That famous poet laureate of the ships and the sea, John Masefield, was born in 1878, a year after my grandmother. He set sail before the mast in big iron and steel British square-riggers. Rounded Cape Horn and hauled miles and miles of braces before heading ashore. His ships were much like our Barque PICTON […]
Our stout blue-water barque is snugly, contentedly and safely moored to the welcoming wharves of Adams & Knickle scallop fishing company here in late January. Our own wharf is condemned as we await to hear of plans for renewal. Picton Castle, Bosun School and other working waterfront marine enterprises depend on this wharf. A
Today and looking ahead for PICTON CASTLE – Jan 2025 Read More »
There is plenty to do to get a ship like the Barque Picton Castle ready for winter in these northern climes as we are now tied up in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. You need to drain all sorts of pipes so they do not freeze. Shut off various through-hull fittings for much the same reason, some
Captain’s Log – Sending Down Yards, Winter is Coming… Read More »
November 11, yesterday, is Remembrance Day in Canada. In the USA it is Veterans Day, once called Armistice Day after its founding moment, the cessation of hostilities at the end of a very grim WWI. At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the guns became quiet, and the
What do some recent Bosun School graduates and PICTON CASTLE crew graduates do for Halloween? Why, they dress up as spooky sea-faring folks and help the Captain’s son create a Haunted Dory Shop! This Halloween, Lunenburg was treated to a transformed Haunted House like no other. The crew got together and over a couple days turned the venerable Dory Shop
Written by Ansleigh Coplin About a week after our initial visit, a sunny September morning found Bosun school returning to the Michele Stevens sail loft to see the finished sails. The panels that were previously in pieces, mapped out and marked up with pencil now formed a full gaff rigged main sail and jib. By
Written by Ally Gibson Whilst our Bosun School is primarily a land-based seamanship program intended to helpadvance the skills of the talented young mariners enrolled, an important aspect of our current sessionhas involved getting our students onto a variety of small boats and vessels. Our students have sailedwith Eastern Star and Eastern Points, our young
Captain’s Log: Bosun School Sails on the Bluenose II Read More »
Written by Ansleigh Coplin: Bosun’s Mate At the Bosun School we endeavor to not only get across hard and soft skills but also to expose our students to as wide range of mariner enterprises as we can. To end they have had tours of the big beautiful schooner Blunose II, sailed in the Eastern Star
The Lunenburg Waterfront can be a blast to the senses in the summer. A cacophony of sound from the Schooner Bluenose II or fishing vessel Maude Adams horns – signaling a voyage setting off. There are tour buses, yachts of all sizes, and a film crew here and there. This summer the waterfront has been transformed into Martha’s Vinyard for
Two weeks after the Barque Picton Castle sailed in at the end of this world circumnavigation, our wonderful Bosun School kicked in and students arrived in Lunenburg. Bosun School is our land-based, marine skills enrichment, for aspiring mariners. We love doing it. Whether you want to set off in a tall ship, get a job
