed towards Nova Scotia by way of Bermuda. It looks like the eye of the storm will pass over the eastern end of mainland Nova Scotia this side of Cape Breton Island. What does this mean to us here? This is …
When I mentioned in the last Captain’s Log that “a freeing port had been torn off in storm”, I have been asked to point out that the storm in question was while we were at the dock and not at sea. Just to be clear…. Onward… Sometimes it rains but mostly we have been having …
We are going to sea! Getting the Barque Picton Castle ready for blue-water. Loving up the ship. After three years of being tied up hard and quietly alongside the wharf in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia during this worldwide pandemic, the stately square-rigger we love, Picton Castle, is now swarming with activity once again, gearing up for …
My first vessel of any significance was the Brixham Trawler Ketch MAVERICK under Captain Jack Carstarphen. She was engaged as an island windjammer sailing in the British Virgin Islands. The year was 1972, I was 18 and keen to get back the Caribbean islands of my childhood and go to sea in island schooners of …
Thanks to a few generous Picton Castle and Bosun School alumni and other donors , we are now able to offer full scholarships to every qualifying student aged 35 and under attending Bosun School this summer! We are thrilled to make this hands-on marine technical training program available at no cost to young, up and …
Full Scholarships for Bosun School Students Ages 35 and Under Read More »
Today there are any number of lovely sailing vessels making wonderful trips under sail that most anyone can join. Schooners, brigantines and the like. Most of these trips are for a week or two, even up to a semester long if you are a student seeking accredited school time while also sailing at sea. Many …
Spring in Lunenburg… Hunkered down in a darkening dusk here in Lunenburg in late spring a few days ago. Outside it was howling holy hooly, with rain smattering on the window tikity-tack, over my shoulder and battering at the shingles. Another South East gale. Yep. Its spring. Or so it’s what we call spring, hereabouts. …
