..And That Record Lasted One Week

Last week's Best Volunteer participation since 2013 was smashed  when 14 volunteers came aboard Saturday.

Volunteers Layne Carter, Bryan Oliver, Pearson Chesney,
Dan Maurin, Ken Fonville, Gary Pope,
 crew member Daniel, Darren Casale, and Chuck Waring,
hands warm in pockets, listening to the Captains
 instructions for the day.

Cold high 40-degree temps and damp overcast didn't discourage 14 volunteers who mustered on deck at 0900 Saturday morning. Reinforced from a quick trip below for a cup of Hunter's hot coffee, the ship's company was ready on time when Capt Dan Cleveland took charge.  To not waste any time, he decided to forego the usual pleasantry of a round-the-horn self-introduction session, relying on the day's intense team activities to create the same effect. After a quick recitation of his plan for the day, Chief Mate Charlie took charge.  Crew and volunteers intermingled in separate tasks to prepare the ship for casting off.  Crew introduced and explained the sequence, jargon, and commands for swaying off the gangway, singling up, then taking in the dock lines and fenders.  Since all sails but the Jumbo had been sent ashore for repair, there would be no sailing, but there would be enough to do. That was the end of explanations. From then on it was total immersion in deck operations, and the operating tempo never slowed down. For the next four hours, crew and volunteers together, cast off and coiled all lines, and stowed fenders.

Bryan Oliver easing the jumbo boom lift
 while Gary Pope, Tim Geoghegan,
and Dan Maurin observe.

Once off the dock, they drilled on launching then retrieving the rescue boat- three times, and executing their first complete Man-Overboard Drill, recovering the ship's soccer ball in a respectable time. 

At slack tide, Capt Cleveland brought the ship around, and directed crew to prepare for a starboard tie-up. This time crew members stood back, coaching volunteers in laying out and making bowlines onto dock lines, and setting fenders.  Volunteer, Chuck Waring joined Charlie in the rescue boat to climb onto the dock and take lines.  Heaving lines were bent on to bowlines and coiled, ready to throw on command.  As the ship edged to within 30 feet of the dock, heaving lines were tossed, dock lines followed. The dock team used the heaved messenger line to haul the heavy dock lines across and threw their bowlines over cleats or pilings. On deck volunteers took up slack and made fast their end of the dock lines. Fenders were adjusted, in seconds before the hull came to rest against the giant Yokahama's (floating hard rubber barrels chained across the dock face. Crew and dock-side volunteers rigged up and swayed across the gangway and all secured.  Onlookers along the pier could never have suspected the smooth docking was operation was crewed by first-time volunteers.

Lunch break in the Salon

That was the first time crew and volunteers  likely took time to notice some savory aroma's wafting out of the galley hatch.  There were no stragglers in climbing down the salon ladder and lining up for a plateful of Hunter's Pasta and Sausage casserole and garlic bread.  

Chief Mate Charlie allowed a decent interval for lunch before mustering the crew on deck for some sail setting training.   The Jumbo staysail had been bent back onto it's fore 

Gary Pope hauls away the Jumbo
halyard while crew member Matt tails.

stay the day before, and was ready to be worked. Together, crew and volunteers worked through through two sets and douses, each time rotating stations, so each volunteer experienced the tasks of hauling, sweating, tailing, and belaying, and finally laying out together along the bowsprit to harbor-furl the Jumbo. 

With all secure, Capt Cleveland  gathered the crew, brought out some adult beverages to share and recognize some work well done. 

Ship's Company gathered at the end of a productive training day,
Back row; at the Jumbo boom; crew members' Daniel and Matt
Second row;  Ship's Cook-Hunter, Blake Scott, Ken Fonville,
Darryl Darby, Bryan Oliver, Gary Pope, Mate, Charlie Porzelt,
Front row; Tim Geoghegan, Darren Casale, Dan Maurin, Carter Edwards,
LayneCarter, Joe Gorman, Pearson Chesney
Not pictured:  Chuck Waring