Here we are about 60 nautical miles off the coast of South Africa near Durban. Picton Castle is under shortened sail and it’s blowing hard. Sheets are some taut. Not quite a gale but 30 knots and more sustained wind than we have seen in our flying fish sailing over the last nine months since …
Blowing pretty hard. We are 65 nautical miles off the coast. Under shortened sail. Expect it to blow a bit more before it lays down, maybe a bit over 30 knots. The gang is well briefed. Port and starboard watertight doors are shut on the cabin trunk. Everything pretty well snugged down. Double gaskets on …
A fine sailing day at sea. Seas diminished, wind faired, yards almost squared, sparkling seas and nothing but blue sky. In sailmaking, the new spanker is almost done with Tammy roping and John stitching cringles. Spot painting in the dry weather, easy sailing as we head across the Mozambique Channel. Excellent rices bought at Reunion …
Sweet sailing day today as we head for southern Madagascar, painting, sailmaking, varnishing, steering, sail handling all part of the day. Seas smoother and winds lighter but all pretty nice. From: Reunion Towards: Cape Town, South Africa Date: Feb 1st, 2019 oon Position: 24° 28’S x 048°28’E Course + Speed: SEly + 5.5 kts Wind …
Here at midday, the Picton Castle is bowling along towards a spot about 80 miles south of Madagascar where we will fall off and turn more westerly to cross the Mozambique Channel to make the coast of South Africa near the city of Durban. From there if all goes well we pick up the Agulhas …
The crew were close at hand on standby last night, anticipating sail handling under the dark, cloudy sky with groups of stars peering through, as the moon beamed through the cumulonimbus clouds with a gorgeous orange/yellow colour. This morning has come in overcast and we had slight periods of rain, which stopped the sailmakers’ work …
After a very pleasant stay in La Reunion, a French Island east of Madagascar in this South Indian Ocean, the Picton Castle and her adventurous crew are back at sea. After days and days of sunny dry weather, we had a few days of rain and squalls while in port, these being the trailings of …
Last night the black Indian Ocean sky was radiantly littered with bright, twinkling stars and planets. When these nights arise, the night watches entertain themselves by learning new constellations. As we sail around this globe our night skies are constantly changing and new constellations are coming into our line of sight. It’ll be a sad …
Smaller seas, lighter winds and cooler air on board Picton Castle today, which made for a lovely day at sea. This morning the 4-8 watch and those who were on deck got the stuns’ls prepped and set them again. They had been taken in last night for a squall. The work day is laid out …
December 27, 2018 – Indian Ocean – noon position approximately 16-14 South / 083-58 – on passage from Bali towards Rodrigues and Reunion Islands The Picton Castle gang is having a pretty classic studding sail sea passage across this broad southern Indian Ocean. ESE winds blow easy enough drawing us along at 4-5 knots, sometimes …
