Five Volunteers join Denis Sullivan Crew to Sail her to Savannah

SSV Denis Sullivan in
Charleston Harbor last year.

 When the Sailing School Vessel,, Schooner Denis Sullivan visits Charleston twice a year, she has benefited from the on-shore support of Spirit of South Carolina Volunteers, everything some simple maintenance support to transportation for crew, to  connecting with other shore-based maintenance resources.

On the schooner's visit this past week, arriving Monday afternoon, 7 April, Denis Sullivan was able to gain a berth by "rafting up" to Spirit of South Carolina for three days.  Denis Sullivan acknowledged the support from Spirit's Volunteers, by offering the opportunity for volunteers to sail with their crew to Savannah-Thunderbolt Shipyard- a 21-hour overnight passage. 

Five Volunteers accepted the invitation. On Sunday afternoon at 1300, Bryan Oliver, Walter Barton, Nicholas Swarts, Sam Sablotsky and brother Levi Sablotsky climbed aboard Denis Sullivan, and joined the crew for which, all but one, would be their first ever off-shore passage aboard a traditionally rigged schooner. Total souls on-board numbered 12.

As the last of us boarded and stowed our gear into assigned bunks, the Mate mustered volunteers on deck for a deck orientation and assignments to the station bill-for Fire, abandon ship, and Man Overboard. 

Around 1400,  Capt Flansburg directed his mate to begin taking off docklines. "From the get-go", Captain and crew demonstrated the next level of sailing seamanship.  As last lines were cast off, with volunteers laying on the halyards with the rest of the crew, the Fore staysail was set, followed by the Foresail and Mainsail.  Thanks to a slack high tide, and a light westerly breeze, Denis Sullivan sailed off the dock.  The Captain didn't bother to fire up the two diesels until we were in the channel southeast bound to Ft. Sumter.  While there was a light favorable breeze, the modern-day necessity of keeping our schedule required a speed over ground (SOG) of at least 5 knots or more. 

Nick Swarts, 1st of the five volunteers
 to take over the helm

Passing through the Jettys, the Mate, assigned watch positions, with B watch set at 1500. Captain Flansburg relaxed his watch discipline a bit due to the short duration of the voyage and proximity to the coast.  He didn't require a Lookout forward; that role fulfilled by the quarterdeck. Bilge checks occurred once during the watch, not once an hour. Otherwise, Volunteers took turns at the helm for an hour, and hourly taking the ship's position and plotting it on a huge chart below in the chartroom.  

As we came abreast of Redbuoy #14, the Capt directed new course of 215 degrees, roughly paralleling the coast approximately 9 miles off-shore. The sea state remained at 1 foot, with apparent wind on our nose at approximately the same speed as our SOG, no not much help.  The function of our sail set became more for stability-less rolling than actually powering the ship.  

At 1600, the watch changed to begin the full four-hour set.  Capt Flansburg led the watch with deckhands, Autumn, Sofia(Engineer), and Volunteer Bryan. Bryan started the watch on the helm for the first hour, to be relieved just in time as supper was being prepped.  Originally, our own Ray Krugger had agreed to come on board as Cook for the passage. However, he'd been preempted by a higher priority and had to bow out. That left the crew, with a pantry and larder full of left overs for the remaining 2 days to Thunderbolt. No worries.  Sofia found six frozen pizza's and baked them to perfection, making up a huge salad to go along, and a pitcher of passion fruit/lemonade punch.  Volunteer Walter's donated bag of fresh brownies topped off the event. 

Sam Sabotsky and brother Levi at Supper 

Denis Sullivan followed the same meal scheduling as most tall ships, synchronizing to a change of watch. In this case, Supper was set around 2000 hrs,  the change from the Captains watch and A Watch.  The Oncoming watch would get the first seating,  at 1930, a half-hour prior to their watch change.  The off-going watch would get theirs at 2000, as they were relieved from their watch. The "idle" watch would bring up the rear, following the relieved  watch.  Each crew member was responsible for washing and putting away their own utensils, as well as at least  one common utensils/(sauce pan, baking pan, etc). 

As A Watch took the deck at 2000, the expected full moon had not yet risen. Sky was still cloudless and stars started to appear. Sea state was calm, less than a foot high, winds so slight the apparent wind remained on our nose just filling the sails for stability. For the evening, Capt directed dousing the Fore staysail, so we remained under Foresail alone. 

Bryan's view of his guide point
steering towards the Sea buoy
 at Wassaw Sound 

At watch change at 0400, the full moon had been up a few hours, brightening the sky, blanking out most constellations, yet providing the perfect guide for the helmsman, an alternative spot to align with the compass heading, then 225 degrees.  Bryan at the helm was able to steer for most of his trick, by keeping the moon centered between the fore and mainmast port shrouds, thus avoiding the eye strain and occasional hypnotic effect  of constantly staring at the compass dial.

By sun-up, Denis Sullivan was approaching the Sea buoy for Wassaw Sound where we would round well to the south, then steer north up into the sound, and the Wilmington river.  Our speed had been slowed to just over a knot or two, to better time our arrival at the Wassaw  sound bar, and high tide.   Those on deck  strained eyeballs gazing to the east at the anticipated sunrise and possibility of sighting the split second green flash as the sun's upper limb first cleared the horizon.  But wasn't to be. 

Breakfast spread was an interesting melange of everything left in the fridge and freezer., of which there was plenty.. left up to the diner's imagination.  

All luff hanks cut, foot robands loosed,
 the staysail hangs loosely before being
laid out on deck.

Post breakfast as all was being washed and put away, Jeremy's watch with Sam, Levi, Walter,and Bryan stepping, down rigged the Fore staysail, flaking, and rolling it up on the deck, then stowing below in an empty bunk.  The headrig was now clear of canvas, and ready for total downrig the next day when the Shipwright arrived to take charge.

Now the Mate directs laying out of docklines. We'll be docking bow on, and port side-to. on a low floating dock, and remain there for the shipyard project, no hauling out needed. The major project of unstepping the bowsprit would be accomplished from that location.

Volunteers retrieve and help bend on heaving lines and set all the sausage fenders off the port rail as low as possible. Capt Flansburg eases the schooner off the ICW channel into the fairway, then a hard left, slowly into the slip, ghosting to within two feet of the dock before sending lines over. Within the next five minutes, the schooner is made fast, double lines sent over, finished with engines.  

Sam, Levi, Walter and Nick at final Muster.

Capt Flansburg musters the crew to lay out the priorities for the rest of the day. Volunteers go below to clear out their berths, fold up linens and bedding, and stage gear on the dock. 

Denis Sullivan's crew, Sofia, Capt Flansburg,
 Hunt, Methven, and Autumn, Jeremy's Fist.

The schooner's Executive Director, Jill Hughes, comes aboard to start planning for the projects, but before getting too far, calls another muster. This time it's for a crew photo on the fore deck, and engineer Sofia presenting to each Volunteer a crew T-shirt.    

As things wind down, casual conversation between crew and volunteers leads to offer to send anyone interested up the foremast. The offer is immediately taken up by all the Volunteers. 

Nick just back down a step
 after slapping the trestle trees
 above him.

So for the next half-hour, one after another, all five volunteers bend on a hip harness with a safety line and brake, and climb up to the trestle trees, at top of the foremast. For all five volunteers it's the first time ever, reaching that height.  Sam climbed half way over the trestle trees before backing down when his lanky frame wouldn't quite bend sufficiently around one corner.

Salley Davidson, Walter's sister, is waiting with transportation to get volunteers back to Charleston, so most load up. Bryan is hanging back to wait for Chris Sosnowski , due in at 1500 to pick up stragglers.

Every one is cleared and safely home 3 hours later, with a few bragging rights.