The Picton Castle is set to begin its eighth circumnavigation this spring under the command of Captain Daniel Moreland. A professional crew of 12 will guide up to 40 trainees at a time as they learn about all aspects of sailing the bark, from steering to lookout, handling the 12,450ft2 of sail to scrubbing decks, dishwashing to going aloft (if they have the stomach for heights). There’s no prerequisite sailing experience needed, but basic physical fitness capabilities are a must, as is a tolerance for tight spaces and other folks’ lifestyles. Typically, it’s about half men and half women, most under the age of 35. Trainees can opt for a three, six, nine-month or full voyage.
The 2021-2022 Circumnavigation is scheduled to visit Panama, Galapagos Islands, Pitcairn Island, French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, Niue, Fiji, Vanuatu, Bali, Reunion Island, South Africa, St. Helena, the Caribbean and Bermuda, so if you’re desperate to travel after quarantine, this program has some of everything. Each leg (three to four months of sailing and travel) costs $15,000 to join.
For more information on the Picton Castle or to apply to be a trainee, visit picton-castle.com