Spring in Lunenburg… Hunkered down in a darkening dusk here in Lunenburg in late spring a few days ago. Outside it was howling holy hooly, with rain smattering on the window tikity-tack, over my shoulder and battering at the shingles. Another South East gale. Yep. Its spring. Or so it’s what we call spring, hereabouts. …
Join us at the Grand Banker Bar & Grill in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada on Friday April 1 at 9:00pm for a comedy show! Presenting live entertainment is not something we usually do, but when the opportunity came along to host a fundraiser in support of Picton Castle’s GoFundMe, how could we not? A former …
Happy new year to all of Picton Castle’s shipmates, shipmates families, friends and supporters! As we enter 2022, our spirits are buoyed by your impressively solid response to our GoFundMe campaign. Your belief in the work of the and belief in keeping her sailing onward is truly heartwarming. We have especially loved hearing from those …
The longest night of the year… December 21, 2021 – Lunenburg Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada. A sharp west wind slashes across the harbour. With little fetch the white caps are small and charming. And very close together. At sea the story will differ. The longest night of the winter is here. The long night seems …
Lunenburg kicked off the festive season in style this past weekend. On Friday evening the waterfront was lit up, including the t’gallant masts and bowsprit on Picton Castle. The colourful lights on the vessels, including the fleet at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, the fishing vessels at Adams & Knickle, the schooner Bluenose II, …
Last week, Bosun School students were given an excellent opportunity to learn about fixed moorings by helping overhaul moorings at the Dory Shop to make them safe and secure. Moorings are like permanent anchors for vessels. They serve the same purpose but are quite different than anchors. Captain Michael Moreland of Ironbound Rigging was engaged …
Overhauling Moorings at the Dory Shop With Ironbound Rigging Read More »
Those of you who follow the topsail schooner Pride of Baltimore II, the State of Maryland’s sailing ambassador, on social media will be familiar with their regular feature “Coffee With The Captain.” It’s a weekly chat with Captain Jan Miles where the highly respected schooner skipper discusses everything from sailing technicalities to weather observation, sea …
Coffee With The Captain of Pride of Baltimore II Read More »
Christmas shopping at our Chandlery at Picton Castle’s warehouse on Lunenburg’s working waterfront. Yes, it has been a long year. Postponing of voyages, grim. Hosting a fine summer Bosun school session was just great, though. Gearing up for a world voyage? Pretty amazing. Nothing routine about a sailing ship voyage bound around the world. But …
This past weekend was Thanksgiving in Canada (yes, it’s held earlier than Thanksgiving in the USA due to harvest season coming earlier here). As I was harvesting the last of the tomatoes out of my backyard garden at home, I was thinking about all that we have to be grateful for, even in this year …
After the storm last night the morning came in clearing up with strong west-north-west winds howling across the waters. Schooners and other yachts anchored in the harbour, the fishing vessels and the Picton Castle alongside Lunenburg’s venerable and historic wharves tugged at their moorings without straining them. The storm has passed. No real damage around …
