Smaller seas, lighter winds and cooler air on board Picton Castle today, which made for a lovely day at sea. This morning the 4-8 watch and those who were on deck got the stuns’ls prepped and set them again. They had been taken in last night for a squall. The work day is laid out …
A gorgeous pink sun arose on our port quarter this morning, the age old saying “pink sky in the morning, sailors take warning” was not in effect today. Another beautiful sunny day on deck, with white puffy cotton like clouds dispersed throughout the baby blue sky. At 0630 lead seaman Dustin of Nova Scotia noticed …
Calm, steady winds this morning, with a current that is conveniently headed in the same direction as we are, west, pushing the ship another knot faster. And just like that we are getting back into our regular schedule of ship’s work, as we are all in need of burning off yesterday’s delicious desserts and a …
Merry Christmas all! It’s 2000 here aboard the Picton Castle as we sail west into a gorgeous Christmas evening sunset. We had an amazing sunny day, the hatch was full of gifts and our hand made stockings were full to the brims with goodies. By 1000 am everyone was awake and gathered amidships around the …
‘Twas the night before Christmas and on board Picton Castle Not a trainee was stirring, all was quiet in the forecastle The stockings were hung by the scuttle with care, In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there; The off-watch were nestled all snug in their beds; While visions of short splices danced in …
Last night the moon shone vibrantly, illuminating the deck as if a street lamp was hung above our ship. During the 8-12 watch, the topmast stuns’l halyard parted. With the light of the moon, the on duty watch was able to see clearly as they worked to take in all three stuns’ls, packing them away …
We awoke to a sunny Saturday this morning! Excellent weather to set our stuns’ls, and that we did. All stuns’l booms were sent up, blocks and halyards in place aloft, then all three stuns’ls were set by 1100! Stuns’ls or studding sails are sails that protrude outboard of the yards, and as we are currently …
Happy solstice! It’s been a a productive and happy day here on board. Many hands on deck chipping away at our to do list. On the agenda today is to send up the newly repaired spanker gaff as well as get the gear and booms ready to set studding sails or stuns’ls. The bosun, Anders …
Today has been picture perfect sailing weather, easy rolling seas that lap against the hull every so often, clear blue skies, warm sun and a tremendously steady breeze, cooling off those who are working hard on deck. Work on the spanker gaff progressed extensively, the tip was filed down and sanded to its shape, the …
This morning those who sleep aft were awoken by the sounds of a fish flapping on deck. Fishermen extrodinaire had caught another mahi mahi! Always a great start to the day. Slight drizzle, grey cloud morning, which ironically enough was a nice break from the Indian Ocean hot sun, postponing second mates Dirk’s celestial navigation …
