I'm sure I wasn't the only one that afternoon of the 17th, planning to go aboard early who was dreading the thought of crossing the gap between dock to cap rail, which occasionally spread to over 8 feet. So, I was joyful for what I saw. For what had to be the best news for the crew that boarded our schooner on Thursday night and early the next morning for Muster,. The new gangway. YES!. A new gangway had been installed just earlier that day, sporting a new contraption overhead, Capt Bobby made a name for it, which I haven't yet retained in memory. The gangway had been shortened to 12 feet, from about 16, making it less a risk to gouge the butterfly hatch when up against the pilings.
Especially pleased were those of us who later formed a bucket brigade across the gangway to pass over several big boxes, crates, and bags of groceries and bottled water, that Cook, Ray Krugger carted over from his provisioning journey. A few of us dropped off our gear into a berth Thursday evening, Dallas Spencer, Steve Folwell, Nick Swarts. Our new Chief Mate, Eva Keyes arrived too, after leaving Maine and home town of Boston, selecting her berth. Getting settled in and into the evening, four of us in consensus decided to try Big John's Pub, for finding some dinner and a beverage. Eva, Bryan, Nick, and Steve piled into Bryan's car in the Maritime Center Parking lot, raced the three blocks to the Harris Teeter Parking where Bryan stashed his wheels for the weekend. Hiking the remaining 3 blocks the happy trio found plenty of room in the tavern, and sat down to agonize over the menu choice which was various ways to notch up an "O" riginal burger. and fries if you wanted. Beer selection wasn't bad, as would've been the spirits behind the bar ,, but it wasn't payday, so.. By 10 Pm we were back in our berths, to peacefully await a 0700 muster and an unclear time for breakfast from Ray.
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The Quarterdeck Officers;
Capt Bobby, Capt Will, and Mate, Eva |
With muster at 0700, the rest of the crew boarded, Dallas Spencer, The two co-Captains, Bobby and Will Ventress, Dan Maurin, Carin Bloom and Dave Brennan. Ray brought along the final provisions to start breakfast, which would be served underway. By 0815 we had cast off and begun motoring down the north channel, past Ft. Sumter, and into the Jetties. At that time, Capt Bobby directed Bryan to "cat the anchor, which was executed, and the anchor hung off the starboard cathead ready to drop in a minute's notice.
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Schooner Denis Sullivan inbound
to Charleston |
Halfway down the jetties we were pleasantly surprised to see an approaching tall ship sail,, three masts full, to be exact. Bobby's check of the AIS revealed it to be Denis Sullivan, likely to put into port for students, and then southbound to the Caribbean for the winter.
As we made the turn to the north, Bos'un Bryan requested of the Captain, for permission to assemble the crew for a Burial at Sea. The family of Old Salt Volunteer Joe Gorman, who had passed away two years prior, had asked if the Spirit of South Carolina would be in a position to take Joe's cremated ashes to sea. Well, of course.
Bryan spread out over the saloon butterfly hatch, the flag of South Carolina, and placed in the center a small box, specifically made for the occasion, containing the ashes of Joe Gorman. The Mate called for a Muster, midships, lee rail, then "Hats Off" as the crew gathered in a small circle next to the starboard main shrouds. Bryan recited a Eulogy for Joe, then handed off to Dallas Spencer who read the traditional Benediction for Burial at Sea. Carin Bloom sang two verses of "The Leaving Shanty" for departed mariners, while Bryan removed he Reef knot over the box and passed the box to Dave Brennan at the Main Shrouds. The Mate, Eva, directed Carin "Sound Eight Bells", Change of Watch, as Dave held out the box over the cap rail and scattered its contents over the water. As the last of the ashes left the box, Bryan shouted after them "Fair Winds, Joe!", and the rest of the crew followed with "And Following Seas!, Joe."
Dan Maurin shot much video of he proceedings with will be given to Joe's widow, Barbara, and their family, along with Joe's box. And of course, a copy for the ship. Click here for Joe Gorman's Ceremony at Sea.
Securing from the Burial at Sea Ceremony, Capt Bobby offered the option to raise sail, requiring us to tack out to sea for several miles before tacking back towards Winyah Bay. While sailing was always preferable, the consequence was we would not arrive to drop anchor until well into Saturday afternoon. The consensus was to set sail. Mate Eva set the crew to tying in a deep reef in the foresail, which turned out to be fairly arduous, digging thru folds of harbor-furled heavy canvas to find 24 pairs of reef nettles, pulling them out on both sides, pushing the starboard nettles under the bolt rope to port side then slippery reef-knotting them. Meanwhile Mate Eva secured lashings from the rope locker and set to lashing down the tack then climbing up the foresheet to ride the foreboom and lash down the deep reef clew cringle.
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Dan Maurin takes the helm maintaining a heading
for the mouth of Winyah Bay, another 30 miles north. |
Shortly thereafter, due to some unforeseen constraints in Georgetown, the afterguard made the decision to motor straight for Winyah Bay, and so we continued on.. Ray called up from the Galley-announcing lunch, a savory Tomato Vegetable soup, and grilled ham and cheese sandwiches.
Darkness fell as we motored into Winyah Bay, and Ray called on deck for Dinner, a Shrimp/rice risotto thing, which he barely completed before the generator shut down again, and depowering his stove/oven. We continued for another few hours to the lights of Lands End Marina, on the eastern edge of Georgetown. Capt Bobby reduced speed while Mate Eva and Bryan with Nick on the brake wheel, prepped to release the anchor on command. Capt Bobby slowed, then reversed engines over his chosen spot and gave the order to drop anchor in approx 25 feet. About 120 feet or so of chain played out, in fits and spurts, when Nick screwed down the brake on the Wildcat. Pawls were set on the windlass and a chain stopper hook rigged. Capt Bobby backed down on the anchor to set it. and we were in for the night. Dallas Spencer on a tight work schedule disembarked to return home, and the Navy's work.
Next morning the Trawler Cruiser Blue Jacket rafted up to us, an acquaintance of Capt Will. With the generator still kaput, Ray was forced into his breakfast and dessert pastries to serve up along with a fresh fruit assortment.
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| Billy Creighton's Sea Chest |
The first crew team overside in the tender was Dave Brennen, departing for medical appointments, and Carin with her sea chest and folding table off to find the Show. She would be locating our allotted space on the Main of the Wooden Boat Show, set up her display and assume the persona of Billy Creighton, early 19th century English Mariner. Just across from her, the Knot Tyer's Guild was set up with Old Salt Volunteer Danny Machowski providing education and coaching in the finer arts thereof. By the end of the day, "Billy Creighton had crossed over to the booth, tried out a few refresher knots, then promptly entered the competition for Tying six knots successfully in under 30 seconds.
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British 1805 Mariner, Billy Creighton
wins Gold in besting several
other mariners for 6 knots
tied in 30 seconds. |
At end of the day, She, I mean, He climbed back on the deck of the schooner, sporting the medallion for winning the competition.
In other news, Bos'n Bryan Oliver coming ashore was quickly accosted by two Old Salts of Spirit of South Carolina, Shipwright Kenny Blyth, and First Volunteer Coordinator, Reg Brown. The trio retired to a waterside tavern for an afternoon reunion.
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Bos'n Bryan reunites in Georgetown with Old Salt
Shipwright Kenny Blyth and Reg Brown |
Missions ashore completed, the crew filtered back to the schooner where Ray had prepared hot dogs and a pretty darned good pasta salad. Bryan broke out a bottle of aged Barbados Rum and toasts were offered up to our Schooner, the Festival, to that strange Brit sailor who brought back a medallion for knot-tying.
A good day with a good ending, but no not quite. There was a nice town out there full of great people and not a few pretty good taverns still open, and so the crew did what sailors in port do. About eight of us tendered back to the dock, stuffed into an Uber Expedition, and rode the short distance thru the quiet Georgetown neighborhoods to the main street, locating our target. the Tavern "Buzz's Roost" perfectly situated on the water. Will led the crew thru the maze of booths, tables, and almost had us a perfect spot on the water until discovering it had only 4 chairs, so back inside. All seated, menus passed, beverage selections made, appetizers ordered. More toasts, much banter about the sail up, a remembrance of Joe, on our second round when some kerfuffle was noticed back near the kitchen, someone shouted "Everybody Out!" twice,, is was enough that Will promptly stood up, as did we all as a group, looking at one another as to whether this was something serious.. Turned out out it was only sort of serious, the head staff was managing it, and so we slowly sat back down. In the meantime a different waitress, at request of our regular server, hurried over and handed us our whole bill, asking us to settle up. It was happening across the room, so Capt Bobby settled, and we all filed out the door to the apologies of the wait staff for the scene. Alls well, but much joking as Will offered up that the race to get us the check was the appearance of a 'bunch of sailors out there, immediately standing up together as the shouting started, as if we were taking advantage of the confusion to stiff our bill.
Coming out of the Roof, different phones searched for Ubers, or Lyfts, anything,, at 10 pm, the place had become deserted, the only available vehicle over 30 minutes away.. Somebody made the decision to just hike back. And so we started back, a distance of one and a half miles. strung out in a loose column, some of us moving a little slower than others, based on, well, you know...
Arrived at the marina, all standing, and transferred to the schooner in two trips. Lights out and pretty darned quiet aboard by midnite.
Morning turn-to and breakfast would be leisurely with anchor weighing not planned till well after lunch. Walter Barton arrived at the marina to fill out our return crew. The Generator was remaining cantankerous, forcing Ray into warming leftovers with help of our neighbors on the trawler, including getting our coffee brewed. To Blue Jacket we are indebted.
Mate Eva took overall charge of weighing and catting the anchor while Bryan led the Windlass pumping team. Anchor secured, Capt Bobby pointed the schooner down the bay and by 2 pm we were under way.
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Carin Bloom at the helm homeward bound,
with Steve, Will, Eva and Walter, kibitzing. |
Discussion was held on the quarter deck as to whether to take advantage of favorable winds out at sea and raise sail. The mate Eva had previously inspected the headsails, and observing the crew, advised against it. There was a risk of further damage to sails, and the naturally intricate drill of jibing the huge main and foresails would be a challenge at best for an inexperienced crew.
Captains Bobby and Will left command to Eva while they worked on jury-rigging a water intake to the generator cooling system. As a result, there was intermittent AC power for a small portion of the time, but not sufficient to power the galley.. So cold cuts, and charcouterie for lunch, and dinner. The schooner followed a course straight for the jetties. Motoring with the wind, made the seas much more calm then the outbound passage, Friday. As on the outward passage, a cloudless sky made for great star sighting till a huge moon arose.
We rounded the jetties at approximately midnight, set out docklines and stod by to launch the tender as we passed Patriots Point, all well illuminated. Approaching our dock was a bit more spooky. It was not well illuminated. Tender was launched, Nick as coxwain, took Dan Maurin across to take our lines.
With a slight ebb tide, and light breeze behind us, Capt Bobby lined up well north of our dock and eased the schooner into a shallow "landing" approach, bringing us to within 10 feet, an easy hea4ving line throw. Even in the dark, lines went across in order, 3, 4, then 1 and lastly 2, as Capt Bobby eased forward, while Bryan checked # 3, Eva lined the gangway up with midships, and everything snugged up in unison. Another smooth, seemingly effortless docking. Next came the handling of the new-fangled gangway whatchamacallit, rigging it across the gangway falls, suspending the gangway below. That drill, too, was executed almost flawlessly. The time was 0230, Monday morning.
All hands released immediately. A few remained for on board to depart later in the morning. A lot was learned, and the Punch List of maintenance to-do's and routines and drills to adjust, and finally, lots more training to execute. I"ll explain later.
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