Picton Castle is swinging at anchor in the lagoon of Rikitea, Mangareva, Gambier Islands of French Polynesia. The Gambier Islands consist of an outer ring atoll with big islands inside the reef about 300 miles NW of Pitcairn Island – truly one of the most beautiful settings in the South Pacific and, extra bonus, a […]
By Kate “Bob” Addison “Pitcairn Island – wow!” That’s a pretty good one-line summary for someone who’s never been to Pitcairn, and “Wow!” is also the new name given to Dkembe on the island, because that was his response to so many things there… A new name is one thing you can expect to take
By Kate “Bob” Addison January 21st, 2013 For the sixth time in her distinguished sail training career, barque Picton Castle is in sight of Pitcairn Island, which grows larger and more distinct as we draw closer. It is a perfect South Pacific afternoon, with sparkling blue seas and a bright blue sky as a backdrop
Greetings from our shore office in snowy Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada. While Picton Castle is hove to off Pitcairn Island in the South Pacific this morning, we’re being covered in a fluffy white blanket here, so much snow and wind that local schools are closed for the day. Quite different from swaying palm trees, warm
By Kate “Bob” Addison What better to write about on a glorious, sparkling South Pacific morning than the most glamorous of Picton Castle crew – the daymen riggers? Often compared to colorful birds of paradise (or more commonly to monkeys) riggers are happiest with both feet off the decks, working high up aloft. Here, they
By Kate “Bob” Addison Here in the South Pacific it is another hot blue-sky day. Winds are light. The sun has been shining brightly all morning, and there are just a few fair weather clouds low over the horizon – nothing to offer heavenly shade. The decks are foot-scorching hot so most folks are wearing
By Kate “Bob” Addison Another beautiful day deep in the South Pacific Ocean, and all is well aboard Barque Picton Castle. The sun is bright, the seas are sparkly and skies are blue, and all on deck are busy working away on their projects for the morning – the bosun and his mates are sanding
By Kate “Bob” Addison Another perfect day sailing along in the Pacific Ocean aboard the Picton Castle, shoals of flying fish launch themselves, a small rain squalls wooshes by and a thousand miles or so before we next see dry land, and so it seemed a good time for a short series of special edition
By Kate “Bob” Addison The first Monday in January finds Picton Castle sailing merrily along in the South Pacific at 10º17’S 108º08’W. There is a steady Force 5 breeze on the port quarter which makes us all very happy, as well as driving us along at a steady 6 to 7 knots. Our compass course
By Kate “Bob” Addison On the last day of the year, it seemed appropriate to look back at 2012 and all that it brought for the Picton Castle and her crew. I’ve had a great time today looking back through our old log books and re-reading old Captain’s logs – hope you enjoy the review
