New Volunteers on the way to filling in gaps left by some of our stalwarts..

We didn't get chance to bid Fair Winds to Nick Swarts, who recently signed on to the Denis Sullivan's crew for the passage to Boston,, I understand they departed Thunderbolt Shipyard on Saturday. Bittersweet, losing a volunteer like that, but it's also a Good thing, for the reputation of  Spirit's Volunteer Crew.  We train deckhands.  . I'll have him try to keep us posted.  Nick had been helping them out on occasion during their shipyard period out there.  

This past Saturday, the 24th, two new Volunteers, Benji, Norman, and Emma Etheridge mustered aboard along with Ken Fonville, and David Reid. They were all on time.  Bos'n Bryan was not.  It took him longer than expected to ghost across the Wando from Remley point, and down-river in his Beetle Cat, "Sean-O". finally docking at 0930.  Actually he confessed to a particularly disorganized up-rigging process on the catboat's trailer before even launching. After all it had been several months since she was in the water. .. of which very little seeped into her bilges during the passages, less than a quart after six months in stocks,, a testament to solid planking and caulking.

While Bryan was working his way down-channel, Ken led Benji and Emma thru an on-deck orientation. Shortly afterwards Ken disembarked to shift over to the final intensifying coordination of  the Salute to Veteran's Regatta. 

Bryan segued the orientation from history of the vessel, and what her intended mission has always been,  into an introduction and practice in safe line handling. In the course of conversation about what Spirit of South Carolina does, Benji and Emma's core professional competence in Marketing came up.  It's an essential component that's been absent from Spirit South Carolina for the past three years.  Given current absence of any visible activity in that area, there's a void that needs filling. 

Five of us was a decent number by which to make some progress, but not enough to launch the RIB rescue boat.With that in the water we can inspect the hull, maneuver the hull away from the yokohama's and possibly reset them for good.  Provide some Coxwain skills training to those interested..  Then there's Dory, that needs some exercise.  

Can we get six next week? or later, after Memorial Day? Hope so.