Armed with small-scale charts, a calendar, dividers, a calculator, itineraries of previous voyages, old log books and, perhaps most importantly, a big pot of coffee, we recently sat down to do some serious voyage planning. The itinerary has been set for almost a year now, but we wanted to work on confirming specific dates for leg changes along the voyage route.

Starting April 12, 2010, Picton Castle will embark on her fifth world circumnavigation voyage. This voyage is scheduled to be 14 months long, and will be divided into four legs. The ports that divide the legs are Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, the island of Bali in Indonesia, and Cape Town in South Africa. Being a circumnavigation voyage, the start and end point is the same, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Both the third and fourth world voyages were just over a year long – our idea in making this voyage 14 months is to visit about the same number of ports, but to build in a bit more time for sailing so we won’t have to motor quite as much. The mighty 690hp Burmeister & Wain Alpha diesel engine is nice to have, but we prefer to use it as little as necessary. By looking back at these voyages and figuring out the number of days for each passage, and then breaking down each passage into the number of days we were under sail and the number of days we were under motor, we were able to adjust the expected length of each passage on this upcoming voyage to allow for as much sailing as possible. We looked at the distances between ports and estimated our average speed of advance under sail for the wind and weather conditions in that particular part of the world, then calculated the number of days required to make the passage. Put the number of days for each passage together with the expected length of stay in each port, count it all out on a calendar, and there you have a voyage plan.

The main challenge for a sailing ship’s voyage plan is that it is so highly dependent on weather. There may be passages that go more quickly than anticipated, meaning we will be ahead of schedule, and there may also be passages where we have less wind than expected and we’ll be behind schedule. We used a fairly conservative estimate for speed of advance, and tried not to pack too much into one leg of the voyage in order to, hopefully, balance out in the end.

So, while bearing in mind that a sailing ship’s schedule is always subject to change, here are the leg dates for the World Voyage:

Leg 1
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada to Rarotonga, Cook Islands
April 12 to August 15

Leg 2
Rarotonga, Cook Islands to Bali, Indonesia
August 16 to November 12

Leg 3
Bali, Indonesia to Cape Town, South Africa
November 13 to February 3

Leg 4
Cape Town, South Africa to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada
February 4 to June 18

Maggie and Captain voyage planning

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It’s definitely winter in Lunenburg. We’ve had several big snowfalls this month, along with some cold temperatures and strong winds. Picton Castle continues to be tied snugly to the wharf at Adams and Knickle. Despite the weather, there are some signs that time is moving along and that it won’t be winter here forever. The Christmas tree that was lashed aloft on the mizzen was taken down this week. Days are getting longer again, with a few minutes of daylight to be seen on either side of our regular working hours.

We took a little break from ship’s work over the holiday season, but have been back at it since the New Year. The first big project to finish was scraping and sanding in the salon. One of the last remaining little bits from Picton Castle’s role in the Mark Burnett reality television series “Pirate Master” was the dark stain on the wood outside the bunks in the main salon. This had started to wear out a bit during the Atlantic Voyage, but it’s terribly inconvenient to scrape, sand and varnish while people are living there. The handful of crew currently on board are living in the Batcave, the aftermost living quarters and the only living area that is heated. With the salon currently empty, it’s the best time to get work done there. After a week or two of work, the salon is now ready to be varnished, which will happen as soon as the temperature rises enough for the varnish to dry.

The scraping and sanding didn’t end with the salon, there are more wooden things to take care of in the warehouse. Both royal and t’gallant yards were sent down in the fall for overhaul, so they royals are currently laid out on sawhorses to get some attention. The royal and t’gallant yards are wood while the three lower yards on each mast, which are still rigged aloft on the ship, are steel. The old varnish has been completely scraped off, the wood has been sanded smooth and the metal hardware has all been overhauled, primed and painted. Some of the other wooden bits taken off the ship for varnish preparation work in the warehouse include the benches from the aloha deck, the box that houses the steering gear on the quarterdeck and the tops of the veggie lockers on the aloha deck.

All of these projects are being done to get the ship into top shape for the world voyage, our fifth global circumnavigation, which is starting soon. Trainees will be joining the ship in about two and a half months, so winter can’t be that much longer!

Nicksa primes royal hardware

royal yard ready for varnish

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We recently came across an article online that ties together Picton Castle’s recent year-long voyage around the Atlantic Ocean.

You may know that our ship was named for a castle in Wales. Picton Castle was built in the late 13th century and has been home to the Philipps family, who are direct descendants of the original builder. A visit to the Picton Castle while the ship was in port at Milford Haven was a highlight of the voyage. On the Voyage of the Atlantic, the ship also visited Dakar in Senegal, a major port for the exportation of slaves from Africa. Many of the crew on the voyage have powerful memories of visiting Goree Island, the gateway through which slaves were loaded onto ships and carried away from their home.

This article tells the story of one particular boy who was brought from Senegal to Britain by an officer of the British army and given to Sir John Philipps as a gift. Named for the Philipps family castle, Cesar Picton was raised as a servant in the Philipps household. The family was against the slave trade so Cesar was educated and apparently mixed with the family on equal terms. An inheritance from Lady Philipps allowed Cesar to become a merchant, at which he was quite successful. Owning a home in Kingston and property in the country, Cesar died in 1836 at the age of 81.

On the Voyage of the Atlantic, particularly the passage from Africa to the Caribbean, the crew were mindful of the countless ships that had sailed that way before with cargoes of people. While Cesar Picton sailed a slightly different route, this other namesake of the Welsh castle draws together another connection on this voyage.

With a pile of snow falling earlier this week, Picton Castle may actually experience a white Christmas this year, snugly tied to the dock in Lunenburg. The ship has spent many Christmases at sea in the tropics where the only white is the canvas of the sails overhead. At this time next year, Picton Castle and her crew will be sailing across the Indian Ocean, the little fake evergreen tree strapped to the cargo hatch, yummy smells of cookies and other baked goods wafting out of the galley and the crew going about the daily routine of watches in shorts and t-shirts, thinking of families and friends at home in cooler climates.

The holidays are also a time to reflect back on the past year. Picton Castle has had all sorts of adventures with a fine crew. After crossing the south Atlantic under sail alone, the crew had a great lumber-finding adventure in the forest of Grenada, took part in race week in Antigua and island-hopped in the Eastern Caribbean before sailing triumphantly into Lunenburg harbour in May. With a new gang aboard, Picton Castle sailed south at the end of June for Massachusetts to join up with the fleet of Tall Ships in Boston and Halifax. Picton Castle carried on through Atlantic Canada, first with a smaller group of ships and then on our own, exploring small ports in this breathtakingly beautiful and warmly hospitable part of the world. The Bosun School students were busy ashore this fall, learning everything from wire splicing to caulking, sailing small boats in Wednesday night Hump Cup races and taking field trips in the local area.

From all of us at Picton Castle, we wish you the warmest of holiday greetings and all the best for 2010.

Lunenburg fleet all lit up

Picton Castle with lights at the dock

tree atop the mizzen

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Saturday was an important day on Lunenburg’s waterfront, as the keels for two wooden schooners to be built at the Dory Shop were laid. Laying the keels marks the start of this exciting project, and Picton Castle crew were on hand to assist.

The two schooners, both 48 feet long and built in the Tancook tradition, will be constructed outdoors on the Dory Shop property as twins, frame for frame and plank for plank. Captain Moreland said on Saturday they will be “schooners that are so pretty, they’re make you cry; so comfortable they’ll make you never want to go home; so fast, they’ll make you win every race you’re in.”

Picton Castle crew from the Voyage of the Atlantic have a strong connection to this project as they procured the wood for the keels from the forests of Grenada. With help from Wesley Pilgrim, commonly known as Mr. Bones, an old shipwright friend of Captain Moreland, second mate Paul Bracken and crew member Matt McGraw treked into the jungle to find the right tree that would provide the wood for these keels. The perfect tree was found, a mountain gommier, then cut down and dragged three kilometres out of the forest by hand, with assistance from a team of locals and some reinforcement crew members from the ship. These two 3,000 pound pieces of wood were then towed to the ship and loaded on board, lashed securely on deck for the passage from Grenada to Lunenburg.

The craftsmanship of master boatbuilder Dave Westergaard has turned these two giant pieces of wood into keels for two schooners. And the first spikes were driven into the keels on Saturday, beginning the building process.

With about 250 people on hand for the celebration, Lunenburg Mayor Laurence Mawhinney noted the value of this project for the community. “Many years past, this waterfront was the beam upon which Lunenburg was built. So these two beams being laid today are significant of the revival of the watefront that we know and love and want to see rise again.”

The ceremonial pounding of the first spike into each keel was easily done by distinguished mariners Captain Phil Watson, skipper of the schooner Bluenose II, and 91-year old Captain Matt Mitchell whose long career at sea included a period of time aboard the original Bluenose.

Despite the cold temperatures and biting wind, most of the crowd stuck around for some hot cider to warm themselves up and toast the beginning of this new chapter of boat building on Lunenburg’s waterfront.

To follow along with the project’s progress, check out the Twin Schooner blog at twinschooners.blogspot.com.

Captain Matt Mitchell drives in the first spike

Captain Moreland addresses the crowd at keel laying

Captain Phil Watson drives in the first spike

Meredith, Paul and Jackie at the keel laying

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“Sea-Fever”

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.

By John Masefield

Saturday November 28 was the middle day of Picton Castle’s three-day Cargo Sale, it was also the first annual Santa Claus Parade in Lunenburg. The theme for the whole parade was “Santa in a Fishing Dory,” a fitting theme for a town with such a strong seafaring heritage. In recent years, Santa has made his arrival in Lunenburg on board a scallop dragger, this year he was part of the parade and arrived in a dory.

The Picton Castle crew entered our unique dory in the parade, Sea Never Dry, with her tropical pink, blue, green and yellow paint job. Because of the power lines over the road on the parade route, we couldn’t put up Sea Never Dry’s usual sailing rig, so we used the shorter rig from Mr Bones and reefed Sea Never Dry’s cotton Senegalese sail to fit. The Bosun School students decorated our dory for the parade, going with a tropical Christmas theme. In addition to the things we expect to see at this time of year, like tinsel and garland, Sea Never Dry was decorated with inflatable palm trees and tiki lights.

The crew looked tropical to match Sea Never Dry, with some allowances for November weather in Nova Scotia. Over their pants and long sleeve shirts they wore sarongs and grass skirts, all sorts of brightly coloured clothes. They waved flags from around the world, played drums and handed out candy canes to the parade spectators.

We had a great time in the parade and the crew like being involved in the community while we’re here in port. Many thanks to the parade organizers for the opportunity to participate!

For a video recap of the parade, check this out. You will see us briefly near the beginning of the video.

crew in tropical gear

dressed up in tropical outfits

last minute preparations

parading down Lincoln Street

Sea Never Dry tropical Christmas

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Join us this weekend at our warehouse on the waterfront in Lunenburg for the Picton Castle Cargo Sale!

A previous Captain’s Log will give you details on some of the items for sale, and below are a few photos from the inside of the warehouse on Thursday afternoon. We hope you’ll come down for a cup of warm cider and a chance to browse through the treasures we’ve collected from around the world. Who knows, you may find that perfect gift for someone on your holiday shopping list, or even something for yourself!

Location: 174 Bluenose Drive, on the waterfront in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

Friday November 27, 10:00am to 5:00pm
Saturday November 28, 10:00am to 5:00pm
Sunday November 29, 12:00pm to 5:00pm

a whole wall of sarongs and fabric!

chests full of fabric, hand woven baskets

coffee table, tam tams and day bed

cute little inlaid and painted wood pots

teak armchair and fijian war clubs

teak desk and masks from around the world

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Picton Castle Chief Mate Michael Moreland has recently been awarded Young Sail Trainer of the Year by Sail Training International. Both Michael and Second Mate Paul Bracken were in attendance at the Sail Training International annual conference in Istanbul, Turkey when the award was presented. This award is given annually to a professional sail trainer under 26 years old to encourage and recognize high-performing individuals who deliver sail training programs.

Michael has served as Picton Castle’s Chief Mate since March 2008, on the year-long voyage around the Atlantic Basin, as well as this summer’s voyage on the east coast of North America. Michael will continue on in this role on the ship’s upcoming world circumnavigation voyage, starting in May 2010.

Here are a few highlights from Michael’s nomination:

“Michael joined this ship as a 16 year old cadet in the summer of 2000 and
returned as a trainee for the Picton Castle’s third circumnavigation 2003-
2004. At the end of this voyage he immediately headed off to the Maine
Maritime Academy where I am told by his instructors… he excelled in every way. After graduating with distinction
from MMA Michael went to serve in the Brig Niagara, Schooner Amistad and
other vessels to advance his craft.

The Picton Castle just completed a remarkable 20,000 mile voyage around the
Atlantic including much of coastal Europe, West Africa, Brazil, West Indies,
New England and the Canadian Maritime provinces. For this voyage Michael was
originally signed up to be Second Mate but when the designated Chief Mate
had to back out for reasons at home at the last minute I asked Michael to
step up to the plate…

As an upcoming yet accomplished mariner, I have seen few Michaels equal. As
a small boat handler he is exceptional. As a calm, well organized leader he
is a pleasure to work with. As a sailing ship and sail training officer he
is dedicated to his craft. As a shipmate you could not ask for better.”

Congratulations, Michael, we’re all very proud of your accomplishments!

For more details, check out Sail Training International.

Mike leads plotting workshop

Mike teaches workshop on piloting

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Looking for a unique gift? Or a handcrafted piece of furniture? Look no further than the Picton Castle Cargo Sale in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia on the last weekend in November.

As Picton Castle sails around the world, Captain Moreland and the crew personally select handcrafted items from markets, studios and workshops in exotic ports to bring home for sale. These items are representative of the tropical trade-wind routes the ship sails, little pieces of paradise that we can bring home and share.

More important to us than the places these treasures represent are the people who made them – gentle Wayan in Bali who creates exquisite, intricate beaded baskets that require hours of patience and delicate work; the people from the Vanuatu island of Pentecost, famous for their land divers, who walk for hours to the village of Bwatnapne Bay for trading day with their woven pandanaus bags, baskets and floormats; our friends and gracious hosts on Pitcairn Island who, in addition to being descendants of the mutineers on the Bounty, are fine wood carvers who create dolphins, sharks, turtles, boat models and even fids (sailors’ tools used for splicing rope) out of tropical hardwoods, sanded and finely finished; Josepho from Vava’u in the Kingdom of Tonga who brought his masks with Polynesian gods and sculptures of whales and fish on board the ship to sell; Mohammed from the waterfront craft market in Suva, Fiji who sells Fijian war clubs that are exact replicas of clubs found in the Fiji Museum in Suva and who invited some of the crew into his home for supper; the tall, thin Rastafarian men with their dreadlocks tied up on top of their heads in the heat of the fruit and vegetable market in Port Elizabeth, Bequia who sell tote bags made of recycled grain sacks with nylon webbing for straps.

Whether you’re a sailor, a traveller or an appreciator of fine handmade items, you’re sure to find some interesting gems at the Cargo Sale.

Join us at our warehouse on the Lunenburg waterfront at 174 Bluenose Drive on Friday November 27 and Saturday November 28 from 10am to 5pm and Sunday November 29 from 12pm to 5pm.

Crew in basket from Tonga

Loading sea chests inlaid with mother of pearl on to the ship in Bali

Pania with whale carving in Tonga

Wayan and her beautiful handmade beaded baskets

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