The last chance to send mail to the crew before the holiday season and the end of 2023 will be in Bali.  Our ship’s agents in Bali say the best way to send packages is by DHL and it will take at least a week once the package is in Bali for it to clear […]

Date: 15 October 2023 Sailing from: Neifa, Tonga Bound towards: Suva, Fiji Noon position: 18°34.7’S 177°28.6’W Course: W 1/2 S Speed: 4.5 knots Wind force and direction: Force 4 SExS Seas/swell: 2m SSE Barometer: 1020 Steady Sky: 4/8 cu Water temperature: 76.5°F Distance made good in 24 hours: 109nm Passage log: 190nm Voyage log: 10832nm

Date: 14 October 2023 Sailing from: Neiafu, Tonga Bound towards: Suva, Fiji Noon position: 18°40.6’S 175°34.4’W Course: W 1/2 N Speed: 4.2 knots Wind force and direction: Force 4 SExS Seas/swell: 2m SE Barometer: 1020 Steady Sky: 7/8 st, cu, alst Water temperature: 75.2°F Distance made good in 24 hours: 81nm Passage log: 81nm Voyage

If you’re a regular reader of the Captain’s Log, you will have heard about the incredible adventures the crew are having on this world circumnavigation voyage aboard Picton Castle.  Sailing in all weather, learning a bevy of seamanship skills, exploring exotic ports and islands, getting to know one another and work together to sail this

We are off under square sail again – we had a warm, brilliant time at Palmerston with all the folks there, soaking up atoll life in the South Pacific. Thanks so much to all you Marsters and to Vina who helped at Rarotonga. But it comes time for a ship to sail, and sail we

Date: 05 October 2023 Sailing from: Palmerston Island, Cook Islands Bound towards: Tonga Noon position: 17°49.9’S 172°35.2’W Course: W Speed: 4.45 knots Wind force and direction: Force 5 SWxS Seas/swell: 3m S Barometer: 1018 Steady Sky: 3/8 st, cu, stcu Water temperature: 76.8°F Distance made good in 24 hours: 107nm Passage log: 649nm Voyage log:

With the boats loaded up again they headed for the pass not far away. Picton Castle, with engine silent, set a staysail and drifted off to leeward, safely and serenely. Quite a sight for crew to see. She was to remain close by, not more than six miles off in the lee of Palmerston. The

Date: 04 October 2023 Sailing from: Palmerston Island, Cook Islands Bound towards: Tonga Noon position: 18°24’S 170°51.7’W Course: W Speed: 6 knots Wind force and direction: Force 5 SxW Seas/swell: 4m SSE Barometer: 1017 Steady Sky: 8/8 rain Water temperature: 76.2°F Distance made good in 24 hours: 145.5nm Passage log: 481.5nm Voyage log: 10399.5nm Distance

Date: 03 October 2023 Sailing from: Palmerston Island Cook Islands Bound towards: Tonga Noon position: 18°39’S 168°38.2’W Course: WxS1/2S Speed: 5.3 knots Wind force and direction: Force 5 SExE Seas/swell: 4m SE Barometer: 1020 Steady Sky: 8/8 light rain Water temperature: 77.2°F Distance made good in 24 hours: 128nm Passage log: 336nm Voyage log: 10254nm

To say that Port Watch was excited to go ashore at Palmerston is an understatement. In the 24 hours prior, after our arrival, the official paperwork and documentation had been submitted and, finally, approved while we waited at anchor watching the island over the reef. At the appointed hour, the island’s boats pulled up alongside,