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 …
Making good time under power. Wind has filled in some from the SW, so we have fore and aft sails set. Wind might come back enough to set squares later, we will see. Meantime, no dilly-dallying on our way to the Cape. Workshop today will be “ship types and how to identify them”. We saw …
The day came in calm so we fired up the main engine. Early we had 3-knot fair current despite the calm. No seas to speak of. Sunny and clear. Tammy and John making sails on the hatch. A new spanker and a new t’gallant almost done. Getting our spare spar timber out of where it …
Nice sailing day at sea. Almost halfway across the Mozambique Channel. We had to send down the main royal yard. It cracked while bracing. The Mate led the gang of Jack and Anders aloft in a fine piece of seamanship getting that yard down the proper way. We are going to make a new one …
A fine sailing day at sea. Seas diminished, wind faired, yards almost squared, sparkling seas and nothing but blue sky. In sailmaking, the new spanker is almost done with Tammy roping and John stitching cringles. Spot painting in the dry weather, easy sailing as we head across the Mozambique Channel. Excellent rices bought at Reunion …
Sweet sailing day today as we head for southern Madagascar, painting, sailmaking, varnishing, steering, sail handling all part of the day. Seas smoother and winds lighter but all pretty nice. From: Reunion Towards: Cape Town, South Africa Date: Feb 1st, 2019 oon Position: 24° 28’S x 048°28’E Course + Speed: SEly + 5.5 kts Wind …
Here at midday, the Picton Castle is bowling along towards a spot about 80 miles south of Madagascar where we will fall off and turn more westerly to cross the Mozambique Channel to make the coast of South Africa near the city of Durban. From there if all goes well we pick up the Agulhas …
The crew were close at hand on standby last night, anticipating sail handling under the dark, cloudy sky with groups of stars peering through, as the moon beamed through the cumulonimbus clouds with a gorgeous orange/yellow colour. This morning has come in overcast and we had slight periods of rain, which stopped the sailmakers’ work …
Our first day back at sea after nearly two weeks in port – a surprise extended stay on the French island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean. A gorgeous landmass that allowed us to explore its mountains, traverse its volcanos and devour delicious French cheeses, meats, and breads. As we steadily head southwest out of …
