Aboard the Picton Castle tall ship

The Picton Castle is one of six tall ships that will sail into Greenport harbor on Friday as part of the waterfront village’s three-day maritime festival this weekend.

Newsday boarded the ship this morning in Mattituck, and will remain on board Thursday as it makes its way around the tip of the North Fork to Gardiners Bay, where it will anchor for the night preparatory to its late-morning arrival Friday in Greenport.

Beside the Picton Castle’s professional crew, also on board are sail trainees learning about life on a tall ship.

Together, the two groups hail from eight countries ranging from Denmark to Pitcairn Island in the South Pacific, with one member -- Jennie Koch of Baltimore, a nurse who is serving as medical officer/deck hand -- whose family is from Long Island.

Photos from the ship to come.