Plenty of bright stars and a crescent moon above us at dawn this morning, before a gorgeous sunrise dead astern. We were heading south out of the tropics and now have turned west for Pitcairn Island. Captain Moreland has informed us that the calm seas and light winds we’ve been luckily enjoying this passage will …
Another lovely Sunday at sea! This marks our sixth Sunday underway, how lucky are we? Light yet steady winds, bright blue sky holding puffy cumulus clouds, golden sunny rays beaming on deck. Chillin’ out is on the agenda today. Our cook was able to sleep in past 0530 by enlisting three crew members to prepare …
On this beautiful South Pacific morning a group of eager star-sighters gathered on the quarterdeck at 0630, sextants in hand, hoping for good star sights to fix our position. Yesterday an all hands muster was ordered at 1400 to set the stuns’ls. Our chief mate Erin of Bermuda explained the gear and the process of setting …
At roughly 0730 this morning, after completing a thorough sunrise deck wash, the on-duty watch loosed and set the main topmast staysail, main t’gallant staysail, the mizzen staysail and mizzen topmast staysail. We’re moving again! Steadily at 4 knots we roll along the South Pacific in the Picton Castle way, living up to our slogan …
Wind has picked up moderately, steady swells coming from the south as we inch our way to Pitcairn. Last night on watches we went over where the gear for the stuns’ls will be led to on the forward fife rail. As no additional pins will be added to the rail, lines for other sails will …
Blue skies, trade wind clouds, blue seas, a few white caps. Wind has picked up enough today, averaging 3 – 4 knots. Weather is gorgeous, making it comfortable and enjoyable to work in. At 0630 the quarter-deck was filled with eager crew members sporting headlamps, watches, and sextants in order to take a morning star …
After yesterday’s fantastic Sunday at sea, the crew is feeling refreshed from our middle-of-the-Pacific-Ocean 12,000 feet deep swim call! With nothing but blue blue blue ocean beneath us, the crew braced the main yards aback, causing Picton Castle to float still (ed. note – she was pretty still anyway), bobbing up and down with the …
Sunday at sea. 870 miles to go to Pitcairn Island. Light to no wind continues on this beautiful Sunday at sea. Sun is shining strongly on deck, the long drawn out swells periodically rock the ship back and forth, side to side like a parent would rock a baby to sleep in its cradle. Sleep …
The wind is light, making steering tricky and keeping the helmsmen on their toes. At 1000 this morning we braced up sharp on a starboard tack, steering full and by the wind, now out of the west. This morning’s on watch put down their tools to leave the projects they were working on in order …
The wind is directly aft of us, yards are braced square and we’re sailing along in a fine Force 3, or 12 to 15 knot winds, and gently rolling with the wide-spread swell typical of the vast Pacific Ocean. This morning Picton Castle, in all her white hull, white canvas glory, sailed under a big …
