Monday, March 18, 2024

Three Projects Completed this Saturday- Good Progress,, With good weather it's Maintaining our Momentum

 Some welcome weather for Saturday definitely boosted morale, after seemingly 3 straight past volunteer days sabotaged by rain. With the seven of us, Bryan, Alex Lya, Tony the Wiper, Chef Walter Barton and his signature comfort food for lunch, new Volunteer, Ben Walker, and Dave Brennan.  

With a little more organization than usual, Bryan divided the Watch in to three projects;  

  • Walter and Alex were assigned the project of fabricating and installing a new Mast Boot for the mainmast-not as simple as it looked. 
  • Tony and Dave began rigging up the foremast throat halyard with a bos'uns chair to take somebody aloft and linseed oil the Foremast-top-to-bottom. When set, they spread the ship's  20x20 foot canvas ground cloth around the bas or the mast to catch the inevitable drips and linseed oil spatter floating down from on high.
  • Bryan coached Ben, and Dave thru marling-hitching of the foresail head onto the gaff, and properly lashing  down the peak.

The last two projects were completed in short order,  As Alex and Walter continued bulding out a cloth template to fit on the mast before laying it on a slab of fresh canvas to begin cutting out, the rest of us gathered around the foremast. 
Somebody has to set the example..

With no takers, Bryan sent helpers to retrieve a clean painter's coverall suit, a canvas bucket with plastic insert to fill with linseed oil, a large fresh rag for sopping down the mast.   Meanwhile, Bryan with  Dave's help, struggled into the suit, then fitted a chest harness, followed by two tether straps;  one to keep Bryan in the bos'un's seat, the second to snug the seat next to the mast. With oil bucket clipped on to the the sling, and three shipmates standing by the jumbo halyard, and Dave on a tag line, Bryan shouted out "on the halyard,, Haul Away!). 

And they hauled, and hauled, and hauled.. stopped for a break, then hauled away some more, until Bryan could touch the top edge of the mast copper sheath, and shouted, "That's Well, make fast".  For the next 45 minutes, They alternately eased Bryan down the mast 2-feet at a time, while he reached down into his bucket for a rag soaked with linseed oil, and reaching  around the mast, slopped copious quantities of oil around the mast, hoping not to miss a spot. Meanwhile, Walter excused himself to the galley to prep his buffet of meatloaf and green bean casserole. 

Once Bryan was safely back on the deck, everyone set everything aside and hurried below into the Saloon for lunch.  As it was completed and clean-up accomplished, Nate Mack came aboard with his tools and a huge Come-along strap rig. First, he trimmed and set the wood dutchman into the taff rail for curing, in preparation for reinstalling the lifeline stanchion into it.  Next he rigged the come-along strap around one of the bent stanchions on the starboard rail, and with slow steady pressure was able to straighten it back into a vertical.

Immediately after lunch as the rest of the crew began securing tools, and other equipment, Bryan teamed up with Walter and Alex on the Mast Boot template. Inexplicably, none of us were much in remembering out spatial algebra/geometry, beyond defining "pi". and We struggled with computing the various variables into a cone surface, laid out flat.  Finally, in frustration, we cut out one large rectangle, and shaped it around the mast base, alternately cutting, taping,, stretching, more cutting, until we had a rough cone shape.  This we lashed onto the mainmast base "collar" on the deck, stretching it upward so to tape it around the mast, just about fife rail-height. Bryan broke out the canvas repair kit, and with sail palm, sail twine, and a monster needle, began stitching together the  opposing vertical edges on the aftermost side of the canvas cone, of course largely unreachable, between the mast, and the Cabin trunk.

By this time, it was 1600 hours,, motivation was sinking, and family demands were coming to the surface, so we reluctantly found our stopping place, secured all of our tools and supplies below, and left the vessel under charge of Rick Washington.

Next morning, Bryan returned to finish the stitching, and  apply the first coat of white enamel over the entire surface of the cone, to shrink some of the folds out of it, and waterproof the thing.. Another project completed.

With arrival of the new Captain still up in the air. Volunteer priorities remain, addressing our spreadsheeted punchlist, but with increasing emphasis on honing our deckhand skills, making the deck shipshape in prep for our visitors crossing it on Sunday when Denis Sullivan ties up to us to disembark her Ashley Hall Students. We have three signed up for that Easter Sunday afternoon, and could use three more., for about an hour or so.

Saturday, March 9, 2024

A Captain's Farewell, More Educational Programs Contacts Developed, and a drowned out Volunteer Day. Maintenance-Not so much.

 'S no use fighting a Low Country Monsoon and a King Tide on the Charleston Waterfront.  I"ve been sitting here this morning at Toast, on King Street, for 3 hours  ordering a breakfast I should not have.   At same time, since 0830, texting back and forth with Rick Washington who's been on deck and below all night for past two,(nights) tending the bilges and constantly checking our shifty ball fender-yokohama alliance, as 15-20 knot winds clock.. around the clock. 

The tides were enough flood to keep four of us from making the Maritime Center this morning for our Saturday Volunteer Day. We may salvage some of the day, but in the meantime I'm catching you up.  

Bryan attempting to coax a medium-grilled
 double cheeseburger out of Danny.



This past Monday I met socially with Jonathan Green, the successful Maritime Artist whose bright, colorful images of Gullah Rural life are visible just about everywhere in the area. Turns out he' an advocate of education in African American Maritime History, and partners with Dr. Kim Long, with whom I had a meeting the previous week on the same topic.  We may find the schooner partnering with their projects in that area.  That translates to more active dockside and sailing opportunities, likely higher end clientele, looking for a more enriching experience on the harbor, than the normal tourism references to points of interest.  It can be in our wheelhouse, but the onus lies on Volunteers.   Time to start getting ready.  More later, as that develops.



Tuesday, the Crew bade Fare Winds to our Captain, Davis Alford.  Davis finished his official responsibilities officially, a month ago, but remained on to attend the Tall Ships America Conference,, afterwards flying directly to the Caribbean to retrieve his ketch, and bring it north.  His shifting itinerary gave us scant advance notice of his return, so a farewell soirree' was organized on board with whoever was reachable via text and email.  Amid a hastily put together burger and chicken grill on the dock, several of us gathered on deck.  

Danny describing the minimum social distance
 required to observe his grilling technique



As of this writing, Capt Davis is back in Puerto Rico, affecting final repairs of boat's diesel. He is pursuing possible opportunities in the Caribbean, or possibly returning to the Charleston area. 

Dave Brennan, Rick Washington,
 and Ken Fonville

Meanwhile, there is a short-list of replacements which Capt Heath, our Project Manager has been managing. which have yet to be announced.  It will include the selection of a new Captain, and possibly a Mate.  The hiring process is being unfortunately stretched, to my understanding, to accommodate peculiar marine insurance requirements.


Tony Marchesani and Mark Held
 waiting to transport burgers and chicken aboard.

Capt Davis, Frank Frazier,
 Ricki Washington, Hayden Hartley

As all that settles down I can report on our new access to an entire Google Drive Folder of  Educational Materials;  Curriculums, Lesson plans, teacher guides, games and activities created back n 2011 by the Low Country Maritime Foundation.  This sharply focuses our foggy notion of what educational programs might look like aboard. 

At end of the month, the Schooner Denis Sullivan is returning to Charleston with a manifest of Ashley Hall students, to drop them off after a 10-week, semester at sea.  She will be rafting up to us around noon on the 31st (Easter Sunday)  for only an hour or so, to disembark these students. Afterwards, she may be at the fuel dock.  On April 3, she will again raft up to us so she can host a Reception aboard for her recent Ashley Hall crew, their parents, and faculty of Ashley Hall. All that will be passing over our deck.  It's apparent that we've an excellent opportunity to showcase Spirit of South Carolina to this audience. Ashley Hall has been a past regular client, and has recently asked our status to hose education program cruises.  While we're not anticipating doing so for rest of the year, it's in our interest to cultivate the relationship.   Volunteers are the visible element to delivering the message. 




Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Wetnes puts a damper on maintenance projects, but Advances made on other Directions .

 The past Friday night's deluge left a residual sogginess to the deck, limiting much of our planned maintenance projects.  Rainwater had soaked the area around the Mainmast boot, and Fife rail base, nixing further work on reefing out seams and caulking.  Which left only some linseed oiling and up-rigging of the freshly varnished foresail gaff.  

Todd Cole's
handiwork

Bryan brought aboard copies of a Volunteer Recruiting tri-fold brochure to pass around for review. Todd Cole designed around the content to give it a more professional look. The plan is to have printed about 200 copies for distribution, leaving with various clubs, organizations, lobbies, colleges, etc.  

Alex Lyashevich broke off to search for three grits of sandpaper to sand down the two thumb cleats that had been removed from the gaff.  Their position, intended to keep the vang loop around the gaff from slipping forward, was suboptimal, so it would be repositioned after sanding and coating. After a good rub down with the final 220 grit, Alex applied two successive coats of linseed oil, and set the two thumb cleats aside to absorb.

Nate gets started repairing
 the stanchion  base
Nate Mack brought aboard his palm router and proceeded to cut out a space in the starboard quarter taffrail for a dutchman that would provide a new base for the lifeline stanchion. Bryan dropped down into the lazarette to scrounge around for a spare piece of sapele, or teak to shape the dutchman, coming up with a small block of teak. 

"It's always somthin!"
in this case a hidden bolt head
in the way of a screw.

Now the challenge will be fitting a piece over a just discovered thru-bolt head which was in the path of one of the four stanchion screws. All this time, it had prevented one of the screws from properly driving in and anchoring the stanchion. The task will include re-setting the four stanchion base screws in an arrangement away from the submerged bolt head.

As Ken Fonville, Tony Marchesani, and Dave Brennen prepared to set up the suspended gaff for resetting, Dave pointed out to Bryan the worn thru leathers lining the gaff jaws. Change of plans. Now, the priority shifted to a search for sufficient scrap leather to replace the shredded remnants of old cowhide. All that could be found were strips of buffalo hide normally used for the berth seat cushions. It would have to work. Tony and Dave set to work measuring and cutting out double layers of leather to replace both sides of the jaws. Ken started on pulling out the carpet tacks still securing the old leather. 

Somewhere in between, Walter Barton collected money and departed to pick up sandwiches phoned in to East Bay Deli. 

By the time lunch rolled around, our ranks had shrunk by a third due to conflicts. Shortly after that, all left aboard were Bryan and Alex, who promptly shifted to some deckhand skills training.  Going down the skills checklist, Alex demonstrated several knots, talked thru situational awareness with passengers aboard, and added in a little storytelling.   

On another Note, Bryan received access  from  Crew Alumnus/Education Director-Sarah Pewinski, to a real treasure trove of educational materials developed several years ago to support the schooner's mission. Themes and topics covered STEM, Geography, History, all configured for educating 5th thru 8th graders on board, including activities and games designed to engage kids with hands on things.  Their content is designed so to be delivered by, shall we say, amateurs-professional educators not required.  Volunteers can fit that bill perfectly.  So, if you're a Volunteer, and reading this, look forward  to seeing more on the topic, including eyes on the curriculum that's available.  It's extensive. 

Monday, February 26, 2024

The Ship's Visibility improves with boarding of Special Guests. Critical Maintenance Projects Advance

Carin, in deckhand mode,
 steadying the gaff jaws
 While we're all waiting to welcome a new Captain, work thru all the usual "breaking-in" the Captain, restarting a Volunteer Crew operating rhythm that includes regular harbor sailing, another dimension to the schooner is slowly taking shape;  Educational programs.

Just two weeks ago, Carin Bloom, historian, educator, and interpretive presenter came aboard as a Volunteer, bringing with her a number of ideas for organizing and delivering historic aspects of  Charleston's Maritime Heritage.

Two days after that, I received an inquiry from the Flatrock Middle School in Winston-Salem NC, regarding chartering Spirit of South Carolina for a day/field trip, likely this fall and/or next spring in April.

Bryan and Dr. Long
exchanging ideas  
And just this past week, Dr. Kim Long PhD, of the African American Maritime History organization (not affiliated with IAAM) stepped aboard, and sat down for an hour and half with Bryan Oliver trading ideas for delivering a variety of educational experiences for high-end customer/city visitors. Dr. Long already delivers historically themed presentations at selected venues, and sees Spirit of South Carolina as an excellent setting for such programs.  Because her programs are already well formed, proven and priced, they could be almost turn-key and the first to appear on deck.


And then came Saturday. Several Volunteers mustered in the morning, ostensibly, to down rig the fore sail gaff so it could be sanded and varnished, and to continue the deck leak repairs under the main mast boot. But for most of em, think the real draw was to meet P.C. Coker III.  More on that later.  

After grabbing some coffee from the saloon,  All hands mustered at the Mainmast where Bryan explained the priorities for the morning,, and the plan for afterwards. Ken Fonville, Tony Marchesani, Carin Bloom, Gary  , Dave Brennan and Rick Washington  teamed up to down rig the foresail gaff, from its current position, jaws around the mast, lashed to the head of the foresail, steadied by the lazy jacks.  Their task was to:

  • First, tie down the furled foresail, securely to the boom with sail gaskets
  • Unlace the head of the foresail from the gaff 
  • Lower the port side boom lift to slacken the lazy jacks on that side. 
  • Rig taglines to run forward from the jaws, and aft from the gaff peak.
  • Remove the parrel bead line securing the gaff jaws around the foremast.
  • Using both throat and peak halyards, lift the gaff up one foot.  
  • Then with hands on the tag lines, force the gaff aft, for the jaws to clear away from the mast
  • Swing the jaws to port, then pull the gaff forward, clearing the lazy jacks, and lowering the gaff until it is waist level, suspended and lashed down horizontally on the port side of the boom-ready for the scrapers and varnishers to pile on. 
  • Once jaws clear of the foremast,
     gaff cleared out of lazy jacks
    then lowered to its suspended
    resting position.

[There you are, steps all nicely bulletized, for any of you to simply reverse the process and up rig the gaff after it's once again shiny and new, hopefully next week]








While that exercise in teamwork was being masterfully executed,  Mikell Evatt and  Alex Lyashevich took on the more circumspect project of fixing the deck leak from the Main mast area down into the saloon. The job involved scraping, digging out deteriorated deck caulk around the main mast boot ring, and Fife Rail Post, then brushing it clean for caulking.  Grabbing a reefing tool and mallet, Mikell also dug out three feet of deck caulk adjacent to the Fife Rail Post, which was separating from the inch-deep sides of the teak plank, allowing rain water to migrate towards the lowest point.. the mast partners.

Around  1100 hrs,  Walter Barton appeared at the gangway,, with a large grocery bag of sliders, and our special guest, Mr.. P.C. Coker III.
P.C. Coker III's book, Bryan's annotated copy.
 A clean copy belongs to the ship,
 A couple personal copies may be available.
Now, if you're a history buff, more specifically a Charleston history buff. This would be on your bucket list. P.C, is a Maritime Historian, professional model shipwright and author of the definitive Maritime
History of Charleston Harbor. Four years ago, a young Coker relative brought aboard two copies of that work as gifts for the ship.  The book has been a cornerstone of our Volunteer work of formulating historically themed programs around Maritime Heritage of this city and harbor.

P.C's arrival on the gangway provided the perfect excuse to pause operations.  While Bryan gave the walking tour around the deck. The rest secured tools, and lay below into the Saloon.  Walter laid everything out,  Sam Gervais, Director of the Low Country Maritime School, joined us below, and shared in the animated conversation that ranged from history to the future.   
P.C. had brought with him two additional copies of his book as donations for the ship.  They are currently out of print.  Our copies, will  most likely be purposed as fund raiser.. The ship already owns a copy. it's visible in the library rack over the saloon dining table.  As volunteers, ya'll would have first right of refusal, so anyone interested in making a donation to the ship in return for one of these beauties, please contact me.  It won't be a bargain price thing,, up front.  This  is a fund raiser.

And a BIG thanks to Volunteer deckhand, Walter Barton for arranging P.C.'s visit.

Saturday's Volunteers gather around P.C. Coker III
our lunch guest.







Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Mast Sanding is Done! Now to oiling and slushing; New Captain is selected; Name TBP, Next month to include Harbor Sea Trials.

 Expectations for low Volunteer participation due to the confluence of SEWE Events, and President's Day Weekend. were borne out this last weekend.  Nevertheless, the four of us who did muster aboard, did, with grit and determination, take on and complete the last project that had bedeviled us for months.  You guessed it-  Sanding down the foremast.

Mostly weather,, cold, wind,, rain, low motivation,, all  combined to delay for months, the completion of that last middle 30% of the mast.  And so it was, with Tony Marchesani and Walter Barton on the Jumbo halyard, and Bryan Oliver on the tag line,  

Alex waayy up the foremast
 taking down the grime with
 an orbital sander.
Alex Lya was slowly hoisted up the foremast with his Dewalt orbital sander and a bucket full of spares. After a 1/2, Alex signaled he was ready for someone else to have some fun.  So he was lowered to the deck, and Bryan Oliver replaced him. 

Alex, shouting down,
 "This is fun, so who's next?"

Another 1/2 hour later, Bryan was back on deck, and everyone took a moment to gaze upward, partly admiring our handiwork, partly wandering why it took so long, feeling the weight of an unfinished onerous chore being lifted up, the gates finally opening to... more projects?

Well, yes. that will always be so.  After all, it's the way of traditional sailing vessels. But as we all secured the deck, our bosun's chairs, loose hardware, etc, and mustered below, Bryan updated with news.

Carin Bloom, Historian, had met with Bryan again, this past week, onboard, to advance discussions on education standards, and topics for docksides, and cruises, with schools, and adults. Grants of $15,000 plus are available with proper application for Charleston 250 celebrations.  Carin also provided contact information for the African-American Maritime History organization, a possible partner in educational programming. Bryan is making contact.

Heath Hackett is within hours(?) of naming a new Captain.  The immediate objective is to onboard the new Captain, and take him into the harbor with some of Heath's motoring pilot team mates to familiarize said new Captain with piloting the schooner safely on/off the dock.  Once satisfied with progress in that skillset, Capt Heath will schedule a Volunteer Harbor Sea trial, likely first of several, over the month of March.

Meanwhile, we advance the projects of finalizing the twin personae of Spirit of South Carolina,, a Traditional 19th Century working schooner, and a more modern yacht, each personae to suit a targeted clientele. 




Monday, February 12, 2024

Transitions come and go, but the direction of our Schooner, and her needs remain the same.

 The past week, or two, has brought to the schooner and her Volunteers some motivational highs and lows: 

 Low; It brought news that our Captain would be transitioning out of his command. Capt Davis was popular with crew. but, to quote the Bull Durham movie:  "management wants to make a change." 

High; It also saw new contacts made with educators from Middleton Plantation, the South Carolina Maritime Museum, and a Middle School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, all interested in Spirit of South Carolina's potential as an educational platform. 

Low: Volunteers came aboard Saturday to face the consequences of heavy winds and shifting Yokohama's (those huge hard rubber cylinders)last Sunday. "oof."   

High:  Hopefully they were heartened by Bryan's recap of the 51st Tall Ship's America Conference, at which 15 tall ships, and their crews and several other boards of directors were represented-every one welcoming Spirit of South Carolina back; that support was spoken none more forcefully, than by the Delivery Captain and his "A Team" who delivered her to shipyard.   

We are the crew of a ship that is respected in the industry; Her crew of volunteers, especially so, for their achievement in helping to bring her back, and successfully regain her Certificate of Inspection. 

This Saturday, TEN of us, Tony Marchesani, Nate Mack, David Brennan, Walter Barton, Ken Fonville, Alex Lya, Bre McCormick, Rick Washington, and Darryl Darby, all mustered with Bos'un/Volunteer Coordinator, Bryan. After collecting lunch money and handing it off to Danny Johnson, they divided up to three tasks.  Darryl took on the project of sanding down and prepping the stern light platform, for oiling.  Nate, Bre and  Alex set to rigging up two bosun's chairs on the foremast, using the jumbo, and foresail throat halyards. The remainder gathered to mull over the sticky problem of a renegade Yokohama-the gi-normous rubber blivits that floated between the schooner's hull and the pilings of the face dock. The north-most yokohama had drifted under the dock overhang, rendering it useless and allowing the bow, and the port side anchor to drift up to the dock. And so, after several minutes of brainstorming, the team set out with boat hooks, marlinspikes,  crowbars, and not a little rope pioneering creativity, maneuver the rogue yokohama out from under the dock, center it on it's piling, and fashion a bridle with guy line to hold it in place, mostly.  

As the last hitches were made into the Yokoyama's sling, Darryl finished the last hand-sanded touches to the stern light platform, and both bosun's seats hung snugly against the foremast table.  Walter declared lunch to be ready.  

Dave Brennan sauces up his selection,
 while Tony Marchesani starts some big bites.

Thanks to Danny's good tastes, the crew helped themselves to a true hoagy smorgasbord.  A few of us, torn by real-life family and house maintenance commitments, went ashore.  The remainder of us cleared the table, secured from lunch and mustered one more time on deck for a last task.  

All hands to freeing up and rerouting 
spring lines 2 and 3






During that urgent situation the previous Sunday with high winds forcing the schooner's hull forward and aft, then against the dock, as the tide rose, it's lines slackened by the high tide, the yokohama nearest the bow(as previously described), slipped under the dock, making it useless as a protection. To counteract the bow's tendency to drift into the dock, the engines were started and  reversed to warp the bowsprit away from the dock. Dock lines were hastily rerouted . While the maneuver worked, it also stretched the #2 spring lines such that the hull shifted six feet south.  That shift placed the dock-fixed gangway over lifeline stanchions,  promptly bending one. 

Bryan making a tugboat hitch
of the stern quarter line over its bitt.

Dave Brennan and Tony Marchesani
overhaul the #2 lines to their
 proper deck cleat



 
Spring lines askew
and a-tangle.
Hands restored order.








So now the remaining hands faced the task of maneuvering the hull north about six feet, to restore it's centered position below the dock-mounted gangway, eliminating the threat of another gangway/stanchion collision. The hasty actions the previous Sunday, created a spider web of cross-routed spring lines, and others made fast to different, not optimal, dock cleats. And so the remainder of us, spend the remainder of the afternoon, loosening, rerouting, doubling up, and at least once, bending on an additional dock line to restore order to the four systems, all aimed at stabilizing the hull against those three critical Yokohama blivits, to keep the head rig from scraping the dock, and the gangway centered over the deck. 

Mustering off, we all went ashore looking back on the several projects still needing attention, oiling the masts, slushing the masts, caulking the mast deck ring and reinstalling the main mast boot.  And then there's our skills to polish up.  line-handling, sail-setting, knots, watch-standing..
  It never really ends,, but there-in lies the fascination,,, if you're drawn to Tall Ships.


And finally, a Fairwinds wish to shipmate-volunteer,  Petty Officer 3d Class Logan Day, USN, who in next couple of weeks will ship off from his Naval Nuclear Engineering school just up the river to a couple of additional short courses up north before taking station aboard a Nuclear Attack Sub in Groton, CT.   Keep us informed, Logan, You've always got a berth aboard. 

Friday, February 9, 2024

Attending Tall Ships America (TSA, formally ASTA) Annual Conference now in the Annual Bucket List

 Well, Wow.  I've been missing out! 

 Davis and I just completed our  attendance of the 51st TSA Annual Conference.  This three full day Conference was held at the Maritime Conference Center outside of Baltimore. Around 160, maybe more people attended, representing most of the tall ships on both Coasts and some in Canada.  Attendees were Captains, other deck officers, a few crew members, Educators, Board Members, Company reps who support the industry. 

I'll add the organization's website at the bottom of this blog entry. You should take a look. 

This was my first TSA Conference.    Given eight years of deep involvement with Spirit of South Carolina, and other Tall Ships, I  had known of it for several years. But not being licensed, nor a professional mariner, I didn't see much of a point in spending the bucks to attend. Up until COVID, Spirit of South Carolina had been an Organization-level member. That would give us status as "crew".  It's still possible, but until our member ship is restored, some features are beyond us.

 I had learned from shipmates that membership included access to a "Billet Bank", a bulletin board for ships to post "positions available" and for mariners to search , and advertise themselves.  The organization's website is a portal to a decent inventory of professional articles, planning templates, training opportunities. 

 Other online resources available to members thru the organization's website are adequate, and recently the organization has been actively adding to them.  For instance, in one workshop all about preparing for Shipyard, attendees conversed on lessons learned, shared tips and techniques, dealing with contractors, vendors, suppliers,, and  warnings. All agreed on the need to post a best practice Project Plan template onto the website for easy access. I know we could've used one last year. Expect to see some contributions there in the near future.

But most of all, by far, attendance was your invitation into a special community. The networking, the sharing of insights, experiences, advice,  was easy and natural. The atmosphere was like attending a huge reunion, and being pulled into it like an old friend.  I reintroduced myself to Hank Mosely, who, 15 years ago was Mate on the Schooner Virginia when I shipped aboard as "guest crew", basically a paying passenger. From that moment on it was like we'd been shipmates all along. Just about all attendees knew Spirit of South Carolina. As a sailing vessel, she's got a great reputation.  Post-session social activities ensured that the camaraderie extended well into the evening. In fact, there's a snippet video involving me and Kareoke that I'd rather would disappear.  

But,, I won't lie, the most fun part was:

The Maritime Center's Bridge Simulator 

Davis at the helm trying to  thread the needle...



..between an oil rig platform to starboard, and a burning Car carrier,
 in a cross-wind gale, in a snowstorm,
in middle of  Baltimore Harbor.  

.. while I stood outside, in the snow, 






smirking and pointing at all our conference shipmates "coaching" 

Of course the sessions, keynotes, workshops.  None disappointed.  You'll be getting take-aways from me over next few weeks .They are listed with their synopses on the Conference Blog, accessible through the website. 

The TSA Website:  Tall Ships America Home page

The 51st Annual TSA Conference:  Conference Page: Agenda, Attendees, Resources


Sunday, February 4, 2024

Saturday Ends a Phase, and Begins a New one.


After last Monday's (January 29) Training Sail, Volunteers have been waiting to hear the announcement for the next Training sail. That didn't happen this week. As this last weekend approached, it was made clear from the Project Manager's office that a date for the  next sail was not yet confirmed.  

In other news,, Bryan and Capt Davis met  Friday, with Carin Bloom of Middleton Plantation to explore ideas for creating educational programs for dockside or harbor cruises around historical themes. The meeting was constructive in identifying specific ideas and steps to take 

In the meantime, Volunteer Coordinator Bryan Oliver broadcasted to volunteers a  normal Saturday Volunteer Day to be executed on the 3d. And so, a group of stalwarts, Tony Marchesani, David Brennan, Ken Fonville, Walter Barker, Alex Lyashevich, Bryan Oliver, and Dallas Spencer mustered on deck  to advance some projects. 

Dallas Spencer adjusts the lashings
on the small boat's new "pudding" bow fender  
Dallas, had taken on as some homework, the project of creating a "pudding" a large rope-woven fender for covering the bow of the inflatable small boat. Dallas started his fitting and rigging up of the pudding on the small boat.  Remaining volunteers rigged up a bosun's chair to send Bryan aloft on the foremast to sand off the remaining grime.  

Bryan cut his time aloft short after a 1/2 hour, and reached the deck, as Capt Davis was gathering  the rest of the volunteers to deliver his news. He would be transitioning out of command of the schooner, as Captain, over the next two weeks. The Project Manager had determined that with Mission accomplished in the preparation, training for, and securing of the Certificate of Inspection, under the leadership of Capt Davis,  it was time to transition to a new phase of training for sail and programming.  The Board and Project Manager were now to begin the search for a new Captain with the requisite experience to take the schooner into the next phase of operations.  

In this interim, two separate efforts are being developed: One is the search for a new Captain to take the schooner into the next level. The second, more germane to volunteers, is the development of dock-side and harbor-sail-based educational programs, that can be marketed to the public.

In furtherance of that effort, Capt Davis and Bryan have made the trip up to Maryland for the Annual Tall Ship's America Conference, 4-7 February, in effort of gathering tips, advice, expertise in building educational programs, sailing expertise, and leads for a new Captain. Bryan is expected to return later this week, while Capt Davis will return to the area around 11 February.  A new phase, begins, consisting of continued sail training, and development of educational programs for dockside and Harbor cruises. Everyone is invited to participate, lend their talents, and get involved.

 

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Back-to-Back Training Sails Sandwiching a Volunteer Day- Whew.


On three out of the last five days, Spirit of South Carolina felt the energy of a volunteer crew muster aboard, twice to cast-off lines, take her into the harbor and raise sail. In between those days, she got some care she deserved. Like a lathered up racehorse, gave her a long overdue deck wash, and a wipe down, and some fixin' up. 

Doug Hartley takes the helm one last time
 before sailing his own boat to the islands.

The first sail, last Thursday the 25th, didn't start out well-I'll be honest.  Flush with volunteers, more than 19, actually, with a few of them never-ever's. All of you who have been aboard and helped cast-off can appreciate the complex synchronized dance between the deck and the dock-line handlers, timed and  orchestrated by the deck-officers, requiring two-way communication all along the deck, instantly acknowledged and acted on. When it works it looks effortless.  When it doesn't, well....  I'll say we relearned some lessons. to be covered later. 

Todd Cole at the helm


The rest of the  harbor cruise was a successful motor sail broad reaching down toward Ft. Sumter, raising the foresail and jumbo, then jibing up-harbor toward the Ashley River simultaneously striking the jumbo and setting the jib,  tacking just east off the Battery, coursing  up the Cooper just past the Aquarium, dousing all sail and setting up for a portside tie up.  

Swinging over the Gangway

Danny Johnson,
Gangway Master


Head Rig Crew; Those of us remaining
after Lunch securing the jib.  
The docking maneuver was just about perfect, with the gangway setting operation appearing to tighten up with every execution. Danny Johnson's on-call cutting out of work to run the operation providing some welcome continuity. While crew adjusted all dock lines then laying out on the fore boom to harbor furl the foresail, Capt Heath took a headcount and rounded up sandwich making's as lunch. After a welcome break, a few volunteers regretfully departed early to get back to real-world weekday commitments. The remaining six mustered out on the head rig, and made quick work of harbor-furling both the jumbo, and the jib. 

The next day, Friday, came a message from Capt Davis of a Training Sail opportunity for the next Monday. Alrighty then!

Even with Saturday's disappointing volunteer turn-out would've been a good day to finish up the masts, sanding the last foremast section, starting greasing the mainmast and sealing the mainmast boot, but the darned fog and resulting wetness everywhere, ka-boshed both. 

Bryan demonstrating the Popeye
cross-grain deck scrub technique.
Tony starts to flake down the fire main.
Calvin gives the brightwork and cap rail
 a fresh water rinse, a luxury available dockside.

And so the five of us split up between disassembling damaged stanchions and lifelines, and "brushing down our racehorse;" scrubbing the deck- a much, much long overdue piece of basic hygiene for a teak decked schooner.  Switching over the pumps from "Overboard"(bilge pump) to "Fire Main"  and running out the aft fire hose, we thoroughly sloshed down the deck, bulwarks, furnishings and cap rail. With hard bristle brushes, scrubbed cross-grain,  the entire teak deck-followed by a squeegee and chamois wipe-down of the cap rail and brightwork.  By early afternoon we were done. 

On Monday, Not unexpectedly, given the short notice, nine Volunteer deckhands did muster; Walter Barton and sister,  Ken Fonville, Dallas Spencer, Tony Marchesani, Calvin Milam, Captains Jen and Jan, With help from Danny Johnson( old stalwart phone call away) to get the gangway off, and Matt and Christian, dockmasters to cast us off.  First things was a quick review of the four things identified that, combined, brought us misfortune on Thursday's cast-off.  Evidently, lessons were in fact, learned.  Cast off this time was flawless. 

With just us nine crew, it felt sort of hectic. First time ever we would be doing it all, with a bare bones crew. With barely sufficient time to coil and nipper-up dock lines, idlers immediately stood by boat falls to retrieve Calvin's push boat and our crew on the dock. Immediately set to dressing foresail for setting.  I'm sure all hands felt their stomach tighten a bit at raising the foresail with only four on each halyard. This time, with a thumping out-of-tune shanty, the pace of hauling was more measured and synchronized, and both peak and throat crews were able to hoist her  3 quarters up the foremast, before the Bo'sun ( that would be me) yelled out "Peak, make fast! hands to the throat halyard."  

Lines coiled and hung, close-hauled west bound,
 the crew takes a couple of deep breaths.

With seven lined up on the throat halyard she reached the copper sheathing at the mast top in short order. Dallas set the stopper knot, halyard made fast, and all hands lined up on the peak halyard to finish the job.    With all that, crew still had reserves to immediately lay forward to the jumbo, out on the bowsprit to cast off gaskets, loose the clew outhaul, run out the down hall, stand by the sheet, and with two on the halyard, take her all the way up the forestay.  Somebody with a camera would've had some good footage..

Dallas taking his trick at the helm,
steering west towards the Battery.





This time, Capt Davis cut the engine, and we enjoyed a real sail.. Wind NNW (Tony was estimating 15knots-were kicking up white caps. With just foresail and jumbo we consistently pushed 4 knots or more, following the same triangular course as the previous Thursday.  

This time we set up dock lines on port side, dropped sail and set up just off the fuel dock. This time, docking went flawlessly. Capt Davis judged current and winds just right, setting the schooner pointed north parallel and fifty yards off the fuel dock slowly slipping sideways directly up against the fuel dock.  Ken had to toss the #1 heaving line only 15 feet to Matt, the dockmaster waiting for it.  Crew stood by along the port rail with set and floating ball fenders and both fender boards to block the pilings. Once secured,  crew set to opening deck orifices while Fuel and pump-out hoses were handed across.  Within 20 minutes we had taken on about  75+ gallons of diesel and pumped out three holding tanks worth of nasty. 

All Hands portside, harbor-furling the foresail.

Lines cast off, Davis pointed Spirit of South Carolina straight ahead and we ghosted forward to our dock where Danny was waiting again with the same dock crew we'd just left. Again, the gangway was sent over and set up without a hiccup. By now it was after 1300.  After a short hydration break, the crew surged to the last tasks; harbor furling the foresail, and the jumbo. All Fast- All secure around 2 PM.  Realizing at that point we hadn't done any lunch, most of us hastily disembarked.   

 Just now reflecting, I think all of us surprised ourselves a little at how well we performed as a crew, and what we accomplished. It was busy, physical-as expected, but we demonstrated, as with other crew members on previous training sails, a steady progression to improving our ship-handling and seamanship skills, everyone.  We will feel sometime, in the near future,  a point in time when Volunteers can stand on deck together and take our schooner to sea, and and "wow, our students and guests, with a singular, memorable experience.  


Saturday, January 20, 2024

Third Saturday; Clear and C-C-Cold, But still another Good Day on the Water.

 As our lunch of East Bay Deli sandwiches was finishing up  this afternoon down in the Saloon, Volunteer Rick Washington ventured a question about what was it like surviving on board at sea on days like this.  Not trying to sound too enthusiastic, I related an exact example, six years ago this month.

 It was Clear and cold, in low 30's with a NNE 10 knot breeze, as we made the sea buoy on a heading East-by-South, bound  for the 65th Westing, about 700 nautical miles east, then to  bear off south to San Juan; aboard, a crew of Citadel cadets, sailors and one volunteer.   

On deck with the Citadel,
Jan, 2018 bound for San Juan

Does that sound cool?  Literally and figuratively?  Yeah, it was!  But warm and comfortable, as long as you were dressed for it.  Long-johns, under Carharts, and a wool sweater, a fleece pullover, then wet weather gear, tops and bottoms to keep everything dry, and sea boots. Smell of  Chef Hunter's chicken  enchilada's coming up out of the Galley, a little spray hitting you in the face if you were on forward lookout. As long as you dressed to stay dry, you were plenty comfortable. Natural insulation of the ocean below the waterline kept below decks at a tolerable 60 degrees.

Two days later, being forced more southeasterly than desired, we were in T-shirts.. Weather patterns were heading us and... but I digress.

Today, seven of us, Tony Marchesani, Dave Brennan, Dallas Spencer, Walter Barton, Alex Laya,  Rick Washington, and myself, and a new volunteer possibly, I'll remember his name.. all dressed appropriately, at 0900 piled  below into the saloon with Capt Davis to organize for some priorities. On deck we had a brand-new half-awning already delivered and rigged up on port-side of the fore boom. It needed to be down rigged for the oncoming winds, but more importantly, we needed to create a documented procedure for rigging it, labeling components and stowing it with instructions.  

Capt Davis had another priority to set in the mix.  Our newly modified gangway now included a drawbridge style ramp extension to the deck, and a modified hydraulic jack for taking weight of the dock-end of the gangway.  We needed to practice the drill of both setting up the gangway, and taking it off. 

And so we divided into two groups.   Bryan, Tony, and Dallas organized around the project of inspecting, marking, taking down,  stowing, and documenting the procedure of up/downrigging the new awning.

Tony and Dallas neatly folding
 the new awning for its stowage below.
Dave, Walter, Alex, and our new Volunteer, joined Capt Davis on the dock to organize the drill of dismantling the gangway and swinging her back onto the dock, then reverse the procedure.  

The awning crew finished up their project first in time to lend hands to the gangway crew as it began a timed rehearsal of the process.  As Davis set his stop watch, the gangway crew took stations at the  falls, and dock side, and on-deck ends of the gangway.  While  deckhands unhinged the drawbridge ramp and walked it up the gangway to the dock, the falls were taken off their belaying pins and hauled tight. Dock side hands staged the lift jack under the gangway, taking the weight of the shoreside end, enabling one hand to slip the hinge pin out, freeing the deck-side end for lifting and swinging out. Still fixed to the jack, the gangway was rolled back, supported by the falls on the other end, and swung around to rest entirely on the dock. Falls were released from the gangway and swung back aboard. Dockside hands rolled the gangway to it's stowed location, and secured the Jack.  All done. ready to cast off. 

Dave, Tony, and Alex easing down
 the drawbridge ramp of the gangway.

Well, that would've been nice, but now the gangway had to be swung back over onto the deck and secured.. if nothing else, so hands could come aboard with the  bag of East Bay Sandwiches just ordered.

All secured, the gangway in position. The new port-side awning, and it's unfinished other half, stowed away in a forecastle berth, crew passed out sandwiches, while Bryan and Capt Davis recounted their most constructive lunch the previous Thursday with Volunteer, Wayne Burdick and spouse, Joyce Haverly.  Joyce is a watercolor Marine Artist, with a large social media presence, who had been "googling us up", analyzing our online impression.  She had a lot to say, and a lot of ideas to offer, sufficient to light a fire under my own butt, and help focus both Capt Davis and myself on some immediate priorities, to get our online visibility, and personae  well visible and working for us. Capt Davis already has a handle on our Instagram account.  Our website is in development, but online as a pilot, mostly shell,, you can check it out here for another few days before I take it down for more work.  Comments welcome.

Our Facebook remains a challenge. Largely defunct for 3 years, we are having to rebuild from scratch our access and administrative rights, due to two layers of disappearing administrators with usernames and passwords. Hopefully we can catch a break with a clue somewhere to gain admin access without starting a months long "break the glass" process. 

Looking forward, the watchword is Sail Training;  Three Sail Training Opportunities to be scheduled on SignupGenius hopefully over next couple of weeks.  All Hands.. The weather forecast will give some hints when they could happen.  Notice may be short, so watch for emails, from me or SignupGenius. 





Saturday, January 13, 2024

2d Saturday of the Year; Crew refocuses on overdue maintenance priorities.

 Saturday's Volunteer Day provided an opportunity to return to a familiar combination of ship's maintenance and building/refreshing deckhand skills.   Walter Barker brought along a new volunteer prospect, Bree, along with a most welcome casserole for lunch. 

Nate Mack working under the
 Mainmast boot looking for the leak

 Alex Laya, and Nate Mack took on the sleuthing of searching for source of the rain leaking around the mainmast into the saloon. The work entailed first creating pools of water around the base of the main mast, to identify the source of the leak


Alex Laya contorted around the mainmast
 boot cleaning grime off the top seal.



Next,  remove the lashings securing the  heavily painted  canvas mast boot, and lifting the  bottom up and away from the base of the mast and its wedges. ..and then searching for wet areas that might indicate leaks. 
While some deterioration of the canvas rim fastened at top of the mast would all small amount of water in, it didn't seem to cause the amount filling down into the saloon. The most proximate cause concluded was a separation between the mastboot ring, and the teak deck.   Nat and Alex made decision to tackle both.  Cleaning the grime off areas surrounding both top and bottom canvas boot seals, they dried it, and sought out the promised canisters of Teak Deck caulk. To Bryan's chagrin, all four cans purchased just over two years ago, had cured inside the canister and were hard and useless.  Fine print on canister mentioned a shelf-life of 18 months.  We were six months beyond it. For now an order thru Amazon would have to make up for lack of stock of any chandlery's in town.                       


Lexi Fine on the Foresail gaff
 unshackling the throat halyard
Returning volunteer Lexi Fine, and Rick Washington helped Bryan Oliver rig up bosun's chairs on the fore and mainmast in anticipation of laying aloft to sand/slush masts if the wind would die down.  

As they waited for that, the same trio teamed up to clear more rigging hardware out of the forecastle berths, and move them into the Lazarette. 







Wayne Burdick came aboard and took over the project of drilling out and reseating the strut of a bent bronze stanchion on the starboard cap rail.

Wayne measuring out new drill
 holes for the stanchion strut.

Dave Brennen adjusting steering
 in Capt Davis's Pushboat.
Dave Brennan assisted Capt Davis in bringing his skiff around to the side, and trouble-shoot some engine issues. 


Lexi Fine and Rick Washington on the head rig,
 tightening the jumbo lashing.
After a lunch of Walter's southwest style casserole, Rick, New Volunteer, Bree, and Lexi walked the deck with Bryan to practice their line handling and coiling skills on the pin rails.  As the last task of that session, Lexi and Rick lay out on the bowsprit to take slack out of the jumbo downhaul, running it back through the entire daisy chain, securing it at the jumbo's clew.





Captain Davis and Alex Laya, finishing up the day.





At end of the day, gusty winds prevented going alot,, reserving that project for the next session. Passed expiration dates and dried out caulking canisters prevented the sealing around baseplate of the mainmast, setting it up also for a subsequent volunteer day project. sooner than later,