“When I was 18 I had the opportunity to join Picton Castle as a trainee for the last 6 months of her first world voyage. I’ll never forget the first time I saw the ship at anchor in the Seychelle Islands, a thing of wild beauty to me – her white topsides streaked with rust from a long Indian Ocean crossing, cotton sails hanging loose from the yards to dry in the tropical sun, and several barefoot crew members aloft tarring the rig.
Though I had experience sailing small boats and working daysail charters, this was my first exposure to ocean voyaging and a true education in traditional seamanship skills. I loved the rhythm of life at sea and the experience of traveling to new places with your home anchored in the harbor. I soaked up all I could, learning to splice, trying my hand at sewing sails, working aloft, doing engine checks, and learning basic watch standing responsibilities. The crew were knowledgeable, hard working, and led by example, and the best of them maintained an easy sense of humor to carry us through the days.
My time as a trainee encouraged me to further pursue a maritime career. I worked for several seasons with a youth semester at sea and summer sail training program in New England and the Caribbean. With the sea time and experience from these early voyages I passed my exams as a US Coast Guard licensed Able Seaman (Limited) and 100-ton Master, and soon upgraded to a 200-ton Master (Near Coastal). In the years to follow I went on to work as Mate and Captain of a sail cargo operation, an island shuttle, sail charters, and a museum ship.
Several years into my sailing career I was hired to work with a well regarded sail loft in Maine specializing in hand finished custom sails for working ships, classic boats, and museum ships. Here I learned how to layout and construct sails in cotton and synthetic materials from start to finish, with countless hand-sewn grommets, leatherwork, spliced wire luffs, and sewn bolt ropes. After an initial year of training I was able to continue working with the loft on and off for many years around other sailing contracts, including a subsequent world voyage with Picton Castle. It was a rewarding experience to return as a member of the professional crew as AB/Sailmaker, completing my own circumnavigation and sharing skills of marlin spike seamanship and sailmaking with new trainees.
I think often of my time with Picton Castle, and have incorporated lessons learned there beyond seamanship skills in my personal and professional life – the value of routine, humor in the face of challenge, the importance of clear and effective communication, how to paint, and live with few possessions. Sailing with the ship is a unique experience with much to offer to anyone interested in a maritime adventure and career.” – Susannah Clark
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Great story Susannah, thanks for sharing. We’re still making sails by hand aboard Picton Castle. I give thanks often for the wealth of drawings and information passed along from our sailmakers over the years. It’s a great tradition that we are able to keep alive.