The trade winds continue to blow fresh, even boisterous. We have wind and current in our favour and the ship is surging along, surfing down the waves with white-caps and flying fish scattered all around. New hands continued with their splicing practice in the afternoon, and the celestial navigation classes got as far as calculating …
Cape Verde Boblog – written by Purser Kate (Bob) Addison The Barque PICTON CASTLE is at sea again, letting the fresh trade-wind breezes blow the red sand of Africa from our rigging; we are westward bound transatlantic in the steady fresh trade winds of the tropics. We just sailed from the port of Mindelo, on …
These Atlantic trade winds are blowing some fresh, and we’re romping along under t’gallant sails making excellent speeds with flying fish scattering about. Seas and skies are blue and the dusty Sahara haze of Africa is diminishing. SHIP’S WORK: Continue work on spars and planking for our wooden boat project, starboard main footrope maintenance, greasing …
Westward bound for the Caribbean. Our first day at sea for a couple of weeks, and it’s good to get back into ship’s routines as we set out on our second Transatlantic of this voyage. This passage is set to be a good one, with consistently fair and moderate, even fresh winds and sunny weather …
It was an excellent sailing passage from Dakar: we had a nice sailing breeze on the quarter almost the whole time, the ship romping along with flying fish all around. We’ve had nothing but sunshine for weeks now, so our fair weather projects continue: varnish, sailmaking, carpentry and taking care of the rig. Cape Verde …
It’s a beautiful trade-wind sailing day here off the coast of West Africa. Sparkling blue seas, a light haze softening the blue sky, and a pod of dolphin skipping and diving off the port quarter. After all the bustle and colour and noise of Senegal it is incredibly peaceful to be back at sea in …
PICTON CASTLE got underway from Dakar, Senegal at 1400 this afternoon, bound for Cape Verde a little under 500 nautical miles away. The big port anchor and two shots of heavy chain were surprisingly easy to hoist, and in less than half an hour we had all sails set to the royals and braced up …
PICTON CASTLE is at anchor off the CVD yacht club, a wonderful old colonial hideaway in the city where we have been made very welcome and very well looked after. Our gang are enjoying the bustle of Senegal: wandering the busy streets and soaking up the rhythms and colours of a proper African city, shopping …
Our crew got their first glimpse of Gorée Island as we arrived into Dakar – most will take the ferry across to visit this historic and poignant reminder of the Atlantic slave trade. This link will take you to more information on Gorée Island and its history.
PICTON CASTLE anchored at Dakar, Senegal at 1630 GMT. We let go the big port anchor at 14°43.1’N 017°24.8’W, about a mile off the yacht club by de Hann beach, and it’s holding well. The watches are bracing the yards square and stowing sail as the call to prayer rings out from the minarets ashore, …
