New Year Winter Maintenance kicks off Early.

Come down next Saturday,Sunday January 4, 5 and help !

Dani Feerst, aloft  on the mainmast, loosing ties
and lowering the Christmas lights.

Never too early when you want to get a head start on things. So, Dani Feerst and Bryan Oliver kicked it off this last Sunday morning, with a well-known routine at this time of year; taking down the Holiday lights.  Dani even recruited crew member, Ryan, to come down for an hour or so, to go aloft with her.  With lights and the glittery huge star all disassembled and stuffed back into their boxes for next year, Volunteers shifted over to linseed- oiling the starboard kevels and Mainmast fife rail, advancing the Chief Mate's program to ensure a monthly application of the stuff on all selected deck furnishings.

Volunteers took a lunch break below over bowls of  seafood gumbo that Bryan had brought along.
Back on deck the sky was getting darker.  The spatter of rain drops thwarted any further on-deck projects, but there was just enough time left before the rain started pouring, to fire up the pumps and empty the bilges.
It made for a productive morning.

More Maintenance Days have been scheduled for weekends, ensuring plenty of opportunities for Volunteers to get involved.  Projects are varied to fit any skill level .  Very soon the Booms and Gafts will be swung down for sanding and revarnishing;  To make it happen will require a barnraising-like event with plenty room for volunteers to pitch in.

Volunteer Winter Schedule set for Maintenance and Training Days

Capt Dan Cleveland and Chief Mate, Charlie are asking Volunteer help for four Weekend days per month beginning December 29, thru April 5, to lay in on projects, including, but not limited to the list below, that must be completed before Spirit of South Carolina can go to sea.

With only four full-time crew aboard, Spirit of South Carolina will need all our help to be ready to board students, trainees, and passengers, and go to sea in the Spring. While our Executive Director and Ships Officers work together to plan the Ship's operations, and itinerary over the coming weeks, there remains a sizable list of maintenance project to be completed. 

Here's a sample:

Cap rail to be scraped to wood, prepped and varnished.

All sails transported to sail maker for repairs 

Capt Dan, Charlie and Matt, last Thursday
load the Foresail for carting over
to Liberty Square to be laid
 out for inspection. Took four of us to move it.
Mainsail was next .

Foresail and Mainsail booms scraped, prepped and revarnished

All sails returned from sailmaker and bent on.

Belaying Pins, Pinrails taken down to wood and linseed oiled

Boat hook staffs sanded down and linseed oiled. 

Canvas and leather fittings sealed, preserved, or oiled.

Various Canvas and leather repair, cutting/sewing projects

Mast Shrouds inspected for wear, wormed, parceled, and  served as required.

Hull paint damage resurfaced and repainted.

Berths cleaned out, linens and bedding inventoried cleaned and stored.

Ship's Monthly Safety Inspections conducted.

Check the Volunteer Calendar for the designated Saturdays or Sundays you can help. Email or Text Bryan Oliver so the crew know you're coming. (Weekdays are open invitations to come help the crew). 

The Foresail spread out on Liberty Square
 for a thorough inspection, identification of chafing, holes,
boltrope separation, seams pulling out, grommet lashings
 and seizings worn.

Experienced crew is imperative to Spirit of South Carolina's operations whether at dock, doing harbor sails or putting to sea.  To advance that goal, portions of these weekend days will be devoted to building and practicing the deckhand skills to build that experience.  That will include training/shakedown cruises to exercise both the ship and crew. 

Experience is built on involvement, time and practice.  If you can come down regularly, the better the crew will know you, and better prepared you will be when opportunities come to set sail.

Spirit of South Carolina Volunteers enjoy an evening aboard at the Annual Holiday Parade of Boats

Executive Director  designates Volunteer Appreciation Night aboard the Schooner in conjunction with her Hosting the Annual Christmas Parade of Boats.

Just after the Thanksgiving Holiday,  Fletcher Meyers announced the first Volunteer Appreciation Event, since the resurrection of the Volunteer Program in February 2019.  A select group of Volunteers, recognized for their hours logged this past year in supporting Spirit of South Carolina, were invited with their guest aboard Spirit this last Saturday for a Dock Party. The added bonus was the Ship's hosting during the same evening, the City of Charlestons's judging committee for the Annual Holiday Parade of Boats.
Spirit of South Carolina's sponsor, Goslings Rum provided an open bar of Dark and Stormy's, beer and wine. Bryan Oliver brought along a Hot Buttered Rum mix.  Immediately following the judging of the Parade, Captain Dan Cleveland called muster of all guests, and proffered a well received toast recognizing the hours, efforts and accomplishments by the attending volunteers, and expressing appreciation for their families supporting their work.

Volunteers attending Saturday's Volunteer Appreciation Night
 were:from left to right: Chris Sosnowski, Two Co-owners of TowBoat US,
 Lee, guest of Jonathan Shew, Sean Mcquilken, Dan Maurin, Jonathan Shew,
 Danny Johnson, Layne Carter, Bryan Oliver, and Tim Geoghegan.
 Not pictured, but remembered for their efforts this year,
 are Ken Fonville, Phil Frandino, Chuck Waring, Dani Feerst, and Joe Gorman.

Afterward, Bryan Oliver, awarded Layne Carter, the Jibsheet Volunteer Pin, recognizing 50 hours of time devoted to the maintaining and crewing the ship; the third award to be made since it's re-inception  in February 2019.  The evening resurrected the tradition of  annual Volunteer Recognition events from 2002 through 2013.  In those days as many as 300 active volunteers were engaged in over ten different functions.

Winter Maintenance Steady Progress

Bryan and Dan finshing the last 220 grit
sanding round before breaking for lunch.

Saturday, December 7th granted a day of great weather over the Charleston Maritime Center Docks, enough for Volunteers, Dan Maurin and Bryan Oliver to team up on the Sapele Half-Round trim around the Forecastle Hatch. Together, they scraped and sanded the trim down to bare wood, and tacking it with 6 successive wipe-downs to clean out the  microscopic sawdust and debris left on the surface. After a break for lunch, Dan and Bryan followed it up by wiping 8 coats of Deks Olje D.1 oil over it.  By 1500 hours the work was done, just in time for a threatening squall to pass overhead. 

Winter Maintenance to couple with Deckhand skills sessions over the Winter.

Spirit of South Carolina has accumulated a good sized punch list of projects that should be completed over the winter period. Most of those are perfectly suited for Volunteers to lay into, for a few hours, half day or whole day. Larger projects, include the moving of the Foresail, and Mainsail up the dock over to Liberty Square so they can be spread out an inspected for repair issues prior to transport to the Sail repair guy. Scraping and sanding/ oiling the Fore and Main sail booms.  

Volunteers, you watch the posted Volunteer Calendar, or text Bryan the Volunteer Coordinator for days on which to advance the work, and also advance their deckhand skills.     Look for a few of those Saturdays to turn into Harbor Training cruises, if sufficient volunteers  respond. 

Check the Volunteer Calendar, for Available Saturdays, or weekdays, when you can come down to the docks and pitch in with the crew.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

November - Sure Was A Month, Alright.

I don't quite know how else to put it. For the Ship, her crew, and Volunteers, this was a month that served up one frustration after another.  Strategically, the greatest disappointment happened later in the Month, when the College of Charleston cancelled it's planned Semester at Sea Program for the new year.  Frustration on several levels;  The College of Charleston faculty was highly motivated to make this program work.  This was to be a significant validation for the ship's viability,  for her sponsors, and other educational programs.  Finally, it was to be our major revenue generator into the coming year.  Unfortunately, the College could not recruit the minimum number of students into the program that would make it economically viable.  For now, the Directors are examining a number of alternative strategies.

For Volunteers, November was felt thru three consecutive weeks,  Spirit of South Carolina, and Volunteers were prepared to cast off  for Public Harbor Cruises over three consecutive weekends.  Each time, Capt Dan made a tough decision to cancel the cruises, sometimes within the few hours before boarding;  Some volunteers were already enroute from long distances to come aboard to help. The first two cancellations were for weather.  Pretty straight forward; A well found ship can stand up to a lot, and Spirit of South Carolina has proven it.  But a ship of passengers includes their expectations for a good time, not necessarily high adventure.  Capt Dan's decision had to account for that.  The last cancellation was laced with irony. Capt Cleveland cancelled the cruise due to lack of an experienced crew.  Weather was unstable, gusty in the harbor, but worth going out in, given a crew confident in their ability to respond and act quickly, often instinctively  to changing weather conditions.  The available, and motivated Volunteers preparing to board that day were willing, but not the crew needed for those conditions.   Challenge Accepted.

November Experiences are driving some ideas and changes. Volunteers will benefit.  

So, here's the situation.  Spirit of South Carolina is lying at her dock, with only 3 professional crew to take care of her. She requires maintenance, and to keep her healthy, regular sailing. A ship of her configuration, between programs,  normally requires 7 to maintain and operate her under nominal conditions (Harbor sails, etc) Without revenue generating programs, there is no sustained funding, and no economic value to paying a full complement of crew.  Captain Cleveland, has long recognized the value of experienced Volunteers augmenting, and operating as deckhands to operate the ship. He and Charlie, the Chief Mate are stalwart advocates of building a trained volunteer crew. The Volunteer crew, those of us who regularly respond, and participate in maintenance and training/sailing opportunities is slowly,,slowly growing.  The gap to be filled is  experience.

Our Volunteer challenge is to grow that experience.  We do it two ways,, a combination of ships maintenance and deckhand skills practice.  Maintaining the ship helps you learn how things work, where things are stored, shipboard routine, standard operating procedures, interaction with the crew. Deckhand skills practice is just that,, building a muscle memory inventory of skills that become instinctive, interlaced with a discipline of teamwork and safety.  

So watch the calendar and your emails for notices on Maintenance and Training Days. Both are equally critical to your experience;  And let's look forward to the time when Ship's officers never worry about the competence of her crew, when her Volunteers take the watch.

And... She's Back!  Spirit of South Carolina returns to Charleston

After almost 4 weeks in Shipyard, the Schooner returns home ready to resume her mission.  

Joe Gorman mouses a shackle on the
Jumbo sheet prior to departure
from Thunderbolt Shipyard

"Old Salts"(Original Volunteers involved in her construction and early days) joined newer Volunteers to deliver a successful Haul-out project.

No one who has ever renovated a house, restored a car, remodeled a kitchen, or renewed a vehicle registration at DMV, can claim that the effort concluded on time or on budget.  You make the best of plans, then just steel yourself to accept the unexpected, open the wallet, and press on.

 And so it was for Spirit of South Carolina's biannual requirement, as an Inspected Vessel, to be hauled out of the water for a comprehensive inspection by the Coast Guard and American Bureau of Shipping, and undergoing of planned repairs. 

What was hoped for in advanced planning, and actually encouraged by the Shipyard and Inspection teams, was a week or so period on the hard to inspect and repair.   What actually happened,, well, is already described in the previous 3 blog postings.  

Suffice to say, after planned  work, plus the unexpected labor of disassembling and reassembling, all 16 thru-hull valves,  five replaced  hull planks at the waterline,  shutting down of the Shipyard lift for its own repairs,  the expected time and expense  increased by,, well, a lot.

Phil Frandino hands down the power
cable to crew member, Matt, for stowage
 in the lazerette, prior to departure.

The additional impact was the loss of two paid crew who had to depart mid project to meet other obligations. To the gratitude of the remaining crew, Spirit's Volunteers stepped up.

  During the time of  Spirit's haul-out, Volunteers Ken Fonville, and Layne Carver  joined the crew at the shipyard for a total of five days.  Bryan Oliver helped deliver her from Charleston to the Shipyard, stayed 23 days and returned to deliver her back to Charleston.  "Old Salts,"  Phil Frandino and Joe Gorman answered the call for Volunteers to help crew her on the return delivery.  Others, like Tom Bierce, "Old Salt", Chris Sosnowski, and Dan Maurin  stood by to  help out with transportation as needed.  Ken was waiting for Spirit at the dock when she ghosted up to the Maritime Center this morning after an all-night passage, to take her lines.

Volunteers, Bryan Oliver, Ken Fonville,
Phil Frandino, and Joe Gorman
after securing the ship at the
Charleston Maritime Center dock

Now, back home, Spirit of South Carolina is poised to resume her series of public Harbor Cruises to generate revenue pending the hoped for, but not yet confirmed Semester at Sea in January with the College of Charleston.  Volunteers interested in joining the crew for these Public cruises, contact Bryan Oliver, the Volunteer Coordinator. Check out the Volunteer Calendar for dates, as they are made known.

As a post-script, it's worth noting that, the work of delivering Spirit of South Carolina home was accomplished by a crew consisting of almost 50 percent-Volunteers.  Including those that answered the call and stood by, prepared to help in other capacities,  the proportion tips the scale further.  

As it should be. 

Spirit of South Carolina was built by our community for a community purpose.  Her future success will depend on the community's continued engagement through its Volunteer effort.   

Charleston Mercury posts an Excellent Two-part article featuring Spirit of South Carolina

A feature article in two parts by Ben Schools was recently published in "The Charleston Mercury" focusing on Spirit of South Carolina.  The articles tell an excellent, well-written story of the schooner from her birth to the present, layered in imagery, and delivering a powerful message in her behalf. It is a story worth sharing with anyone remotely interested in South Carolina's Maritime Heritage, local history, youth education.  The links to the story may be copied and shared, or you may point directly to the Spirit of South Carolina website, under the Spirit News tab.

"A Kindred Spirit Part I Charleston Mercury 8/1/19

"A Kindred Spirit Part II, Charleston Mercury 9/5/19

Spirit of South Carolina is back in the Water 

Final Inspections, Tide,  Weather, and Crew to determine her return to Charleston.

Crew members Mattt, Charlie, and Catie
 stand by as the tractor positions Spirit's
rail carriage supports for moving onto the Sync Lift

After 23 days on the hard, Spirit of South Carolina successfully negotiated her Coast Guard and American Bureau of Shipping(ABS) Inspection requirements, completed necessary repairs, and was lowered back into the water at Thunderbolt Shipyard at 0800 today. Even the return provided unique challenges to the Shipyard in supporting a traditionally rigged tall ship. It required more than one special maneuver of the shipyard's railway carriages, to sufficiently position her forward in the lift so as to clear her spars, stretching outboard over her hull.  Once in the water, Capt Cleveland guided her around to the Face dock where she is currently tied up for final closing of accounts, and a last minute ABS inspection-in-the-water.

Crew losses are posing a challenge to bringing her back.

Deckhand Catie walks  the rail carriage for one last
 inspection of her new bottom paint job.

Over the final two weeks, two crew members disembarked to  attend to other professional and personal priorities, leaving just five total professionals aboard . Volunteer, Bryan Oliver, returned from a vacation to join crew for the "splashing" and prep to return, but still leaves holes on the Watch Bill to fully man her, even for a planned 12-hour motor-sail back to Charleston.  Thanks to some Volunteers who initially agreed to join the crew for the return.. However, the continuous shifting of launch/ and sailing dates forced them to back-down.  Unfortunately, the shifting of sailing dates are driven by a number of issues, that make forecasting a return date a sort of crap-shoot.

Inspectors, Tide, Weather all combine to complicate the departure date

Bear with me, as I explain:
To get to sea, Spirit of South Carolina is restricted to crossing the shoal "bar" at entrance of Wassaw Sound, during high tide. ABS has not yet confirmed a Thursday morning appointment for a final "wet" inspection of the hull and fittings. A delay would domino effect to the next high tide.  Meanwhile, a Weather system is forming to the north, which would prevent Spirit of South Carolina from advancing northward during the time window of late Friday thru Saturday,  a further delay.  It all makes for a frustrating exercise in forecasting a departure date.
Nevertheless, she needs additional crew to put to sea,, experience not necessary. If you feel you can join the crew anytime between now, and next Tuesday, and flex with the unknowns, or just have questions,  contact Bryan Oliver; 314.409.0433; ( bryan@spiritofsc.org).  There's plenty of prep work and sea-stowing to complete before departure, and all hands can help.
It's only a 2-hour and 15 minute drive down the road.
 If multiple volunteers can come down, we will attempt to coordinate a ride-share arrangement, as well as arrangements to retrieve vehicles.

SPIRIT OF SOUTH CAROLINA progressing thru her Haul-Out Punch-list.

And it's a pretty big one too, maybe a little daunting for some, but this crew and volunteers are "leaning their shoulders into the capstan bars," so to speak, and the work is getting done that will bring her back to Charleston strong, seaworthy, safe, and ready to take on her mission.
Three volunteers, Ken Fonville, Layne Carver, and Bryan Oliver, laid in with the crew for a total of 12 man-days, living on board, and advancing the effort.

Since last posting on the 13th, almost all projects on the Captain's Shipyard Punchlist are in progress, some actually finished, or waiting sign-off by the Inspector team.

Crouched in the Lazarette, Matt lines up the drill bit
 to drive a new hole for repositioning
a thru-bolt in the white oak floor frame .

All 16 of Spirit's Thru-Hull valves have been successfully disassembled, cleaned and made ready for inspection by ABS. 

The Thunderbolt Shipyard contracted a team to "tent-up" the ships bottom, and sand down the layer of red paint, chipping off barnacles, and essentially readying her for her new coat of bottom paint. 

All of her butterfly hatches weather stripping was pulled out and replaced.  The crew ranged out to local ship supply and hardware chains for spare parts and tools. Broken or missing hatch latches were replaced.  Suspect hull plank butts and edges were "reefed" of their sodden and compromised oakum caulking and prepped for new planking and caulking.  Eight plank lag screws, selected by Coast Guard Inspectors were uncovered and removed for inspection.  Selected hull planks, showing signs of decay or toredo worms, were marked for replacement; a Shipwright and team engaged for the work. The starboard propeller shaft strut was disassembled to allow for inspection of the shaft seals.

A shipwright team member chips out bung covers
to expose hull plank lag screws, in prep for removing damaged
hull planks.

Crew members also scraped down surfaces on the Samson Posts, quarter bits, and Mainmast fife rail, in preparation for applying the first coats of linseed oil.

ABS and Coast Guard inspectors are expected to return this coming Monday to examine planking, thru-hull hardware, and other components that required multi-step removal. If that all goes well, the remaining work of replanking and repainting the hull, remains the critical path of the project, not to mention making the Sync-Lift ready for use again, after it was taken off-line earlier this week.
Meanwhile, the crew has plenty to keep them busy.  Volunteers are welcome to lay in with them.  Come down for a day, or more. It's not that far away.
If you can help, contact the Chief Mate, Charlie, directly, at charles@spiritofsc.org or text 203-870-5739.

Spirit of South Carolina's Haul Out at Thunderbolt Marina to extend at least two more weeks.

 Spirit of South Carolina will be in dry-dock here for at least another two weeks, possibly longer, depending on how a few issues are resolved.  There’s a lot of work to be done, and if you’re interested, you’re welcome to come down for a day or two, or a week, live aboard ship at the shipyard, join the crew in working thru the projects, .

Thursday, 1st full day at the shipyard,
our practice was scraping the flaking bottom paint
 down to wood. White circles were Capt Clevelands
calling special attention to certain areas.

After arriving at Thunderbolt Shipyard, and being hauled out last Wednesday morning, the Shipyard took over, giving her bottom a power washing. While the crew was sent away to the crew lounge,, a luxury here not to be missed by the way, the Coast Guard and American Bureau of Shipping Inspectors spent the day with Captain Cleveland and the Mate.  Later in the evening,, yes it was a long day, Dan and Charlie came over to the crew lounge and made out the worklist. It was then we learned how much the goal posts had been moved.

Today, Friday's project was "reefing" the damaged caulking
out of the planking.  2d Mate, Claire using a
reefing tool and mallet to pry out old oakum.

Prior to departure from Charleston, the inspector teams had alluded to our Ships Officers that  they expect the work needed to be done on the vessel would take no more than a week,, hence everyone’s understanding that we would be ready to return to Charleston this coming week. 

That is no longer the case. During the inspection, a small number of planks were identified as suspect, and might likely have to be replaced.  This will require the contracting of a Shipwright and team to do the diagnosis and work.  It will create a domino effect to other projects, such as the crew’s “reefing” out old leaky seams and re-caulking with oakum.  Prepping and repainting the bottom.. a 4-day project done by the shipyard. The ABS Inspector required that ALL 16 of the ships thru-hull valves be disassembled for inspection.  Those and some other issues raised, would essentially push everything back another week.  However, the Shipyard announced that at the end of that week, they were shutting down their Sync Lift, for scheduled maintenance,  the apparatus that raised the  schooner and put her on rails for dry-dock. That will further delay our planned return

So, If no further surprises result from inspection of hull fasteners, Spirit of South Carolina may return as early as end of the month.

Meanwhile, there's another project to replace all the
 weathersealing under all the butterfly hatches,
 mandated by the ABS Inspection.

Here’s where you can help, if you can.  Respond to this email or send a text if you can. I’ll put you in touch with the crew.

Hunter's laid out the table for a barbecue dinner at the Crew Lounge

The crew will lose half it’s strength in the next week.  But there are plenty of essential projects, unique to Traditional Sailing ships, that need  finishing.  They run the gamut but include work around her hull, rigging, deck fittings, mechanical troubleshooting.  The work is done on an 8-9 hour work day, starting at 8 AM after breakfast.  You’ll be working alongside a great crew,  appreciative of your willing to help, and eager to share skills.

After the work day, the crew has been regularly retiring to the Crew lounge, where Hunter has been taking advantage of a nice grill  and large patio to prepare alfresco dinner, while crew enjoys the large Jacuzzi,  refrigeration for our beverages, a pool table, free wifi, and, oh-yes. AIR CONDITIONING. I’m sitting here as I write this.

Somewhere in the near future, her inspection issues will be resolved and the Shipyard’s Sync-Lift will be back in service. Spirit of South Carolina will need crew to bring her back to Charleston.

Spirit of South Carolina Hauled Out at Thunderbolt Shipyard, Savannah for Biannual  Inspection.

Tuesday, 10 Sept, Spirit of South Carolina cast off at 0530 hrs with a crew of 8, motorsailing down the coast, making for Wassaw Sound in Georgia, and the entrance up the Wilmington River to Thunderbolt Shipyard. 

Deckhand Catie  frees the fouled anchor
burton falls from the shroud as crew rigs
starboard anchor for possible dropping
 as Spirit of South Carolina crosses
the bar at Wassaw Sound.

By 1930 hrs, she had felt her way over the unmarked shoals at the Sound's mouth, wound her way up the River and at 2200 hrs, safely tied up to the Face dock  at Thunderbolt Marina. After a short night's sleep, the crew  mustered at 0715  reset docklines and fenders, and maneuvered her into the Shipyard basin to the Sync Lift, where she was lifted onto dry dock. Almost immediately, Coast Guard and American Bureau of Shipping Inspectors boarded and began a day-long intense and deep inspection of every component of the schooners' structure and systems. 

Spirit of South Carolina almost completely
raised into dry dock, as Shipyard
workers monitor progress

Spirit of South Carolina high on the rails,
her bottom being power-washed to knock off  barnacles, and sea-life
in preparation for inspecting planks, fasteners,  and rudder

After a conference with Captain Dan Cleveland and Chief Mate, Charlie Porzelt, the two developed a Work plan, and briefed the crew on priorities for the next week.  They will include pulling and inspecting each thru-hull valve, inspecting, pulling out and recaulking plank seams with tar and oakum, removing and replacing soft planks identified along the waterline, pulling and inspecting keel bolts and  selected plank fastenings. scraping and repainting her entire bottom.  The projects are expected to extend well into the following week, depending on contracting issues, and materiel supply.

Spirit of South Carolina set to Cast off for Savannah and her biannual Haul-out inspection, Tuesday 0430.

As I write this on deck, the temperature is finally dipping below 80, and the breeze thankfully moderates the preceeding misery of the entire afternoon, as crew  worked about the deck hanking on headsails, provisioning, and making the vessel ready for her delivery to Savannah in the morning. Capt Cleveland is hoping to cast off at 0430, taking advantage of a flood tide, little or now current, light winds, and no traffic, to stand us out to sea, then a course directly to Wassaw Sound, and up the Wilmington River to Thunderbolt Marina.. hoping to arrive by 1800 Tuesday.  She will haul-out at 0715 the next day, Wednesday, then crew will lay in on a number of hull and other maintenance projects while hull inspections are conducted.. If all goes well, the Ship will be splashed and  set off either the next Tuesday or very early Wednesday for a  Wednesday arrival at Charleston.  Volunteers are welcome to come down to Savannah and live aboard with the crew and lay in on our projects.  Also welcome to join us for the delivery back to Charleston.  

Contact Bryan Oliver, Volunteer Coordinator. 314-409-0433  bryan@spiritofsc.org

Volunteers join Spirit of South Carolina's crew  at her Hurricane Anchorage on the Cooper River to weigh her anchors and motor back to Charleston

Things seem to happen fast these day, and the throwing in of a Hurricane only interjects plenty of variables that never seem to  be resolved until the last moment.  

Volunteers and crew motor out of Bushy Park Boat Landing,
bound for Spirit of South Carolina anchored
over a mile distant in the Cooper River

Ken Fonville, with Chief Mate, Charley Porzelt strain
at the windless to break  the anchor free of the mud,
 and lift it to the cathead.

So it was as Spirit of South Carolina's planned delivery to  Savannah, on Labor Day. Over the past two weeks, you Volunteers  continually responded to calls for help, then reacted to delays. Next it was the hurried decisions to move her up the Cooper River,  for more protected waters, itself delayed then reestablished with little notice. With each shift in plans, you all responded to calls and did your best to juggle real life work, families/  Just this past Friday, with less than a day's notice, the call went out...again, for Volunteers to man her decks, pull up her anchors and move her back to Charleston.  And again, many of you responded, in doing so, whether you could come out, or whether conveyed regrets  you demonstrated a motivation to help, to be part of the ship's life and success..   To all of you who have responded. I salute you for your support, and look forward to the day you'll be aboard.

At noon on Friday, while the coast and families were just recovering from Dorian, three Volunteers were able to cut loose and join the crew aboard to do the work of breaking her two anchors loose from the Cooper River mud,, then move her the 16 miles back down the river and dock her. Bryan Oliver, Jonathan Shew, and Ken Fonville crowded into the Ship's inflatable small boat along with the crew to climb aboard and start the work.

Volunteers manned the windlass  to crank in 2 shots (180 feet) of  anchor chain, and haul in the same length of anchor cable.  The return motoring was uneventful, but on approach to the dock, tide, wind, and current conditions proved contrary to forecast, upsetting our docking preparations.  Capt Dan called a "Crazy Ivan", which required the crew and volunteers to quickly shift all docklines, heaving lines and fenders to the opposite side of the ship.   Warping  the vessel up to the dock and finally securing all, undoubtedly raised up a feeling of relief after a physical day.  Volunteers and crew stood down for  some well-deserved refreshments.and a day off, with plans to ready her on Sunday for possible sail to Savannah.

Spirit of South Carolina approaches the Ij-526 bridge over
the Cooper River

Spirit of South Carolina at a Safer Anchorage for weathering Hurrican Dorian

This morning at 1000 hrs, Capt Cleveland executed his decision made late the previous evening to cast off from the dock at Charleston Maritime Center and motor the Schooner up the Cooper River 16 miles to an anchorage in vicinity of the Bushy Park Landing Site. By 1500, she was safely swinging on both anchors.  Crew would be spending first night aboard, closely monitoring boat check, specifically, bilges, and anchor checks.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Spirit of South Carolina's Planned Savannah Delivery superseded by threat of Hurricane Dorian.

Record number of Volunteers converge  to prepare her for the coming storm.

First -timer, Danny Johnson, Chuck Waring, Jonathan Shew, and Old Salt, Joe Gorman answered the email call for help, joining the crew on Labor Day, for an intense day of work preparing Spirit of South Carolina to weather the imminent onslaught of Hurricane Dorian.   From the number of regretful responses, were it not for prior commitments, and short notice,several additional volunteers would'have been able to add to the effort. 

Volunteers, Bryan Oliver, Jonathan Shew and  Crew member Catie
 prep to de-rig the Jib sail just before getting smacked
by the squall building over their shoulder.

As it was, there was plenty to do.  After a quick Muster, Volunteers split up under leadership of professional crew members to simultaneously tackle a number of projects.   First, The small boat was swung up and hipped on the starboard rail. Next, the teams began with down-rigging, rolling up and stowing the awnings, followed by the  sail covers lashed over both head sails, fore and mainsails. Crew and volunteers replaced sail covers with a tight spiral lashing over the fore and mainsails to prevent high winds catching the leach and blowing them out. Another  Crew/Volunteer team spread out along the bowsprit to double up sail ties on the head sails.  Their work was interrupted by an intense squall  that drove them off the bowsprit, soaking wet, into the Salon for a short spell until the gale dissipated. Back out on the bowsprit, they cut the lashings on the hanks, and using the halyards as a hoist, swing the tightly wrapped headsail "sausages" back over the foredeck, for securing against a bulwark. As that work was being completed, another team broke out and tested the newly purchased Trash Pump. 

As that was being completed the remaining teams converged on adjacent floating dock where the Sailing Dory rested, having just been down-rigged by the Chief Mate.  Now, in a carefully executed series of maneuvers orchestrated by Captain Cleveland, one team lifted the dory, flipped it over, and maneuvered it up across the water and over a high dock rail where another team caught it, swung it around and walked it to the Schooner's  midships cap rail where another team waited to receive it and lower it onto the port side deck. Now all teams gathered for the finale, flipping the dory bottom up, they positioned chocks under neath, installed gripes and chafing gear, finally lashing  her securely to the deck. 

As real-life jobs and home disaster preparation priorities pulled Volunteers away,  Spirit's crew finished up and cleaned up.  Next decision on everyone's mind  would come the following morning; the one to cast off and motor to a safer anchorage, or sit tight. 

Spirit of South Carolina to head south on a Delivery to Savannah, Thunderbolt Shipyard for her biannual Haul-out and Inspection.

Weather permitting, on Labor Day, 2 September, Spirits crew, along with a contingent of Volunteer Deckhands will cast her off and point her out the channel and southwest down the coast to Savannah, where she will be hauled out for inspection of her hull.  While on the hard, Captain Dan, and crew will tackle a number of projects, that need access to her hull below the water line.  Finally, her bottom will be scoured and a fresh coat of red bottom paint applied, before she is lifted back into the  water, and prepped for return to Charleston.  If plans and weather hold favorable, The crew and Volunteers will return to Charleston around the 12 September time window. 

Volunteers are needed to supplement crew for the overnight deliveries to Savannah, and returning.  Additionally, there are Volunteer berths for living aboard Spirit of South Carolina in the Shipyard to help with her maintenance projects.

During a previous haul-out in Newport, RI, 2015, after a 3-month-long refit in 2015

A look at her rudder and transom
 just prior to lifting  her back
into the water in
Newport Shipyard 2015

 Volunteers, this will be a great opportunity to stand watch at sea, learn all about her systems, and lay into some projects alongside the crew. And not to be missed are the rare photo opportunities of the ship showing her undersides.  Volunteers who can sign on for any or all of those three periods (Delivery- Shipyard livaboard/- Delivery home) should contact either Bryan Oliver, Volunteer Coordinator,, at bryan@spiritofsc.org  or Charlie Porzelt, Chief Mate at Charles@spiritofsc.org.

City of Charleston Youth Go to Sea on Spirit of South Carolina

After a cool evening's sleep on deck,
 one student admires the  skyline waking up.

It would be hard to gain any consensus from the participants for the single Highlight of this last weekend's Cruise; there were many; the run out to the ocean under full sail, the swim session off Castle Pinckney,, being smack in the center of the Carolina Yacht Clubs Regatta, sleeping on deck under the stars, Hunter's superb Comfort Food Cooking, or climbing out on the head rig to furl the Jib and Jumbo.  For the 9 teens and 3 chaperones  who came on board for the three-day experience, the thing all would likely agree on, was an unforgettable experience they'll be sharing with family and friends for some time to come.

With help of 2d Mate, Claire,
 participants climb into head rig to practice
 setting, and furling the Jib and Jumbo.

 The cruise was a  realization of an effort begun last Autumn.But  for alternating reasons of weather, crew manning, mechanical,  and other issues the cruise was delayed until this weekend.  Even then, the planned itinerary had to bend against the vagaries of weather and mechanical issues.   On Friday, An Educator from College of Charleston led participants,in a seminar on the African American experience in early Charleston Maritime History, culminating to a field trip to the Fort Sumpter Museum at Liberty Square.Rather than sail to St. Helena Sound,  The Schooner sailed the Harbor, then anchored Friday evening off Castle Pinckney. Saturday was dominated with gusting winds  across the harbor that challenged even the best sailors of the Carolina Yacht Club, and our participants cheered on  as Spirit of South Carolina orchestrated a mullti-class small boat sail racing Regatta all around the Schooner. Meanwhile, participants practiced line handling, coiling and hanging, then climbing into the Head Rig to  prep the Jib and Jumbo for setting the next day.  By end of the day, as the Regatta closed, the Captain called "Swim Call", and participants, all in PFD's, chaperones, and some crew enjoyed a refreshing cooling off over the windward rail.

Chaparones get a chance to show their stuff,
 by teaming up to raise the Jib.

Sunday, participants and crew shook out all reefs from the sails. anchor was raised, One after another, all four sails were set and trimmed  to a beam reach and Spirit of South Carolina bore off down the channel to sea. Participants joined crew in conducting boat checks, tacking the schooner, adjusting sail trim, and even taking the helm. 12 miles offshore, Capt Cleveland tacked Spirit of South Caroline onto a Northwest course to intersect the channel. Still under full press, Spirit of South Carolina made the final stretch home in good time, bearing up, and dousing all sail  off Patriots Point.  While participants gathered belongings and cleared bunks, the crew prepared for docking.  By 1730, Spirit was docked and participants safely put ashore.

Capt Cleveland  and Chief Mate, Charley
coach Paticipant, Kaytlin, at the helm.

For Volunteers it was 3 days of on-the-job training, , not only in all aspects of sail handling, but in engaging  a diverse group of young people, helping them outside their comfort zone, and expanding their perspectives.

For Dan Maurin, it marked a personal milestone, the achieving of 50 hours of Volunteer Service for Spirit of South Carolina. Congratulations and Thanks for all your passion and commitment.

Volunteer Dan Maurin completes the Rough Log
 after Boat Checks, while deckhand, Catie
 watches a participant steering the Ship.

 Volunteers Join Crew for Thursday Evening Public Cruise

Last Thursday's Public Evening Sail , on July 11, featured 3 volunteers  supporting the professional crew, hosting a family reunion of 4 generations, on what turned out to be the best Day Sail of the summer.  Volunteers, Dan Maurin, Jonathan Shew, and Bryan Oliver arrived early for some quick skills review. Practice turned into the real thing, just in time to tuck in a shallow reef on both Main and Foresail before the 23 guests boarded. At that point, volunteers became crew members, as Bryan, Volunteer coordinator, at direction from Capt Cleveland, passed out the Navy Blue crew polo shirt.

A steady late afternoon sea breeze mitigated the July heat as guests gathered around Capt Cleveland for a quick orientation, safety briefing.  In quick succession, crew de-rigged the gangway, took in dock lines, pulled in and stowed fenders, as Capt Cleveland eased Spirit of South Carolina off the dock, with  a few pushes from the Chief Mate, Charley, in the Small Boat. 

Foresail peak and jumbo
halyards Ballantine-coiled.

As soon as her bowsprit pointed down-channel,  2d Mate, Claire led crew in hoisting up and securing the Small Boat.   After just enough time for a few deep breaths,  the Capt called "Hands to set the Mainsail!" Charley organized crew and guests on port and starboard, with crew setting the rhythm, all souls joined together in raising first the Mainsail, then the Foresail, and finally, the Jumbo. 

8-15 knot breezes filled her sails and Spirit  quickly gathered way on a close reach down the channel on a course towards Fort Sumter. Crew work wasn't yet finished, as the reminder "Coil and Hang" came down the deck.  Volunteers and guests together, pitched in to secure all lines and ballantine coil the halyards.

Jonathan checks the Jumbo trim
after tacking away from Fort Sumter.

Spirit's reefed sails, de-powered her sufficiently to make for a smooth but nevertheless fast ride down to Fort Sumter, then tacking and making for the Ravenel Bridge. Timing our passing under the bridge to the second, Claire, acting
as gunner, touched off the salute gun; the report  echoed for 3 seconds.  By the time Spirit of South Carolina had returned and safely tied up at Charleston Maritime Center, the volunteers had participated, and practiced most of  deckhand skills required for day-sails, including engaging with guests, and encouraging their involvment.
Next opportunity for Volunteer involvement under sail will be July 25-28. a 3-4-day cruise with disadvantaged youth, sponsored by City of Charleston. Contact Bryan (Brine) at bryan@spiritofsc.org.   

Plans for July Volunteer Training Cruise are put off until August.

Citing a sudden influx of  Harbor day cruises popping up on the schedule, Capt Dan Cleveland is  temporarily postponing his plans for a 3-day Volunteer Deckhand Training Cruise this month"  Capt. Cleveland has not  shelved his plan for a cruise focused on Volunteer Deckhand training, thanks to those Volunteers who responded to the initial inquiry.  Your responses added encouragement to  the effort to make this happen in the near future.  Stay tuned to this Blog for future dates. In the meantime, take advantage of the new opportunities for deck hand training and  ship maintenance work opening up on Thursdays, Friday's, and Saturdays.  See the Blog article just below for details.

Spirit of South Carolina begins a regular schedule of Public Harbor Cruises;   Volunteers needed to fill out the Crew.

Just this afternoon, notifications were sent to the Volunteer Contact list of a new schedule the Ship will be trying out;  Scheduling for the Public, a late afternoon Harbor Cruise, on Thursday's, Friday's, and Saturdays, for remainder of July, and into August. See the Volunteer Calendar link on the right column.  Keeping costs in mind, the Spirit will cast off, only with a threshold minimum of paying guests, otherwise that day's cruise will be cancelled.  

Captain Dan Cleveland is inviting Volunteers to join the crew for these cruises, to sail the ship, increase their deck hand skills, and, in the long run, build a bench of Volunteer Crew to man the ship. Sailing isn't the only thing in the Volunteer description.. The wooden Traditionally rigged Schooner needs constant care, and as Volunteer Deckhands, we are expected to lay in on projects with the rest of the crew to keep her healthy, safe, and pretty. 

This is an excellent on-the-job training opportunity to observe and work with the Spirit's Crew, and for them to get to know you. Just respond to this calendar invite, or email the Volunteer Coordinator (bryan@spiritofsc.org) of your intention to do so, and report to the Mate, Charley, or 2d Mate, Claire not later than 4 pm on the scheduled date.These are scheduled public Afternoon Sails, that will go depending on # of sign-ups. If insufficient # of passengers sign up, the cruise may be cancelled. Volunteers are encouraged to remain and help with ship maintenance, or practice and check-off deck hand skills on your Deckhand Skills checklist.

Don't let this schedule dissuade you from picking out other dates and times to come and help out. Come down to the ship anytime. Check in with Claire, the 2d Mate, or Charley, 1st Mate. 
And while you're down there, arrange to pick up your Volunteer T-Shirt. (See the Blog article below).

Volunteer T-Shirts Available Now.

The initial order of Volunteer T-Shirts are now available onboard Spirit of South Carolina. The back image,  portrays Spirit of South Carolina as she was planned, resembling her namesake, the Pilot Schooner, Francis Elizabeth, flying a lug rigged Fisherman, and her Pilot numeral on her Mainsail, (Charleston 3). From an original painting by Tri-Coastal Marine. The illustration links current Volunteers to the  original 300 Volunteers and professional shipwrights, who built  and launched Spirit of South Carolina.  

The T-shirts may be purchased by active Volunteers currently listed on the Master Contact list. The price is $20 - the cost of production.    If you are interested in purchasing one, email Bryan Oliver, the Volunteer Coordinator , with your size preference (S, M, L, XL, XXL). Only a small inventory will be carried, because there is not yet a budget for purchasing an inventory.  Once your shirt is in inventory, Bryan will email or text message you that it's available for pick-up..

Here's the catch.  The hand-off transaction has to happen on board Spirit of South Carolina. So, yeah,, it's an enticement to come on down to the Wharf. 

"Where Can I Help?"    

If you could list the top sounds to be described by the Chief Mate, as "music to my ears," I'll bet my marlinspike that among the top five would be a Volunteer voicing that phrase.  Aboard a traditionally-rigged Sailing Vessel, particularly a wooden one, there never seems to be sufficient hands to get ahead of all the projects that need action.   So when that welcome question sounds in the Mate's ears, he/she wastes no time in putting those new hands to a purpose.  
But the process isn't that simple.  Volunteers, realistically work and live a schedule often at odds with the crew's schedule, and the face-to-face coordination of projects among crew, and volunteers is hardly clean.  The Chief Mate has a simple solution.

                The " Punch List" has the Answer.

It's a "To-Do" list; a standing line-item description of projects, large and small, in no particular order of importance,.  Any Volunteer may pull it off the shelf  over the Salon table, review the list, in the absence of the Mate or a paid crew member, select a task, and start contributing.  

Kevel Cleat ; gauged and worn, but doing its job

A "Punch List" Sampler
➤ Scrape/Sand to Wood and Linseed Oil the Starboard Kevels
➤Restore Hand tools in the Tool Locker
➤ Scrape/Sand and re-varnish the Topmast
➤ Waterproof-treat the Jib, Main and Foresail canvas covers
➤Inventory the Foul weather jackets
➤ Troubleshoot the Trash pump
➤Replace/ eye-splice the  port side-aft life ring's polypropelene beacon tether.

The Chief Mate, or Volunteer Coordinator periodically reviews and updates the Punch list to keep it current.  A second column for comments, enables hands to communicate status, or issues,to other crew/volunteers who will take the hand-off and continue the work.  The Punch List should be secured inside the binder cover of the Volunteer Log.  Be sure to pull it out and give it the once-over while you are entering your own Volunteer hours in the Log.

Spirit Volunteers team up and take on a "tall" project.

Ken and  Chuck  on the Orbitals, use a light touch on the Main Topmast,
 to carefully take off layers of  old varnish and scarred, weathered wood.

The 25 foot-long  tapered Douglas Fir spar had been derigged  from it's perch atop the main mast, the previous month and laid out on the dock to await  it's turn on the Mate's Maintenance Punch List. Now it was time. This past Saturday morning, three Volunteers answered the call,. Brushing aside the threatened weather forecast of another hot day, Ken Fonville, Chuck Waring, and Bryan Oliver took up orbital sanders and scrapers, and  teamed up to take on the task of the ship's Topmast.  12 years of weathering had left it scarred and stained, even given intermittant  respites of spot-painting and varnishing, it needed total strip-down to the wood and refinishing. The weather proved cooperative, sunny, but with a consistent seabreeze blowing across the dock to carry away the sawdust.  By 2 pm, the topmast  now exposed its laminated douglas fir grain, and was  ready for the next stage - a sequence of  sanding with four ever-finer grains  of sandpapers until the achieved silky surface will be void of weathering and scarring. 

Other Volunteers will certainly want  into this, and there's certainly opportunities for it.  Weather permitting, this coming week, at any time, if you have a couple of hours to spare, the crew will set  you up with a  power sander, and some guidance.   Just accept the invitation coming  out via email from Bryan, replying with a date and time you can come down to participate. We hope to start oiling and applying the first of 12 coats of varnish later this week.

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