Rockland Maine- This weekend Rockland has been treated to a surprise visit from tall ship and world traveler Picton Castle. We understand she plans to set sail from Rockland on Monday.
Operational history according to wikipedia.
As a trawler, minesweeper, and freighter
Picton Castle was originally built as a motorized fishing trawler in 1928. She was built along with four other trawlers for the same company and operated out of Swansea, Wales. The ship was named after the Welsh castle of the same name.
In August 1939, the Royal Navy requisitioned the trawler for use in World War II and refit her as a minesweeper.[1] While sweeping mines near Norway, she made way for the port of Bergen for repairs. The Germans had just left Norway, and the sight of the Union Jack-bearing HMS Picton Castle earned her the title "The Liberator of Norway."
Following World War II, the ship was renamed Dolmar and worked as a freighter in the North Sea and Baltic Sea.
Acquisition and refit
During the early 1990s, Daniel Moreland acquired the ship while seeking a vessel to convert to a barque.[2] With the help of a small crew he brought her across the Atlantic Ocean, eventually ending up in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia where she began her multi-million dollar refit.
Picton Castle is still captained by Daniel Moreland.
As a sailing ship[edit]
Picton Castle's first world circumnavigation voyage took place from 1997-1999. She has since sailed around the world four more times, for a total of five global circumnavigations.
In September 2007, Picton Castle announced its first Voyage of the Atlantic.[3] The ship embarked on May 2008 from its home port of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia and followed the Westerlies across the North Atlantic for the British Isles and Northern Europe. Then sailed across the English Channel and down the coast of France to Spain, Portugal, and Gibraltar. Explored the Atlantic Islands of Madeira, the Canary Islands and Cape Verde and followed in the wake of Columbus as the Picton Castle set sail on one of the finest studdingsail passages, riding the tropical trade-winds across the mid-Atlantic from Senegal, West Africa, crossing the Equator to Fernando De Noronha, Brazil and onward to the sweet isles of the West Indies.
During the summer of 2007, Picton Castle successfully completed its first Bosun School.[4] The purpose of Bosun School is to provide an opportunity to young dedicated mariners to advance their skill level in a concentrated fashion without the natural demands and distractions of being underway at sea. A second Bosun School was held in the fall of 2009, and a third started in September 2011.
Picton Castle under full sail
In the spring of 2007, Picton Castle was featured in Mark Burnett's CBS reality show Pirate Master. The show was filmed in the Caribbean island of Dominica and premiered May 31, 2007 in the spot previously occupied by Survivor.
As a trawler, minesweeper, and freighter
During the early 1990s, Daniel Moreland acquired the ship while seeking a vessel to convert to a barque.[2] With the help of a small crew he brought her across the Atlantic Ocean, eventually ending up in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia where she began her multi-million dollar refit.
Picton Castle under full sail
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