Picton Castle

Laid up in Luneburg Nova Scotia our Barque Picton Castle is looking for a couple ship keepers for the remaining winter months. This is best for and open to former Picton Castle crew and Bosun School students, or possibly good guys with some sea time. Winter ship keeping offers a unique opportunity to experience Lunenburg in its snowy season. Successful applicants will spend the winter living on board the Picton Castle and will be responsible for daily ship checks, looking after the hawsers, as well as working on limited projects as needed. Ship keepers will have ample time to work at paying jobs locally if they desire. There is no financial compensation for this role, however housing, groceries, and laundry facilities are provided. There are currently two lovely sea going cats living on board the ship who provide great company. Rikki and Tea. There will also be opportunities to learn and practice valuable seamanship skills. Ally (Chief Ship Keeper) and the cats want some company! We are nice and toasty aboard. If you are interested get in touch at [email protected] Https://picton-castle.com

We are looking forward to tomorrow's Christmas by the Sea market on the waterfront. You can find us there or at the Chanderly selling goods from the last world voyage! Lots of great baskets and handbags. We also have a raffle to support our Bosun School! Come find Amy or Danielle at the waterfront for a chance to win $250 in goods!

Captain's Log - Sending Down Yards, Winter is Coming…

"There is plenty to do to get a ship like the Barque Picton Castle ready for winter in these northern climes as we are now tied up in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. You need to drain all sorts of pipes so they do not freeze. Shut off various through-hull fittings for much the same reason, some machinery lubed up, cover the wheel, engine controls, capstan, and windlass, get the decks oiled plenty, and paint what we can when we can. Get the heaters going back aft. Set the scullery up as a galley. Move the crew aft. Always check the hawsers for chafe and strain."

Full Captain's log: https://picton-castle.com/2024/11/19/captains-log-sending-down-yards-winter-is-coming/

This year, we'll have a table set up as part of Light Up Lunenburg/Christmas by the Sea! Stop by on November 30th to see some of the unique goods from the ship's last voyage.

Captain's Log - Remembrance Day 2024 – Canada

"The steam-powered fishing vessel with the sailing ship lines of a classic medium clipper, Picton Castle, was conscripted into the British Royal Navy in August 1939, the month before Hi**er attacked Poland. She was one of many such vessels drafted as the Royal Navy did everything it could to build up its fleet as swiftly as possible. So, the prosaic trawler the SS Picton Castle fishing the North Atlantic out of Milford Haven, Wales, along with hundreds of other like vessels, was conscripted into the Navy to put away their fishing gear and become a minesweeper."

Full blog here: https://picton-castle.com/2024/11/12/captains-log-remembrance-day-2024-canada/

A Haunted Dory Shop

"What do some recent Bosun School graduates and PICTON CASTLE crew graduates do for Halloween? Why, they dress up as spooky sea-faring folks and help the Captain’s son create a Haunted Dory Shop!"

Full blog post here: https://picton-castle.com/2024/11/08/a-haunted-dory-shop/