Sail This Summer

Have you ever dreamed of being a square-rig sailor, your fingers grasping the spokes on the teak wheel, hands hauling on manila lines, your skin swept by fresh salt air, smelling faintly of pine tar and raw canvas? This is your chance.

Picton Castle will offer a rare opportunity this summer for trainee crew members to sail for as little as one week on the east coast of the USA and Canada. Whether you're curious about life on board, wanting a taste of square-rig sailing, or warming up for a longer voyage, this summer could be your moment to become a sailor.

Life Aboard

Wonder what you can expect on board? You will be part of the crew that helps to sail the ship from port to port. At sea, you will stand watches, take your turn at the helm, perform forward lookout, handle lines to set and take in sails, assist with ship's maintenance, help the cook in the galley, and even climb aloft in the rigging (that last part is optional). In port, you can expect watch duty that includes preparing the ship to look her best, welcoming guests aboard and helping with some of the maintenance projects that can't be done at sea. For every day on duty in port, you can expect one day free to explore on your own.

Join the Fleet

Many of the ports we plan to visit this summer will be particularly special because Picton Castle will visit in company with an international fleet of tall ships. Taking part in the Tall Ships Challenge, we'll sail in and out of port with these stunningly beautiful traditional vessels, taking part in parades of sail and participating in exclusive crew-only events on shore. Get to know mariners from around the world and join the community of tall ship sailors.

2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, which will be celebrated through the series of events Picton Castle will attend this summer. As the war was fought largely on the water in war ships and privateers, this is an excellent opportunity to showcase maritime heritage.

Sail South From Lunenburg

The voyage begins at Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and our base of operations. Before we sail from this snug harbour, we'll make time for thorough orientation and drills. Once the ship and crew are prepared, we'll sail out past Battery Point and Cross Island, then turn south to Bermuda. After two or three days at sea, we'll cross the Gulf Stream into considerably warmer temperatures.

St. George's, Bermuda will be our first port of call. And what a port! Pink sand beaches, great snorkeling and scuba diving, historic Nelson's Dockyard and a traditional port for sailors making a passage in the North Atlantic. From Bermuda, we'll sail west, bound for Savannah, Georgia where we'll meet up with the fleet of tall ships for the first time on Savannah's riverfront, about 20 nautical miles upstream from the ocean. Savannah's riverfront streets are paved with ships' old ballast stones, off-loaded when they came into port empty to take on loads of cotton, stored in riverfront warehouses which are now eating and drinking establishments.

From the Deep South to the Big Apple

Although it will be difficult to say goodbye to warm southern hospitality in Savannah, we will have to get underway for the parade of sail downriver, joining in company with the fleet of beautiful traditional vessels. We'll split from the fleet and sail for New York City, a true historic seaport. While the skyline will be stunning, we'll have to stay focused in this busy harbour. In New York City, be sure to check out the South Street Seaport Museum along with all the other iconic sights the Big Apple has to offer.

Sign On For One Week

Most of the sailing opportunities in the summer of 2012 will require a minimum two-week commitment, but we are offering one one-week leg of the voyage from New York City to Greenport, New York. Long Island Sound will be an interesting place to explore, likely with fair winds for sailing and plenty of wonderful anchorages. Both New York City and Greenport are accessible by public transportation, making this an easy round trip.

In Greenport, Picton Castle will meet up with the fleet once again, and this village of 2,200 people will embrace the ships' crews as well as visitors to their village who come to see the ships. Once a major whaling port, Greenport is perhaps now best known as a tourist destination, with a famous carousel from the 1920s on the waterfront. On the northeast point of Long Island, Greenport is also the eastern terminal station on the north fork of the Long Island Rail Road.

OpSail and Tall Ships Challenge

Norfolk is Picton Castle's next destination, to join in the celebrations for OpSail Virginia. In addition to tall ships, the fleet of vessels in this event will also include navy and military war ships, which is appropriate because Norfolk is home to the world's largest naval base and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Norfolk offers events just for crew and opportunities for community engagement (Picton Castle and her crew will be adopted by a local organization), all focused around commemorating the War of 1812. From Norfolk, we'll head north again, bound for Newport, Rhode Island.

A major centre of sailing and yachting with an active commercial fishing fleet, Newport's waterfront is bustling. Just after the conclusion of the America's Cup World Series, tall ships will dominate the harbour in early July as we meet up with the Tall Ships Challenge once again. Visit the reconstruction of the 131-foot schooner Coronet, and wander the old waterfront warehouses which now are filled with shops and restaurants. Newport also boasts mansions from the Gilded Age, built by families with names like Vanderbilt and Astor.

Nova Scotia is the final port in the Tall Ships Challenge, and Picton Castle will begin in Halifax, a long-standing favourite port for sailors. The portion of the Halifax waterfront where the ships will be docked is in the heart of downtown, with easy access to farmers' markets, historic sites like the Halifax Citadel, and great live music. The festival itself will feature cuisine, art, music, film and history with displays and events ashore. From Halifax, Picton Castle will visit two smaller Nova Scotia ports. First is Port Hawkesbury, on Cape Breton Island, just across the Strait of Canso from the mainland of Nova Scotia and second is Pictou, home of the replica of the ship Hector which brought the first wave of Scottish settlers, on the Northumberland Strait.

Itinerary, Summer 2012

Who Can Sail

No previous sailing experience is necessary to join Picton Castle, just the desire to learn and be part of the crew. Perhaps you're looking for adventure, maybe you've always wanted to sail a square-rigged ship, maybe you have the desire to experience the camaraderie of being crew. A successful voyage depends on the dedication of everyone aboard.

All applicants should be in good health. We will require a note from your doctor that assures us of that and says you are able to do moderate to strenuous physical activity. A valid passport is essential. All applicants will be subject to a personal interview before being accepted.

Pricing

Prices for the voyage are as follows:

Uncertain about the cost? Look more closely at our voyage fees.

Apply Now

Step aboard for this adventurous journey. Start by filling out the online trainee application form. For more information, contact the voyage coordinator. We look forward to receiving your application.