Tuesday January 1st, 2019 Happy New Year! Last night’s celebrations were a huge hit. Today we haven’t wasted any time getting back into the swing of things and starting the year off on a good foot. It’s been a productive first day of 2019. Thus far, this morning’s on duty watch hauled out the fore …
Monday December 31st, 2018 Those who were awake while it was still dark were able to enjoy a gorgeous Monday morning red and orange sunrise, the last sunrise of 2018. Woah, what a year it’s been for our Picton Castle crew members. Adventuring out into this entirely different way of life, with all new people …
Last night the black Indian Ocean sky was radiantly littered with bright, twinkling stars and planets. When these nights arise, the night watches entertain themselves by learning new constellations. As we sail around this globe our night skies are constantly changing and new constellations are coming into our line of sight. It’ll be a sad …
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 …
