Yesterday afternoon the winds and sea made up strong. Sea got pretty lumpy and cross-grained; they still are pretty lumpy and confused. The ship is moving about quite a bit. Steering will give you a sweat. The more experienced and better helmsmen get to put in extra time at the wheel. Last night quite a …
DAY’S RUN March 7, 2019 After a nice long stay in Cape Town the Picton Castle is off again. As per plan some crew had to go home, they will be missed but we have some new crew all keen to join in. Expeditions ashore and work all done, provisions aboard. Customs and immigration all …
After a nice long stay in Cape Town, the Picton Castle is off again. As per plan some crew had to go home, they will be missed but we have some new crew all keen to join in. Expeditions ashore and work all done, provisions aboard. Customs and immigration all sorted. Mid-afternoon yesterday we were …
ARRIVAL CAPE TOWN Just before sunrise we had the Cape of Good Hope abeam on starboard as the Picton Castle sailed north bound for Cape Town. The bio-luminescence in our bow wake and waves pulling with us was rich and magical in the inky dark. Seals came alongside to check us out. We could see …
As of this writing, the Picton Castle is six miles south of Cape Agulhas, the most southern tip of Africa. Many assume this southern tip is the Cape of Good Hope, but it ain’t so; Cape Agulhas has that claim. Nothing between us and Antarctica but increasingly cold ocean. And fish and whales and ships…Beautiful …
Steaming along here making westing about 60 nautical miles south of Knysna, RSA (Republic of South Africa) which is on the bottom of South Africa and has great oysters. Not much wind but plenty ships round the “Cape of Storms” sailing east and west. And huge ones too. Plenty of bulk carriers and tankers over …
Making some time here in this Agulhas Current. Making 11 knots. That’s some fast for this ol’ barko. Lots of ships to be seen headed for the Cape or away. Huge 1,200 foot long tankers with almost 200 foot beams. You could set this ship on deck athwartships and no bits would hang over the …
Closed with coast of South Africa about midnight. Winds went from 25 to 30 knots out of the north to 10 to 20 knots out of the south west around about the same time in short order. Got into some lumpy seas. Hove to. About 0800 this morning got going again, conditions moderated near the …
Blowing pretty hard. We are 65 nautical miles off the coast. Under shortened sail. Expect it to blow a bit more before it lays down, maybe a bit over 30 knots. The gang is well briefed. Port and starboard watertight doors are shut on the cabin trunk. Everything pretty well snugged down. Double gaskets on …
Set sail yesterday afternoon with wind making up out of the South with promises to back and fair. Seas a bit lumpy. Extra lashings going on here and there. Closing with the coast near Durban about 200 miles to the west. Supposed to blow strong out of the NE tomorrow. Cloudy. All good. Portholes getting …
