Bosun School students have been working on sending down yards. On some other ships, this is done with the assistance of a crane. On Picton Castle, we use the lifting power and mechanical advantage in the ship’s rig to lower the yards down to deck. Although sending down yards sounds like it may look …
This weekend was all about boats for the Bosun School. Every fall, there’s a race of traditional vessels in Lunenburg. It’s always a fun event. Our students were adopted by skippers of the various boats to crew with them for the day. The breeze was fresh outside Lunenburg harbour, 20 knots gusting to 25 knots …
Captain’s Log: Sailing Schooners & Other Traditional Boats Read More »
Bosun School is officially in session! Monday September 19 was the first day of classes for this session of the Bosun School. We have a small class this time, which makes for lots of individual attention for each student. Bosun School is designed for young mariners who want to learn skills and be more useful …
Since returning to Picton Castle’s home base in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada two weeks ago, ship’s cat Fiji has made herself at home in this UNESCO World Heritage town. We’re often asked who owns Fiji. She really owns herself, as most cats do. However, she does not have one single owner, she goes with the …
12 September, 2016 Early September in Lunenburg On the morning of the last day of August, Picton Castle sailed quietly in to Lunenburg Harbour. As Captain Sam Sikkema explained in the last Captain’s Log, royal yards, the mainsail, t’gallants and all upper staysails had all been sent down before the ship made her entrance, so …
Picton Castle wrapped up a two-week stay in Toronto this past Sunday, casting off the mooring lines and heading out into Lake Ontario and then down the St. Lawrence River towards Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada, which is our home base. You may have noticed that Toronto wasn’t on our original itinerary for this voyage. We …
Picton Castle set sail from Quebec City on Tuesday August 2nd, bound for Toronto. The ship gained a number of admirers in Quebec City and some were on the wharf to see the ship get underway and wave goodbye. We’ll be back in Quebec City again in 2017 for a big tall ships event called …
Picton Castle made a grand entrance at Quebec City on Thursday July 28th. As you may remember, we have been working on a project that involves a historical re-enactment, and this is the final port for that project. Families of those aboard were standing on the shore at the harbour entrance, watching Picton Castle pass …
For those of you who keep up with our website regularly, you’ll notice a change to our voyaging plans for 2016-2017. Sometimes an opportunity comes along that is worth changing plans for. This is the case this time. This summer, we’ll be involved in a special project that will see Picton Castle make two back-to-back …
All are welcome to join us on the Lunenburg waterfront this coming Saturday morning to see the ship off on her Transatlantic Voyage. Trainees arrived in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada for the start of the voyage on October 1. Since then, they’ve been busy with training, orientation and preparation for their first Transatlantic passage. On …
Departure Set for Saturday October 31 at 10:00am Read More »
