Our excellent trade wind sailing continues. The forecast however is for the winds to start getting lighter and we can already feel that today. But it is no matter to us as we have been making good time and will continue to have good weather if not fast sailing. The Mate and the Bosun are …
Another lovely trade wind sailing day. The wind shifted east this morning and we squared away and hauled up the Studding sails. The ships work keeps on and many coats of paint are being applied with the good weather. Foot ropes and crane lines are being sent down from the rig for maintenance and temporary …
As we approach the southwestern corner of the North Atlantic high, the wind has become gradually lighter. With as much sail set as we can carry, the ship is still doing well in the very moderate conditions. We are expecting this part of the crossing to be slower and are happy with the wind keeping …
An overcast Sunday at sea. The wind has faired a little more and the Studding Sail booms were run out again this morning. To mark the occasion of being a little more than half way across we held a ‘social hour’ on the quarter deck this afternoon, and to counter the grey day the crew …
While our good speed continues we are having to work a bit harder for it. The wind strength and direction have started to become more inconsistent and this requires much more sail handling to get the utmost out of the ship. All bent sail was set this morning as the wind moderated, but as it …
The squalls started up again last night and the Studding Sails came in early. As the morning came on, the wind built to the upper end of Force 5 and started gusting 6. During the morning watch the Royals, Flying Jib and Gaff Topsail were taken in hand. The ship continued to speed along though …
As the night wore off the wind began to build in the morning. The ship is still sailing to the West with the wind mostly behind us and this allowed us to carry all sail and take best advantage of the wind strength. There is nothing quite like a square rigger with a fresh quartering …
Though we did find the North Easterlies, they are not steady yet. Last night the breeze died away almost completely. As there is still some swell running we had to take in the Fore & Aft sails and haul up the Courses in order to keep them from slatting against the rig. We are also …
The wind has remained from the north and a few squalls overnight provided for some sail handling in the watches. This morning dawned fair with a Force 4 Northerly and we made all sail except the Fore Topmast and Lower Studding Sails. With the fair weather continues much work aloft greasing wires, fixing mousings and …
Today was Studding Sail day (pronounced ‘Stun-s’l’). The last bit of canvass we can set in PICTON CASTLE extends out beside the square sails on booms. These sails are reserved for moderate conditions and long passages where there won’t be too much bracing or other sail handling. We carry three of them on the weather …
