SPIRIT OF SOUTH CAROLINA progressing thru her Haul-Out Punch-list.

And it's a pretty big one too, maybe a little daunting for some, but this crew and volunteers are "leaning their shoulders into the capstan bars," so to speak, and the work is getting done that will bring her back to Charleston strong, seaworthy, safe, and ready to take on her mission.
Three volunteers, Ken Fonville, Layne Carver, and Bryan Oliver, laid in with the crew for a total of 12 man-days, living on board, and advancing the effort.

Since last posting on the 13th, almost all projects on the Captain's Shipyard Punchlist are in progress, some actually finished, or waiting sign-off by the Inspector team.

Crouched in the Lazarette, Matt lines up the drill bit
 to drive a new hole for repositioning
a thru-bolt in the white oak floor frame .

All 16 of Spirit's Thru-Hull valves have been successfully disassembled, cleaned and made ready for inspection by ABS. 

The Thunderbolt Shipyard contracted a team to "tent-up" the ships bottom, and sand down the layer of red paint, chipping off barnacles, and essentially readying her for her new coat of bottom paint. 

All of her butterfly hatches weather stripping was pulled out and replaced.  The crew ranged out to local ship supply and hardware chains for spare parts and tools. Broken or missing hatch latches were replaced.  Suspect hull plank butts and edges were "reefed" of their sodden and compromised oakum caulking and prepped for new planking and caulking.  Eight plank lag screws, selected by Coast Guard Inspectors were uncovered and removed for inspection.  Selected hull planks, showing signs of decay or toredo worms, were marked for replacement; a Shipwright and team engaged for the work. The starboard propeller shaft strut was disassembled to allow for inspection of the shaft seals.

A shipwright team member chips out bung covers
to expose hull plank lag screws, in prep for removing damaged
hull planks.

Crew members also scraped down surfaces on the Samson Posts, quarter bits, and Mainmast fife rail, in preparation for applying the first coats of linseed oil.

ABS and Coast Guard inspectors are expected to return this coming Monday to examine planking, thru-hull hardware, and other components that required multi-step removal. If that all goes well, the remaining work of replanking and repainting the hull, remains the critical path of the project, not to mention making the Sync-Lift ready for use again, after it was taken off-line earlier this week.
Meanwhile, the crew has plenty to keep them busy.  Volunteers are welcome to lay in with them.  Come down for a day, or more. It's not that far away.
If you can help, contact the Chief Mate, Charlie, directly, at charles@spiritofsc.org or text 203-870-5739.

Spirit of South Carolina's Haul Out at Thunderbolt Marina to extend at least two more weeks.

 Spirit of South Carolina will be in dry-dock here for at least another two weeks, possibly longer, depending on how a few issues are resolved.  There’s a lot of work to be done, and if you’re interested, you’re welcome to come down for a day or two, or a week, live aboard ship at the shipyard, join the crew in working thru the projects, .

Thursday, 1st full day at the shipyard,
our practice was scraping the flaking bottom paint
 down to wood. White circles were Capt Clevelands
calling special attention to certain areas.

After arriving at Thunderbolt Shipyard, and being hauled out last Wednesday morning, the Shipyard took over, giving her bottom a power washing. While the crew was sent away to the crew lounge,, a luxury here not to be missed by the way, the Coast Guard and American Bureau of Shipping Inspectors spent the day with Captain Cleveland and the Mate.  Later in the evening,, yes it was a long day, Dan and Charlie came over to the crew lounge and made out the worklist. It was then we learned how much the goal posts had been moved.

Today, Friday's project was "reefing" the damaged caulking
out of the planking.  2d Mate, Claire using a
reefing tool and mallet to pry out old oakum.

Prior to departure from Charleston, the inspector teams had alluded to our Ships Officers that  they expect the work needed to be done on the vessel would take no more than a week,, hence everyone’s understanding that we would be ready to return to Charleston this coming week. 

That is no longer the case. During the inspection, a small number of planks were identified as suspect, and might likely have to be replaced.  This will require the contracting of a Shipwright and team to do the diagnosis and work.  It will create a domino effect to other projects, such as the crew’s “reefing” out old leaky seams and re-caulking with oakum.  Prepping and repainting the bottom.. a 4-day project done by the shipyard. The ABS Inspector required that ALL 16 of the ships thru-hull valves be disassembled for inspection.  Those and some other issues raised, would essentially push everything back another week.  However, the Shipyard announced that at the end of that week, they were shutting down their Sync Lift, for scheduled maintenance,  the apparatus that raised the  schooner and put her on rails for dry-dock. That will further delay our planned return

So, If no further surprises result from inspection of hull fasteners, Spirit of South Carolina may return as early as end of the month.

Meanwhile, there's another project to replace all the
 weathersealing under all the butterfly hatches,
 mandated by the ABS Inspection.

Here’s where you can help, if you can.  Respond to this email or send a text if you can. I’ll put you in touch with the crew.

Hunter's laid out the table for a barbecue dinner at the Crew Lounge

The crew will lose half it’s strength in the next week.  But there are plenty of essential projects, unique to Traditional Sailing ships, that need  finishing.  They run the gamut but include work around her hull, rigging, deck fittings, mechanical troubleshooting.  The work is done on an 8-9 hour work day, starting at 8 AM after breakfast.  You’ll be working alongside a great crew,  appreciative of your willing to help, and eager to share skills.

After the work day, the crew has been regularly retiring to the Crew lounge, where Hunter has been taking advantage of a nice grill  and large patio to prepare alfresco dinner, while crew enjoys the large Jacuzzi,  refrigeration for our beverages, a pool table, free wifi, and, oh-yes. AIR CONDITIONING. I’m sitting here as I write this.

Somewhere in the near future, her inspection issues will be resolved and the Shipyard’s Sync-Lift will be back in service. Spirit of South Carolina will need crew to bring her back to Charleston.

Spirit of South Carolina Hauled Out at Thunderbolt Shipyard, Savannah for Biannual  Inspection.

Tuesday, 10 Sept, Spirit of South Carolina cast off at 0530 hrs with a crew of 8, motorsailing down the coast, making for Wassaw Sound in Georgia, and the entrance up the Wilmington River to Thunderbolt Shipyard. 

Deckhand Catie  frees the fouled anchor
burton falls from the shroud as crew rigs
starboard anchor for possible dropping
 as Spirit of South Carolina crosses
the bar at Wassaw Sound.

By 1930 hrs, she had felt her way over the unmarked shoals at the Sound's mouth, wound her way up the River and at 2200 hrs, safely tied up to the Face dock  at Thunderbolt Marina. After a short night's sleep, the crew  mustered at 0715  reset docklines and fenders, and maneuvered her into the Shipyard basin to the Sync Lift, where she was lifted onto dry dock. Almost immediately, Coast Guard and American Bureau of Shipping Inspectors boarded and began a day-long intense and deep inspection of every component of the schooners' structure and systems. 

Spirit of South Carolina almost completely
raised into dry dock, as Shipyard
workers monitor progress

Spirit of South Carolina high on the rails,
her bottom being power-washed to knock off  barnacles, and sea-life
in preparation for inspecting planks, fasteners,  and rudder

After a conference with Captain Dan Cleveland and Chief Mate, Charlie Porzelt, the two developed a Work plan, and briefed the crew on priorities for the next week.  They will include pulling and inspecting each thru-hull valve, inspecting, pulling out and recaulking plank seams with tar and oakum, removing and replacing soft planks identified along the waterline, pulling and inspecting keel bolts and  selected plank fastenings. scraping and repainting her entire bottom.  The projects are expected to extend well into the following week, depending on contracting issues, and materiel supply.

Spirit of South Carolina set to Cast off for Savannah and her biannual Haul-out inspection, Tuesday 0430.

As I write this on deck, the temperature is finally dipping below 80, and the breeze thankfully moderates the preceeding misery of the entire afternoon, as crew  worked about the deck hanking on headsails, provisioning, and making the vessel ready for her delivery to Savannah in the morning. Capt Cleveland is hoping to cast off at 0430, taking advantage of a flood tide, little or now current, light winds, and no traffic, to stand us out to sea, then a course directly to Wassaw Sound, and up the Wilmington River to Thunderbolt Marina.. hoping to arrive by 1800 Tuesday.  She will haul-out at 0715 the next day, Wednesday, then crew will lay in on a number of hull and other maintenance projects while hull inspections are conducted.. If all goes well, the Ship will be splashed and  set off either the next Tuesday or very early Wednesday for a  Wednesday arrival at Charleston.  Volunteers are welcome to come down to Savannah and live aboard with the crew and lay in on our projects.  Also welcome to join us for the delivery back to Charleston.  

Contact Bryan Oliver, Volunteer Coordinator. 314-409-0433  bryan@spiritofsc.org

Volunteers join Spirit of South Carolina's crew  at her Hurricane Anchorage on the Cooper River to weigh her anchors and motor back to Charleston

Things seem to happen fast these day, and the throwing in of a Hurricane only interjects plenty of variables that never seem to  be resolved until the last moment.  

Volunteers and crew motor out of Bushy Park Boat Landing,
bound for Spirit of South Carolina anchored
over a mile distant in the Cooper River

Ken Fonville, with Chief Mate, Charley Porzelt strain
at the windless to break  the anchor free of the mud,
 and lift it to the cathead.

So it was as Spirit of South Carolina's planned delivery to  Savannah, on Labor Day. Over the past two weeks, you Volunteers  continually responded to calls for help, then reacted to delays. Next it was the hurried decisions to move her up the Cooper River,  for more protected waters, itself delayed then reestablished with little notice. With each shift in plans, you all responded to calls and did your best to juggle real life work, families/  Just this past Friday, with less than a day's notice, the call went out...again, for Volunteers to man her decks, pull up her anchors and move her back to Charleston.  And again, many of you responded, in doing so, whether you could come out, or whether conveyed regrets  you demonstrated a motivation to help, to be part of the ship's life and success..   To all of you who have responded. I salute you for your support, and look forward to the day you'll be aboard.

At noon on Friday, while the coast and families were just recovering from Dorian, three Volunteers were able to cut loose and join the crew aboard to do the work of breaking her two anchors loose from the Cooper River mud,, then move her the 16 miles back down the river and dock her. Bryan Oliver, Jonathan Shew, and Ken Fonville crowded into the Ship's inflatable small boat along with the crew to climb aboard and start the work.

Volunteers manned the windlass  to crank in 2 shots (180 feet) of  anchor chain, and haul in the same length of anchor cable.  The return motoring was uneventful, but on approach to the dock, tide, wind, and current conditions proved contrary to forecast, upsetting our docking preparations.  Capt Dan called a "Crazy Ivan", which required the crew and volunteers to quickly shift all docklines, heaving lines and fenders to the opposite side of the ship.   Warping  the vessel up to the dock and finally securing all, undoubtedly raised up a feeling of relief after a physical day.  Volunteers and crew stood down for  some well-deserved refreshments.and a day off, with plans to ready her on Sunday for possible sail to Savannah.

Spirit of South Carolina approaches the Ij-526 bridge over
the Cooper River

Spirit of South Carolina at a Safer Anchorage for weathering Hurrican Dorian

This morning at 1000 hrs, Capt Cleveland executed his decision made late the previous evening to cast off from the dock at Charleston Maritime Center and motor the Schooner up the Cooper River 16 miles to an anchorage in vicinity of the Bushy Park Landing Site. By 1500, she was safely swinging on both anchors.  Crew would be spending first night aboard, closely monitoring boat check, specifically, bilges, and anchor checks.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Spirit of South Carolina's Planned Savannah Delivery superseded by threat of Hurricane Dorian.

Record number of Volunteers converge  to prepare her for the coming storm.

First -timer, Danny Johnson, Chuck Waring, Jonathan Shew, and Old Salt, Joe Gorman answered the email call for help, joining the crew on Labor Day, for an intense day of work preparing Spirit of South Carolina to weather the imminent onslaught of Hurricane Dorian.   From the number of regretful responses, were it not for prior commitments, and short notice,several additional volunteers would'have been able to add to the effort. 

Volunteers, Bryan Oliver, Jonathan Shew and  Crew member Catie
 prep to de-rig the Jib sail just before getting smacked
by the squall building over their shoulder.

As it was, there was plenty to do.  After a quick Muster, Volunteers split up under leadership of professional crew members to simultaneously tackle a number of projects.   First, The small boat was swung up and hipped on the starboard rail. Next, the teams began with down-rigging, rolling up and stowing the awnings, followed by the  sail covers lashed over both head sails, fore and mainsails. Crew and volunteers replaced sail covers with a tight spiral lashing over the fore and mainsails to prevent high winds catching the leach and blowing them out. Another  Crew/Volunteer team spread out along the bowsprit to double up sail ties on the head sails.  Their work was interrupted by an intense squall  that drove them off the bowsprit, soaking wet, into the Salon for a short spell until the gale dissipated. Back out on the bowsprit, they cut the lashings on the hanks, and using the halyards as a hoist, swing the tightly wrapped headsail "sausages" back over the foredeck, for securing against a bulwark. As that work was being completed, another team broke out and tested the newly purchased Trash Pump. 

As that was being completed the remaining teams converged on adjacent floating dock where the Sailing Dory rested, having just been down-rigged by the Chief Mate.  Now, in a carefully executed series of maneuvers orchestrated by Captain Cleveland, one team lifted the dory, flipped it over, and maneuvered it up across the water and over a high dock rail where another team caught it, swung it around and walked it to the Schooner's  midships cap rail where another team waited to receive it and lower it onto the port side deck. Now all teams gathered for the finale, flipping the dory bottom up, they positioned chocks under neath, installed gripes and chafing gear, finally lashing  her securely to the deck. 

As real-life jobs and home disaster preparation priorities pulled Volunteers away,  Spirit's crew finished up and cleaned up.  Next decision on everyone's mind  would come the following morning; the one to cast off and motor to a safer anchorage, or sit tight.