A To Z Challenge 2017–P is for Tall Ship Picton Castle

 

Picton Castle was one of five similar trawlers built by Cochrane’s in Selby, all named after British castles. (The actual Picton Castle in Wales is still standing). The other ‘castle’ ships have all been taken out of service.

Picton Castle went through World War II as a mine sweeper in the British Royal Navy. In 1955, she was sold to Norwegian owners and overhauled to be powered by a diesel engine and other auxiliary engines. Under the name Dolmar, she freighted up and down the Norwegian coast for years, going as far as Russia and Portugal. She was taken out of service in the late 1980’s when railroads made her uneconomical.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The captain, Dan Moreland, bought her in 1993 in Vedevegan, Norway, had her checked out, repainted and readied for the transatlantic trip and with a small crew, motored her across the Atlantic in April 1994. For two years she was docked at South Street Seaport in New York, as the Windward Isles Sailing Ship Company was formed and funds were invested to transform this ship into a beautiful square-rigger.

During 1996 to 1997, she was brought to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, home of the traditional fishing schooner fleet off the Grand Banks. There she was completely overhauled and refitted as a sailing vessel, and once again named Picton Castle. Her inaugural global voyage as a sailing vessel began on 25 November 1997 in Lunenburg and ended at the same port in June 1999. She carries 12 to 16 professional crew and 26 to 30 paying amateur crew.

Class: A

Nationality: Cook Islands

Length: 45.23 m

Height: 27.28 m

Rig: Barque 3

Year built: 1928

Home port: Lunenburg, Canada

 

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A To Z Challenge 2017 – O is for Tall Ship Oosterschelde

 

Oosterschelde was built in the Netherlands in 1918 at the order of the Rotterdam shipping company HAAS and is the last remaining representative of the large fleet of schooners that sailed under the Dutch flag at the beginning of the 20th century. Her name is derived from the eastern part of the Schelde river that flows from France through Belgium and the Netherlands to the sea and Oosterschelde is the largest restored Dutch sailing ship, which is a monument for Dutch shipbuilding and maritime navigation under sail.

As a freighter Oosterschelde carried some hundred tons of cargo including bricks, herring and bananas. In 1921, the ship was sold, changing hands three times and converted to a motor-sailer before being bought in 1988 and restored to her former glory.

The Rotterdam Sailing Ship Foundation was instituted to support restoration through fund raising and began work in 1990. The ship was officially launched in 1992 by Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet.

In 2000, Oosterschelde raced from Boston to Amsterdam in the Tall Ships 2000 race.

Class: A

Nationality: Netherlands

Length: 40.12 m

Height: 31.09 m

Rig: Topsail Schooner 3

Year built: 1918

Home port: Rotterdam

Rendez – Vous 2017

 

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A To Z Challenge 2017– N is for Niagra-On-The-Lake

Tall Ships Regatta

From Monday, July 3rd 2017 11:00 AM to Tuesday, July 4th 2017 5:00 PMRendez-Vous 2017  Tall Ships Regatta visits NOTL at Riverbeach Road dock area.
For more information please click here




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A To Z Challenge 2017–M is for Tall Ship Mist of Avalon

 

The ship began her life in 1967 as the Motor Vessel “Liverpool Bay”. She was built by the strong native timber and the skilled hands of the shipwrights of MacLean Shipbuilding, Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada. Her Captain and crew worked the Banks off Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, fishing for thecod that were her reason for being. After twenty years working in the harsh environment of the North Atlantic, with fish stocks declining and her machinery and equipment well past their prime, in 1987 this once proud vessel was left abandoned at a Halifax pier. Another five years of neglect added to her decline, but under the layers of paint and algae, behind the rotting timber and planks, was a gracious schooner hull waiting to return to sea.

In December 1992 began the ship’s new life as “Mist of Avalon”, named for the mystic Celtic island of re-birth. The Ship was purchased, hauled out, hull scraped and anti fouled.In July 1993, she was ready to leave Nova Scotia for her new home port at Holidays Afloat Marina in Ivy Lea, Ontario, Canada. Here, work continued on the conversion from motor vessel to a fully rigged sailing vessel in the tradition of the late 19th century Grand Banks schooners.

Class: B

Nationality: Canada

Length: 22.08 m

Rig: Gaff Schooner 2

Year of built: 1967

Home port: Ivy Lea, Ontario

 

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A To Z Challenge 2017–L is for Tall Ship Lord Nelson

 

Owned by the Jubilee Sailing Trust, LORD NELSON, named after the famous British Admiral is the first of their two vessels, both of which are the only tall ships in the world that have been purpose designed and built to enable able-bodied and physically disabled people to sail side by side and share the adventure and experience of tall ship sailing as equals.

The Trust commissioned Colin Mudie to design their first sailing ship in which physically disabled people comprised half the crew. Requirements included wheelchair access throughout the ship, light hauling loads on the ropes and better than usual protection against the cold and wet.

 

The three masted square-rigged, LORD NELSON was the result. Her many special facilities enable disabled crewmembers to take an active part in the running of the ship. These facilities include wide decks for wheelchair users, a speaking compass to enable blind people to helm the ship, power assisted hydraulic steering for those with limited strength and much more. Overall, LORD NELSON has been designed to the needs of most disabilities and is capable of sailing in any sea around the world.

The Jubilee Sailing Trust has been in operation for over three decades and in that time has taken over 30,000 people to sea including 12,000 people with physical disabilities and 5,000 wheelchair users.

Lord Nelson along with the JST’s other ship TENACIOUS are regular participants in the Tall Ships Races.

Class: A

Nationality: United Kingdom

Length: 40.20 m

Height: 33.60 m

Rig: Barque 3

Year built: 1985

Home port: Southampton, United Kingdom

 

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A To Z April Challenge 2017 – K is for Knot

 

 

Knot - 1. a unit of wind or sailing speed, one knot=6,076 feet per hour, one nautical mile per hour. 10 knots is equivalent to 11.5 mph and 18 kilometers per hour (kph). (Note: The expression "knots per hour" is incorrect since that would be redundant and describe acceleration not speed; knots per hour per hour.)  

2. In general, all complications tied in cordage where one line or part of a line passes over or around and/or through another, except accidental ones, such as tangles, snarls and kinks, and complications adapted to storage, such as coils, hanks, skeins, balls, etc. In a narrower sense, knots do not include bends, hitches, splices, and sinnetts. In the narrowest sense, only knobs, intended to stop fraying or unreeving of a line or add a handhold, are knots. 

• Bowline. The bowline almost defines sailing because of its versatility, usefulness, and strength. ...
• Round Turn and Two Half Hitches. ...
• Cleat Hitch. this knot has one and only purpose but that is a mighty one; Securing a line to a cleat. ...
• Rolling Hitch
• Sheet Bend
• Square Knot
• Figure Eight
• Trucker's Hitch

 

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A To Z Challenge 2017 – J is for Tall Ship Jolie Brise

 

Jolie Brise is the truly world famous, 24 metre, Gaff Rigged Pilot Cutter.  Built in 1913, some of her many claims to fame include: three times overall winner of the Fastnet Race; daring rescue of the crew of the Adriana in the 1932 Newport-Bermuda race; was the last sailing vessel to carry the Royal Mail under sail; overall winner of Tall Ships Races 1980; overall winner of Tall Ships 2000 Transatlantic Race programme; overall winner Tall Ships Races 2008; overall winner Tall Ships Races 2011, 2015 and 2016.  She has been operated, maintained and owned by Dauntsey's School since 1977.

Over the last 49 years, with Dauntsey's students she has sailed 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle; has travelled as far East as St Petersburg in Russia; as far South as Western Sahara and as far West as South Carolina, and has covered in excess of 175,000 nautical miles.

 

 

Going Transatlantic

In 2017,  Jolie Brise will be taking part in the International Rendez-vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta – a 7,000 nautical mile transatlantic race visiting Portugal, Bermuda, America, Canada and France.
Rendez-vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta is a maritime celebration that offers all participants a unique chance to embark on this great adventure, whilst commemorating the rich history of sailing in Canada and around the world. This epic event marks the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation through its founders and founding provinces.


Class: B
Nationality: United Kingdom
Length: 17.10 m
Height: 20.28 m
Rig: Gaff Cutter
Year built: 1913
Home port: Hamble

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