September 21, 2011 at 3:44 PM
When Picton Castle was at Jost Van Dyke in the British Virigin Islands this past May, crew members of the brigantine Romance gathered, including Captain Arthur Kimberly, better known as Skipper. Picton Castle did something very unusual and went out for a day sail. The crew sailed her off the hook at Great Harbour and returned a few hours later, sailing back on to the anchor. This was Skipper's last sail, one on which he took the helm, helped set sail, and gave advice and guidance to another generation of trainee sailors. Second mate Paul Bracken wrote a log about sailing with this legendary mariner.
Like a family tree, Picton Castle crew can trace their line back to the great age of sail, when square-rigged ships were commercial vessels. We have sailed under the command of Captain Daniel Moreland, who served as chief mate on the brigantine Romance in the 1970s on a voyage around the world. For 23 years, including two voyages around the world, Romance was under the command of Captain Arthur Kimberly. Captain Kimberly sailed on the Abraham Rydberg, a Swedish four-masted barque which was still sailing commercially when he was an Ordinary Seaman aboard before WWII.
Knowing his mentor was ill, Captain Moreland traveled to Florida to visit. After a Friday of reminiscing at Skipper's bedside with fellow Romance crew, Skipper slipped his mooring Saturday morning. He will be missed, but his legacy lives on in the people who carry his knowledge and spirit forward.
For more information on Skipper's last day, read here.
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