An absolutely beautiful South Pacific tradewind day. All sails set, sailing mile after mile, in the groove. Gorgeous blue sky filled with puffy cotton-like clouds surrounding the ship and sea. Sounds of rust busting steel rails on the foc’sle, scraping and sanding Fijian mahogany pinrails on the quarterdeck, brushing on varnish and paint and sawing […]
Blue sky, seas laid down, a tropic bird passing over head, easy winds, ocean for as far as the eye can see on this clear South Pacific day. The wind has calmed down today, the ship is sailing at a speed of about 4-5 knots. Work on deck is in full swing, calmer seas allows
Only 2,000 miles to go to Pitcairn Island. Misty rain squalls that leave us rolling in short calms and put a damper on paint projects as well as slow down the sailmaking. But all is good enough. We are headed the right direction with warm fair winds. Lots of rigging, sailmaking and small carpentry jobs
The sound of scuffing sandpaper on mahogany and teak and the smell of varnish is abundant on deck on this beautiful sunny morning. The lee side of the galley house and the double doors of the salon received another coat of varnish – you can never have too many coats. The quarterdeck is covered with
A blue whale swam by the ship this morning. The Picton Castle is sailing deeper and deeper into the South Pacific Ocean. After a few days of overcast and light squalls not far from the Equator we now are sailing along with a fresh beam breeze to port heeling the ship a little to starboard.
At 0730 this morning a blue whale visited close by, entertaining the sunrise 4-8 watch. We’re sailing along beautifully due southwest, light rain showers came and went causing a rainbow to form. We sailed underneath the colours, our white bow piercing through the South Pacific ocean salt waters – we were the treasure at the
Sailing full and by the wind, occasional squalls, some with a bit of wind in them. Many miles to sail… Our first Sunday at Sea for this passage, the ‘Sunday Funday’ flag is flying high on the foremast and the relief galley team is vigorously chopping and prepping today’s meals – which thus far have
Sailing along ‘full and by’ the wind. Still cool and overcast but sailing well. Seas building to the breeze – all very comfortable. Sailmaking workshop today. Our day started off great with Donald’s tasty, sticky, gooey cinnamon raisin buns for breakfast, or as Dawson, age 5 and 1/2, refers to them as “raisin burgers” –
The Galapagos Islands fade astern. Big long South Pacific swells roll in from the south. Frigate birds perch on the spanker gaff span. Yesterday the new watch bill was posted, crew members scrambled to see the page to find out which watch they are now on. Last night we enjoyed a beautiful calm sail under
Yesterday at 0900 we sailed across the Equator! We hosted a formal visit from His Majesty King Neptune and His royal court. A momentous occasion for all on board, for the pollywogs are now grown into shellbacks like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. As well it was a healthy reminder that we are in fact
