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 …
Last night we steadily sailed along under the blanket of twinkling stars, topping out at 7 knots. One week today until Christmas at Sea! Hopefully everyone on board has finished their Christmas shopping, there’s no running to the store on Christmas Eve for us sailors. We have to be savvy and creative in terms of …
At 11 degrees 28 minutes south latitude and 103 degrees 40 minutes west longitude, Picton Castle and crew have sailed about 1,000 miles into the Indian Ocean from beautiful Bali. And halfway around the world. We had a small 200-mile diversion to Christmas Island to get one of our worthy shipmates ashore to get eyes …
Beautiful Indian Ocean sailing as we scoot along between five and six knots, overcast yet still bright, with a pleasant breeze to cool us down while we shake off the sugar intake from yesterday’s DIY sundaes. The deck was humming with activity today. Sailmaker apprentice Sue, of England, and sailmaker extraordinaire John, of Massachusetts, hauled …
Sunday at Sea! Quiet morning on deck with no power tools running. The on duty watch are able to break open their personal projects and tinker away, it’s important to have a personal project on the go. Something a sailor can pick up when there’s down time, it’s always satisfying to complete one personal project …
Ironically and yet seasonally appropriate, we spent the day hove to off the coast of Christmas Island, part of Australia! A slight detour in our passage as one of our crew members had to be transferred ashore due to a non-life threatening medical condition requiring shore-based medical attention. We hope to see him on board …
Frosty made an appearance today! Frosty the snowman that is, the longest standing ship Christmas decoration, he dates back to the first world voyage! Hoisted on the foremast, just above the main mast stay, he sits proudly above the well deck. Being that it’s 11 days until Christmas, preparations are gearing up. The baking sign …
At daybreak, the call came to loose the square sails. Crew climbed aloft in the rigging, pulling themselves up the shrouds, laying out onto the yards and loosing the furled sail. By 0800, the watches on deck hauled on lines, yanked on braces and heaved on halyards, setting our eight current square sails (our royals …
