By Kate “Bob” Addison
Thursday May 9, 2013
20-25’S 159-08’W
Picton Castle is sailing along, steering full-and-by the wind, which is an east by south Force 4. We’re 60 miles NE of Rarotonga, our home port and also the final port of this seven month South Pacific Voyage. The plan is to arrive soon after lunch tomorrow, but the voyage continues for one more week alongside – we have a packed schedule planned for that week including public day sails on Saturday May 18th and Sunday May 19th, sending up the new t’gallant yard and bending on the t’gallant sail, tons of small boat sailing – we’re hoping to do some longer expeditions to the motu off Muri beach – and of course, the crew awards night and leaving party.
But right now it’s peaceful and calm. Blue skies, blue seas and sunshine. We sailed close by the uninhabited atoll of Manuae yesterday evening, a long, low strip of white sand topped with leafy green palm trees. Captain called an all hands muster on the quarterdeck after a great supper of lemony buttery mahi-mahi (thanks to Hayley and DB for the fish), potatoes, broccoli, salad and cheesy bread. The muster was simply to remind people to take a minute to look around them to appreciate what a special and privileged thing it is to be sailing on a barque in sight of a stunning, uninhabited island, deep in the South Pacific Ocean.
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