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I am Mikayla and I have been a friend of the barque Picon Castle for a lot of my life , since I was just 8 and now I am 12.
I got to know the crew and Captain and everyone back when my big sister was a trainee. I think about them like family now.
I like to volunteer and I've learned how important WorldWise is, before a voyage I enjoy packing books and supplies for the ship to deliver to islands and schools around the globe.
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 When the ship is away on a voyage I write to them and I keep busy practising my sailor skills such as knots, reading the PC handbook, memorizing the sails and learing the sailing rules of the road etc.
When the ship is in port I make sure I'm there as often as I can be...which is often because I'm fortunate enough to be homeschooled! This is real life learning! I like to be as handy as I can be whereever the crew needs help, somedays it is galley duty,or unloading cargo, sometimes painting, or coiling ropes ,sometimes it is sorting garbage. It is all part of a sailor's day. No job is unimportant, it all needs to get done.
I also know how much they love choc. chip cookies.
I don't think there is a more harder working bunch of people anywhere than on the Picton Castle, these people know all about teamwork!!! They are very good role models to me.
I am planning on being a sailor and I know it is about being responsible and working hard, it isn't all about fun.
However, one afternoon I was helping Erin (Worldwise journalist from 2005/2006) with supper when Kolin (a sailor who looks a bit like a real pirate except very kind) inquired if I wanted to go aloft!! Well folks, that has been a dream of mine for years, since I was 7 or 8.
 I think they wanted to make sure I was responsible and sensible, not a silly kid that didn't listen.
A harness had to be found small enough to fit me... it isn't a harness that keeps you fastened as you climb, it is more like a work belt and you clip yourself to the ship only once you get aloft so if you have to use both hands for your work you have a bit of security.
Once we had our gear we stepped up onto the rail (me feeling tremendously excited)
Kolin was explaining everything and every step out to me. All the important and very sensible things you need to know before you climb the rigging... then up we went!
 We went up above the first yard and I was shown what I could hold on to and what not. The most important rule is to have 3 points of contact with the ship ... for example 2 hands and a foot, then 2 feet and one hand as you climb.
We stood for a while looking around at the scenery from what people would think looks like a flat crowsnest platform. The wind was whispering around us and the crew down below applauded for me! I was feeling on top of the world!
Was I nervous? Only when I thought about here I was finally, a dream come true.
Kolin asked if i wanted to go out on the yard... well you can guess my answer! He showed me what I could step on to get to the foot ropes, and then we were on the yard. We hung over the yard watching the people way below us and the blue water of Lunenburg harbour. I couldn't stop grinning!
 All too soon it was time to climb back down to the deck. Everyone high-fived me and clapped for me. It was an experience I'll never ever forget. Perhaps some day I'll even teach someone how to do that. I am really looking forward to going aloft again... and higher next time!
Yours truly,
your friend Mikayla
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