Calm, steady winds this morning, with a current that is conveniently headed in the same direction as we are, west, pushing the ship another knot faster. And just like that we are getting back into our regular schedule of ship’s work, as we are all in need of burning off yesterday’s delicious desserts and a […]
Merry Christmas all! It’s 2000 here aboard the Picton Castle as we sail west into a gorgeous Christmas evening sunset. We had an amazing sunny day, the hatch was full of gifts and our hand made stockings were full to the brims with goodies. By 1000 am everyone was awake and gathered amidships around the
‘Twas the night before Christmas and on board Picton Castle Not a trainee was stirring, all was quiet in the forecastle The stockings were hung by the scuttle with care, In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there; The off-watch were nestled all snug in their beds; While visions of short splices danced in
Last night the moon shone vibrantly, illuminating the deck as if a street lamp was hung above our ship. During the 8-12 watch, the topmast stuns’l halyard parted. With the light of the moon, the on duty watch was able to see clearly as they worked to take in all three stuns’ls, packing them away
We awoke to a sunny Saturday this morning! Excellent weather to set our stuns’ls, and that we did. All stuns’l booms were sent up, blocks and halyards in place aloft, then all three stuns’ls were set by 1100! Stuns’ls or studding sails are sails that protrude outboard of the yards, and as we are currently
Happy solstice! It’s been a a productive and happy day here on board. Many hands on deck chipping away at our to do list. On the agenda today is to send up the newly repaired spanker gaff as well as get the gear and booms ready to set studding sails or stuns’ls. The bosun, Anders
Today has been picture perfect sailing weather, easy rolling seas that lap against the hull every so often, clear blue skies, warm sun and a tremendously steady breeze, cooling off those who are working hard on deck. Work on the spanker gaff progressed extensively, the tip was filed down and sanded to its shape, the
This morning those who sleep aft were awoken by the sounds of a fish flapping on deck. Fishermen extrodinaire had caught another mahi mahi! Always a great start to the day. Slight drizzle, grey cloud morning, which ironically enough was a nice break from the Indian Ocean hot sun, postponing second mates Dirk’s celestial navigation
Last night we steadily sailed along under the blanket of twinkling stars, topping out at 7 knots. One week today until Christmas at Sea! Hopefully everyone on board has finished their Christmas shopping, there’s no running to the store on Christmas Eve for us sailors. We have to be savvy and creative in terms of
At 11 degrees 28 minutes south latitude and 103 degrees 40 minutes west longitude, Picton Castle and crew have sailed about 1,000 miles into the Indian Ocean from beautiful Bali. And halfway around the world. We had a small 200-mile diversion to Christmas Island to get one of our worthy shipmates ashore to get eyes
