We sailed from Newcastle, just 60 miles up the coast, for Sydney to join in with a large Naval Review celebrating the founding of Australia’s Navy 100 years ago. Picton Castle and 15 other sailing ships boarded excellent pilots and steamed in the long winding channel under power in freezing cold rain to dock at …
September 30, 2013 After pushing pretty hard against stiff headwinds most of the day we picked up our pilot 2 miles off the breakwater to the entrance of Newcastle Harbour. I wanted to get in to spare the gang a night of being hove-to in 25 knot winds and 5 metre seas. At dusk our …
By Cheri Davidson 29-04 S, 166-53 E – Steering SWxW What could be better for a bunch of sailors in a deep water square-rigger on a long sea passage than a beautiful Sunday at sea? As in ships of old, Picton Castle crew work hard all week, but on a lovely, sunny Sunday like today, …
By Cheri Davidson 25-56 S, 174-03 E At Sea 19 September 2013 It’s just after 12 midnight on the Picton Castle and the Starboard Watch has gone to sleep. Port Watch now has the decks and are waking up with cups of tea and coffee. Night watch can get pretty chilly. When we are woken …
21-05 south latitude / 176-15 west longitude Steering SW under all sail The Picton Castle and crew are, at this writing, a day at sea after sailing from Neiafu, Vava’u, Kindom of Tonga yesterday. We are making good time with fresh SE trade winds pulling us along at 7 knots at times. Seas are moderate …
By Cheri Davidson 18-39 S, 178-59 W Sunday September 8, 2013 After a rockin’ and rollin’ motor from Palmerston Atoll, we have arrived in Tonga! The beautiful islands of the Kingdom of Tonga came into view for the crew of Picton Castle on Friday morning. After a rolly few days of motoring at sea, they …
By Cheri Davidson Monday September 2, 2013 Crew and ship are back to sea again after a brief but welcomed stop at Palmerston Island. Picton Castle has brought cargo to the people of Palmerston twice this past summer, and we have many good friends there. This time we carried just a couple small freezers, a …
By Cheri Davidson Thursday August 29, 2013 20-15’S, 160-47’W Sailing at 4 knots, bound from Rarotonga to Tonga by way of Palmerston Atoll For some of the folks aboard thePicton Castle, last night was their very first night watch, and adjusting to the movement of the ship in the dark can be challenging. Port watch …
By Cheri Davidson Wednesday August 28, 2013 Picton Castle departed Rarotonga this morning, hurrah! Motor-sailing NWxW under overcast skies. Crew are broken off into two watches now, Port and Starboard, with Port watch taking the decks just after a yummy lunch of roti wraps from Donald. Leaving Rartonga we set lots of sails! First with …
By Kate “Bob” Addison Bound for Tonga, Norfolk Island and join the Tall Ships at Sydney! As this new voyage kicks off, the new trainees and professional crew are settling in, making friends and starting their shipboard orientation. The focus is on getting to know the ship and all her routines and equipment, basic sail …
