The winds have come fair and started filling in again, so we’re back on course for St Helena making five knots in a glorious sailing breeze. We passed back into the Tropic of Capricorn yesterday evening and the air temperature is perfect at 25°C. SHIPS WORK: Sent down the strong fore upper topsail today and […]
A sunny, mellow Sunday at sea. Hardly any wind today, but we’re not in a hurry and it’s much nicer to go slow for a day than to fire up the engine. A pod of dolphins were hanging out off the port beam in the afternoon, and we think maybe a pilot whale too, but
DATE: Feb 7th, 2015 REMARKS: The water has warmed up 10°C in the last 24 hours – meaning we are finally out of the cold current sweeping up the coast of Africa from the Antarctic. We celebrated the new warmth with a saltwater power-shower on the main deck – good to exercise the fire pumps
REMARKS: We retarded ship’s clocks last night so now we’re in the same time zone as Amsterdam, Rome, Madrid and Paris. Chief Mate Sam held a workshop on splicing this afternoon for our newer crew and anyone who wanted a refresher. After, the Captain updated us all on the passage to St Helena and the
DATE: Feb 5th, 2015 REMARKS: We set sail from Luderitz, Namibia yesterday lunch time, after a very pleasant and relaxed port visit where we visited abandoned diamond mines wandered around the pretty little town and drove out to see wild horses, oryx and ostrich in the desert. It’s a beautiful sunny day today, not too
REMARKS: The wind picked up to a force 6 overnight, and the day came in brisk and grey. At that speed we would have made landfall in Luderitz at night, so we took in sail to tap the brakes and avoid an arrival in darkness. By lunch time today the sun has come out, wind
REMARKS: Running downwind with the yards square, it’s a lovely sunny day but not too hot here in the South Atlantic Ocean. The water is very green here in these coastal waters. Beautiful starlit night last night, and dolphins came to play in the bow wave – the bioluminescence in the water makes them glow
By Lead Seaman and Sailmaker Aspirant Amy Barlow Monday January 26th, 2015 When the Picton Castle was alongside Jetty 2 in the V&A Basin of Cape Town, just next to the ship was a fine, small and empty shed about 70 feet by 40 feet. It was clean, dry and with a smooth floor. This
REMARKS: At sea again! After a magnificent three week stay in beautiful Kaap Stad, it’s good to be at sailing again. We steamed overnight in light headwinds, and then the wind came fair this morning so we set sail at the change of the watch. There’s nothing like that first moment of quiet when the
By Kate “Bob” Addison January 12th, 2015 Picton Castle is in Cape Town! It’s a beautiful Monday morning, bright sunshine but not too hot so the air feels crisp and the colours are clean and vibrant. We are at the most perfect dock here in the V&A Waterfront in front of the fancy Table Bay
