Last night we steadily sailed along under the blanket of twinkling stars, topping out at 7 knots. One week today until Christmas at Sea! Hopefully everyone on board has finished their Christmas shopping, there’s no running to the store on Christmas Eve for us sailors. We have to be savvy and creative in terms of …
Beautiful Indian Ocean sailing as we scoot along between five and six knots, overcast yet still bright, with a pleasant breeze to cool us down while we shake off the sugar intake from yesterday’s DIY sundaes. The deck was humming with activity today. Sailmaker apprentice Sue, of England, and sailmaker extraordinaire John, of Massachusetts, hauled …
Sunday at Sea! Quiet morning on deck with no power tools running. The on duty watch are able to break open their personal projects and tinker away, it’s important to have a personal project on the go. Something a sailor can pick up when there’s down time, it’s always satisfying to complete one personal project …
Ironically and yet seasonally appropriate, we spent the day hove to off the coast of Christmas Island, part of Australia! A slight detour in our passage as one of our crew members had to be transferred ashore due to a non-life threatening medical condition requiring shore-based medical attention. We hope to see him on board …
Frosty made an appearance today! Frosty the snowman that is, the longest standing ship Christmas decoration, he dates back to the first world voyage! Hoisted on the foremast, just above the main mast stay, he sits proudly above the well deck. Being that it’s 11 days until Christmas, preparations are gearing up. The baking sign …
At daybreak, the call came to loose the square sails. Crew climbed aloft in the rigging, pulling themselves up the shrouds, laying out onto the yards and loosing the furled sail. By 0800, the watches on deck hauled on lines, yanked on braces and heaved on halyards, setting our eight current square sails (our royals …
It’s Monday morning on board Picton Castle, the deck brushes were in use this morning, scrubbing away grime that builds up quickly. Just like that, we are back into the swing of things at sea. The sailmakers are set up on the hatch, with their sailmaking benches, needles and palms in hand they seam away …
Wow! After two weeks in amazing Bali this is our first full day at sea. It’s a Sunday and it’s our dear shipmate Niko’s birthday. Niko has sailed with Picton Castle on a number of voyages since 2009 when he joined in Grenada. Since then he has been known for his delicious efforts in the galley, …
All hands on deck, 0800 muster, sea watches posted, the crew worked through the intense Bali heat to heave up anchor, get the last of the provisions onboard and lash down or stow any moveable object on deck. Customs and immigration gave us the go ahead, stamping our passports and we hoisted the skiff. Hoisting …
Indian Ocean Bound for Bali, south of Sumbawa, west of Sumba After another evening of half the crew sleeping soundly on the hatch, Monday morning started with a hot sunrise on our backs as the crew sipped their morning coffee on the aloha deck. After breakfast our avid fisherman Colin spent his morning untangling his …
