Two Schooners- Getting ready for a shared Mission

 Two traditional Tall Ship Schooners, from opposite ends of the American east coast found themselves docked together last weekend. 

Spirit of South Carolina had been tied up at the Charleston Maritime Center for almost a year, partially due to the COVID, canceling planned programs, but more critically, disabled by a near lightning strike in late May, and since, with operating budget gone, no Executive Director for program development, and crew all paid off, no ability to  hold even dockside events. Only her volunteers remained to take care of her.

Harvey Gamage, an older, but in many ways similar vessel out of Portland Maine, with a crew of 12  had docked last Saturday to disembark their Ashley Hall School passengers to their parents.  The next day, Spirit of South Carolina Volunteers welcomed the Gamagers aboard for a social gathering, introducing them to a selection from local breweries, while Spirit's cooks, served up a jerked chicken dinner. 

Yesterday- Saturday, Harvey Gamage returned the favor.  As 12 Spirit volunteers mustered Saturday morning amidships, 10 Gamagers clambored aboard under their Chief Mate Rachel Young, and stood together with the volunteers to receive the day's project priorities.

 This was their day off, but they came aboard as volunteers to reinforce Spirit's crew.   As paid professional tall ship sailors, the Gamagers were in a position to take on  some special skill tasks, so Spirit's Chief Mate Charley Porzelt  split most of them off to get into harnesses and bosun's seats for getting aloft.  Harvey Gamage's Engineer, John ...... went below  to help Hunter trouble shoot some electrical and plumbing issues that had bedeviled the ship for months. 

That enabled Volunteer Coordinator, Bryan Oliver to concentrate the 12 volunteer crew-over half of them new volunteers,  around 3 different  projects, and rotate them out  for practicing some basic deckhand skills, such as line handling, and knots. 

Old Salt Joe Gorman
coaching John Crane, Rob Harrington
in making a bowline.

To boaters cruising along side Spirit of South Carolina during the day, the scene must've been unique, a bit hectic, and certainly noteworthy.  Three Gamage sailors each were positioned in column on both fore and mainmasts, scraping and oiling, while the Mates tended their tethers to lower them down to the next section.  Another five volunteers were busy around the dory, oiling her gunwales,  screwing in thwarts and hardware then rigging her spars.  

Laying down the final coat
 of varnish on the Jumbo boom.

Another two Gamagers, armed with cups of D2 varnish were laying down initial layers onto the jumbo boom, and back aft on the starboard caprail.  

And still other volunteers, the new ones, under the tutelage of Capt Ben Hall, and Volunteer Coordinator, were on a  pinrail learning safe and proper methods for line handling, then heading onto the dock to practice tossing a heaving line. 

Ben Hall and Frank Thigpen, Dave Brennon, with Mike Davis check off line coiling

Danny Johnson and Volunteer team
 lifting "Dory" up onto the floating dock
 and her new temporary berth for rigging up.

Following a lunch break aboard their respective vessels, Volunteers and Gamagers mustered again on Spirit's deck to finish up their work.  By day's end, Spirit sported some new varnish.  Her dory was launched, and rowed to it's new berth on the floating dock,

 and The Fore and Main masts were major steps further along to being ready to raise sail.

Finishing up the Foremast oiling

Calvin Milam fine tunes
 his working coil before
 starting a Ballantine

 And six new volunteers had learned six or more safe line handling skills.   Together they gave 184 volunteer hours to Spirit of South Carolina.

There is an immediate purpose to it all.. Next Saturday, Harvey Gamage has arranged with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization to host up to 24 Big/Little pairs for some activities aboard both schooners. The intent is to generate excitement, and anticipation for reconnecting next year for a  series of two-day cruises with both schooners. 

Phillippe Agofonovas, John Whitsitt,
 and Mike Evatt work at restoring
 a salvaged bicycle for shore transportation.