One week out of Lunenburg and PICTON CASTLE is about half way to the Azores. Time is doing its usual deep-sea warping, what with two watches to stand and two sleeps a day, nobody really seems to know what day of the week it is. Sailing along out here, time is measured by the sun …
Fairly big seas today, the final remnants of last night’s strong winds. Some water sloshing across the main deck and out through the freeing ports. Occasionally a bigger wave comes over the rail and you can hear where it hit by the sound of the shriek – unless the watch were quick enough to get …
This afternoon’s workshop was a passage and weather update from the Captain. He explained that we’re making good progress, both in miles logged and in the developing competence of the crew. The watches were focussed on the mainsail today as we set it and took it in plenty of times depending on the wind: aloft …
Captain’s Log Kate (Bob) Addison – 4 November 2015 The theme of today has been rainbows and wind. Squalls have been blowing over bringing short rain showers and gusty wind, but there’s not been much bite in them so far. And the sunshine after each shower kept our own personal rainbow aglow for much of …
Captain’s Log Kate (Bob) Addison – 30 October 2015 It’s a sunny Friday afternoon in beautiful Lunenburg, and PICTON CASTLE is looking good. She’s alongside at her wharf, where she’s spent the past three months ever since returning from the summer voyage of Tall Ship festivals. It’s been a busy and productive three months: a …
A squally day of sunshine, showers and rainbows. Squalls are unpredictable and can bring rain, strong winds and wind-shifts so the Mate of the watch is constantly on the alert for them, scanning the weather horizon and the radar to get as much warning as possible. Then they have time to call the Captain, make …
The watches are working on steering, lookout and lines – especially taking in the mainsail and spanker quickly, they are finding out how much harder it is to find the right line in the dark with the decks rolling under you. All hands are doing well. Chief Mate took us through an introduction to the …
After a chilly, windy night, today dawned sunny with the wind having moderated to a fresh breeze. Great sailing weather. The swell was still confused and lumpy from the blow, but it sorted itself out a good deal throughout the day. Overnight was the most wind many of this crew have ever seen at sea, …
A grey day today. The wind gradually picked up through the day, so we shortened down sail to topsails and foresail to be nice and snug for the night, with lines rigged tight across the quarterdeck and main deck to give people more to hold on to. Good job Sunday galley team of Colin, Alec …
Happy Halloween! We’re underway! Much thanks to the crowd of Lunenburgers and well wishers who came down to the wharf to wish us fair winds yesterday. The first day at sea of this voyage and all is well aboard PICTON CASTLE. Seas are small and winds quite light though it’s cold. New hands are finding …
