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 …
By Purser Kate (Bob) Addison Tues 10 Nov 2015 The sun is streaming in through the starboard window of the ship’s office as PICTON CASTLE daintily rises and falls with the Atlantic swell. She’s making an easy five knots this morning with square sails set all the way up to the t’gallants, swaying like inverted …
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 …
It was busy in the Bosun’s domain on the well deck today as the good weather allowed rigging projects to get going. The small seas and sunshine were a delight for the navigators and sailmakers too – noon sights were satisfyingly accurate today, and the Captain brought a sail up to the quarterdeck to work …
Another gorgeous day of sunshine and a good sailing breeze. With better weather we can get on with rigging projects: Captain took a small group of people with some rigging experience to show them how to ‘rattle down’ properly so we can get on with replacing ratlines as needed under the eye of the Bosun, …
A beautiful sailing day with a moderate breeze, blue skies and puffy white clouds. As the winds come lighter so it’s time to bend more sail to maintain our speed. In the age of sail it would have been standard practice to bend royals and kites at sea as needed – why waste time bending …
Our lovely barque rigged sailing ship, now at sea approaching the Azores with a great gang of young mariners sailing on a voyage across the free Atlantic was once know as HMS Picton Castle. Just before open hostilities commenced in the second World War in 1939 our ship was conscripted into the British Royal Navy …
The Former HMS PICTON CASTLE Remembers on Remembrance Day Read More »
Another good day’s sailing. The air has quite a chill following the passage of the cold front, but the water is warm so full foul-weather gear with bare feet is the fashion of the day. We’re making tracks across the Atlantic, the crew concentrating on learning weather observations, steering better and tending to the rigging. …
It’s difficult to take pictures of heavy weather at sea. Braced against the rail with the wind singing in the rigging and the decks lurching under you as she dances along, skipping over 10 foot swell with the white water churning under the bow and sloshing across the main deck and salt spray in your …
By Ashley Mulock Thirty odd days ago trainees and apprentices who are sailing on the PICTON CASTLE for the Transatlantic Voyage began to arrive. Eyes like saucers they boarded the ship, struggled awkwardly down the quarterdeck stairs (designed I’m pretty sure to initiate newcomers on the spot) and then gathered on the green hatch at …
