In 1996 after sailing from Norway, we steamed the MV Picton Castle from New York to Lunenburg to carry out the big refit and rigging that would make our ship the bluewater square-rigger that was hiding within her. On the way we put into New Bedford, Massachusetts to pick up a pile of 20” and […]
In 1996 we bolted down on the foc’sle head a N0 6 HYDE Capstan I got from Captain Bob Douglas of the magnificent Topsail Schooner SHENANDOAH. This capstan was built in Maine in the 1920s or 30s for use on the decks of big wooden schooners, and also for square-riggers like our Barque PICTON CASTLE. […]
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A Shelburne Winter Is…
As the PICTON CASTLE remains high and dry at the shipyard in Shelburne, one may be forgiven to ask: “What is the ship’s gang actually DOING down there all this time?” After successfully completing all the necessary work one does in drydock within a couple of weeks of being hauled out, and ready and waiting […]
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Christmas Report
CHRISTMAS REPORT – dateline – DECEMBER 2022- LUNENBURG Mes ami… Well, we were supposed to be on our way to the Galapagos right now, but it was not to be. So here we are in wintery gray Lunenburg, Boxing Day +1, with Christmas festivities receding, bobbing gently in the turbulence of our wake. But I […]
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Waiting to sail
As we’ve told you in a previous Captain’s Log, Picton Castle’s departure from Lunenburg is delayed. Our ship is still out of the water at the shipyard in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, awaiting repairs to the shipyard’s winch system that will lower the ship into the water. Until the repairs are completed, Picton Castle is stuck […]
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When do we sail?
Not surprisingly, we have been getting questions on when we expect our Barque Picton Castle to set sail on this, our long anticipated, great adventure of a world circumnavigation. A good question it is. After months of preparation and anticipation we were well on track to sail right about now, mid-November, then we hit a […]
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Clothing Donations Desired!
Lunenburg area friends, as you go through your closets to put away your summer clothes, please think of Picton Castle. We are about to embark on a voyage around the world, visiting many remote islands and ports along the way. Many of these places only receive supplies a few times a year, so when […]
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Post Hurricane Fiona
Regarding Hurricane Fiona now past. After extensive preparations with extra hawsers and massive chafe gear we were as ready as we could be for a hurricane here in Lunenburg. The winds picked up after dark. As did the rain. Starting around midnight It blew hard and harder – and cold – all through the night. […]
Hurricane Fiona has done some serious damage in the West Indies and is now heading our way. It has increased in intensity on its way here. We are looking at stiff gale force Northerlies blowing off the land starting tonight and plenty of rain. We are well protected from Northerlies in Lunenburg Harbour. No […]
After slamming Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Turks & Caicos islands, Hurricane Fiona is headed towards Nova Scotia by way of Bermuda. It looks like the eye of the storm will pass over the eastern end of mainland Nova Scotia this side of Cape Breton Island. What does this mean to us here? This is […]