Part 1. A photo essay Our fine 300 ton, 180 foot long solid riveted steel sailing ship at ADAMS & KNICKLEs wharf in Lunenburg at the end of a voyage and thinking about the next one…. Getting the ship ready for sea is a big complex job calling for lots of crew and savvy direction. […]
Getting to sea, blue-water, in the Barque PICTON CASTLE Read More »
In the harbor, in the island, in the Spanish Seas,Are the tiny white houses and the orange trees,And day-long, night-long, the cool and pleasant breezeOf the steady Trade Winds blowing. There is the red wine, the nutty Spanish ale,The shuffle of the dancers, the old salt’s tale,The squeaking fiddle, and the soughing in the sailOf
In Lunenburg we love to complain about the winter hereabouts.But should I find myself on the dock having a gam with someone, in a short while into that conversation we get around to agreeing that winters really aren’t so bad here in Lunenburg. But the truth is that spring can be cold enough and can
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 »
