From Dreamers to Deckhands : How Bosun School Launches Maritime Careers on the Bluenose II
The Barnacle, August 14, 2025
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![Two people on a ship, working together to handle a large sail, wearing dark clothing and caps, with ropes securing the sail.]()
BLUENOSE II gathering the main
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![People on a sailing ship working on the large white sail.]()
bluenose ii Crew at work
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![A black and white photo of a sailboat's boom and sail above the water, with a shoreline with trees and a small lighthouse in the background.]()
BLUENOSE II Returns to port
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![Two men on a boat standing next to the steering wheel, one holding the wheel and the other holding a hose, with water and open sky in the background]()
bluenose ii crew
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![Three people standing on a sailboat in a harbor, smiling at the camera. They are wearing matching T-shirts with a sailboat logo, and the background shows the boat's rigging and part of a banner that says "OOST SCOTIA."]()
BLUENOSE II Crew : Alison, SECOND MATE Dustin and Nicholas
The path to a life at sea often begins with a dream, and for many young mariners, that dream becomes reality through the Picton Castle Bosun School and on to a coveted placement aboard Nova Scotia’s iconic schooner, the Bluenose II.
Allison Gibson, 22, of Berwick, Nova Scotia, entered Bosun School with no prior experience, but a lifelong dream to sail. “I didn’t think this world was accessible to someone like me,” she said. “If you can go to Bosun School, it’s such a great starting point. I was able to go on with nothing and come up with so much. I never thought that I could have ever done that.” Now on the Bluenose II, she sees her dream realized daily. “Five-year-old Allie would be like – this is her dream. It’s never too late to start sailing, as long as, like, you’re willing to put in the work to learn and be open to it.
For Nicholas Hands, 19, from Bermuda, it was a passion for the ocean and a desire for a seafaring career that led him from free diving to traditional sailing. “I always knew I wanted to work at sea,” he said. Bosun School gave him the hands-on experience to thrive, but also instilled something deeper: humbleness, patience, and the importance of teamwork. “To be less cocky,” he said with a laugh, “and take care of the ship. and take care of your friends.”
Guarding Tradition : Captain Moreland’s Commitment to Lunenburg’s Maritime Heritage
The Barnacle, MARCH 13, 2025
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![A man standing on a dock next to a large boat named PICTON CASTLE, with snow on the ground.]()
Captain Moreland Picton Castle
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![Open book showing black-and-white photographs of a small harbor with boats and houses, with some dock structures and rocks nearby.]()
Lunenburg Working Waterfront
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![Man walking on dock holding ropes, cold weather, snowy hills in background.]()
Captain Moreland Picton Castle
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![Wall decorated with various framed certificates, awards, plaques, and photographs, many featuring ships and sailing scenes.]()
Picton Castle office
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![Black and white photo of an older man with a beard, wearing a beanie and a jacket, standing outdoors near a frozen body of water with snow-covered hills in the background.]()
Captain Moreland Lunenburg
“Occasionally, someone offers to buy the Dory Shop. They want to put in a tea house or a fitness studio, and I say the same thing every damn time: No, absolutely not. It’s not for sale.”
Captain Daniel Moreland says to me while sitting in his office overlooking the waterfront, surrounded by exotic antiques, postcards, nautical books, and old ship models.
“Occasionally, someone offers to buy the Dory Shop. They want to put in a tea house or a fitness studio, and I say the same thing every damn time: No, absolutely not. It’s not for sale.” Captain Daniel Moreland says to me while sitting in his office overlooking the waterfront, surrounded by exotic antiques, postcards, nautical books, and old ship models.
Moreland is unwavering in his commitment to preserving Lunenburg’s boatbuilding and seafaring traditions that have existed here since the town’s inception in 1753. While much of the old world faces an identity crisis, Lunenburg thrives, due to dedicated individuals like Captain Moreland, whose vision has intertwined three key marine projects: The BARQUE PICTON CASTLE, The Dory Shop, and The Bosun School.
Moreland’s passion for deep-sea adventure led him on an extensive search for the perfect fixer-upper, culminating in Norway in 1993. On his last dime, he bought and motored the steel-hulled, former steam trawler BARQUE PICTON CASTLE, to Lunenburg, to be transformed into a tall ship fit for world voyages, employing marine workers, training thousands in seamanship, and circumnavigating the globe eight times and counting—all while bringing in significant revenue to the town.