We are all very happy and excited to be hosting a BOSUN SCHOOL session this summer in salty old Lunenburg! Boats, seamanship, sailing, heaps of rigging, fixing boats and ships, varnishing and painting and all the rest is what will occupy our summer days here on the South Western shore soon. There is nothing better …
Bosun School 2021 Update: New Dates and Scholarships! Read More »
Flexibility and patience are lessons that ships and the sea teach, we learn to work with the environmental conditions we’re given. Now we’re applying that lesson to organizing the Bosun School – we’re announcing that the start of Bosun School has been delayed by two weeks, starting June 21 instead of June 7. Nova Scotia …
Towards the end of Picton Castle’s most recent world circumnavigation voyage, the ship’s eighth time around the world, the ship sailed into Bermuda on the way to Nova Scotia, as we usually do. The chief mate was Erin Grieg of both Canada and Bermuda. Bermuda. Bermuda is an island so linked to the sea and …
One of the highlights of our winters usually is attending the Tall Ships America annual conference. Tall Ships America is a membership association of sailing ship operators, sail training and marine educational vessels, and interested individuals with an international membership. Over a period of three or four days each February, we attend informative sessions, meet …
Please find below a letter that was sent to crew of the Picton Castle regarding the postponement of the World Voyage: Dear crew of Picton Castle’s upcoming World Voyage, We are writing to you today with important updates about the voyage. After in-depth consideration, which we will explain more thoroughly below, the World Voyage planned for departure …
Letter to Picton Castle Crew – Postponement of the World Voyage Read More »
Those of you who follow the topsail schooner Pride of Baltimore II, the State of Maryland’s sailing ambassador, on social media will be familiar with their regular feature “Coffee With The Captain.” It’s a weekly chat with Captain Jan Miles where the highly respected schooner skipper discusses everything from sailing technicalities to weather observation, sea …
Coffee With The Captain of Pride of Baltimore II Read More »
Thanks to the Nova Scotia Seamanship Education Society, a registered charity in Canada, and a generous anonymous donor, financial aid will be available for trainees on Picton Castle’s upcoming World Voyage. We recognize that the World Voyage trainee fee is a big amount and out of reach for many who would benefit from the voyage …
This past weekend was Thanksgiving in Canada (yes, it’s held earlier than Thanksgiving in the USA due to harvest season coming earlier here). As I was harvesting the last of the tomatoes out of my backyard garden at home, I was thinking about all that we have to be grateful for, even in this year …
The other day I was telling an old friend about a wonderful trip I took by train and he asked why I enjoyed it so much. The bunks were cool, the food was great, the scenery was amazing, and there was time to take it in and enjoy it. I attribute my appreciation of slow …
Here at Picton Castle headquarters in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada, we’ve been monitoring Hurricane Teddy for many days now. This brute is approaching Nova Scotia from the direction of Bermuda, due south – meaning headed north for us. Back in June, we wrote a Captain’s Log about the prediction that the 2020 hurricane season would …
