3 Volunteers advanced their deckhand skills aboard Spirit of South Carolina.

Ken checks his Stopper knot on
the Fore peak halyard while
Sean takes turns on the pin,

Ken Fonville, Sean Mcquillen, and Dan Maurin, spent an intensive day aboard Spirit of South Carolina  on Saturday, with Bryan Oliver and Ryan as Trainers and Coaches, practicing and demonstrating over 15 skills in the categories of line handling, Docking, Boat Checks, and Marlinespike Seamanship. For Ken and Sean, this was their second training day aboard, and they attained second sign-off on a number of skills, demonstrating their ability to perform those deckhand tasks without direct supervision; a prerequisite for selection to join the crew for day sails or cruises.

 Hunter prepared a lunch of Chili, Grits, and brownies. Captain Dan Cleveland  provided an update about upcoming programs with the Citadel Alumni cruise to St Augustine, and the Boy Scouts, and added a word or two about new crew members arriving soon, and the preparations required to support those programs (lots of work to be done). After lunch it was gathering around the rope locker, for making a few knots, and the foresail for  practice in tucking in a reef.  A brisk southerly wind across the harbor made raising and dousing the jib a risky job, but that didn't stop a climb out into the head rig to slap the jib halyard block and inspect mousings at the downhaul. 

Crewman Ryan with Dan and Sean in the head rig at the
furled jib inspecting the downhaul block.

This was the second Deckhand Skills Training Day since our Volunteer Corps began reorganizing, with several others already in planning over the next few months, interspersed with maintenance days; the goal being to provide Captain Dan Cleveland with an ample bench of Volunteer Crew to augment  the Ship's company as needed for day sails, cruises, and other on-deck activities.  Check the Volunteer Calendar for upcoming Maintenance and Deckhand Training Days.