Captain called an all-hands muster after lunch to discuss the progress of the passage. We have made good tracks from the Azores, but the weather charts are currently showing a huge high-pressure system over almost the whole North Atlantic, which is forecast to remain almost stationary for at least the next few days and giving […]
This week we assigned daymen from the watches because the weather is better and the gang are becoming more accomplished at sail handling, so fewer people are required in the watches just to sail the ship, allowing us to focus a little more on ship’s work. Rigging assistants for the week are Mackenzie and Gary,
This morning at 0740 while the oncoming watch were below eating breakfast and the 4-8 had just finished the morning deck wash, the port martingale backrope parted, the resulting pressure from the headsails on the jibboom causing it to break at the cap. All hands were called to take in sail, and bear away from
Since the weather has been fair we’ve been doing lots of painting, so it was a well timed paint and coatings workshop this afternoon. Captain explained how any unprotected steel will quickly rust in the damp, salty marine environment, and how we counteract this by diligent and regular painting. It has been thus ever since
We are still sailing close to the wind to make as much easting as possible, the crew are learning to sail ‘full and by the wind’. Since the weather was good and the winds light, the watches had some time to get on with personal projects on watch – practicing knots and marlinspike seamanship, reading,
We sent up the fore royal yard today. I wonder if anywhere in the world there is another ship crossing yards at sea today. A pleasant, fairly sunny day and with small swell so great for getting work done, but with the light winds of a large high pressure system we are going quite slowly
The sun came out today but the wind died – the good and bad of a high pressure system at sea. Sunny weather meant we could get lots done on deck: making headway in sailmaking, rigging, carpentry and painting projects. We also did a drill to practice rescuing someone injured in the chain locker –
REMARKS: A good North Atlantic sailing day for PICTON CASTLE with almost all her sails set, and filling beautifully as they do their work, the ship creaming along with white water under her bow. The crew did well to keep up with the gusty winds today – quickly setting and taking in sails as the
Underway at first light to make way for the supply ship whose berth we were graciously allowed to use. Flores was a wonderful port stop: incredibly lush and dramatic scenery, the most amazing waterfalls I’ve ever seen, a very warm welcome from the local population and a dairy making delicious cheese. SHIP’S WORK: Jesse went
This afternoon the Captain called all hands to the quarterdeck to update us on progress of the passage. With less than 80 nautical miles left to run, we could have set a course straight for Flores Island and arrived in 12 hours or so, sometime early Saturday morning. That is except for the post-tropical depression
