What literary or movie quote seems to fit our current situation?  

Everyone has a favorite movie quote. I'm sure of it.  They may be profound, moving, sarcastic, witty, dripping in irony,,, hopeful. Mine is the latter.
"..It's a mother-beautiful bridge, and it's gonna be there!"
Actor, Donald Sutherland's character, the hippie-like slacker-dude tank commander in the movie, "Kelly's Heroes," said that non-sequitur to his tank driver(Gavin McLoed).

So, last month, Captain Cleveland made a pronouncement on deck that,  somewhere down the road, when it was safe to do so,  Spirit of South Carolina will cast off and go sailing in the harbor. And she will be crewed by all volunteers.   Partly as appreciation for the amazing number of volunteer hours donated over the past several months, and partly to start training volunteers sufficiently to take on passengers.
Its something to look forward to, when all this passes.  I'm hopeful. After all, "It's a mother-beautiful bridge and.. c'mon, say it with me. "it's gonna be there!"

In the meantime. crew and volunteers haven't stopped.  With all the social distancing restrictions, the ship is losing opportunities for completing our winter maintenance priorities, training volunteers, and generating some revenue thru public day sails or other short-term programs. Nevertheless small things can add up.  Danny Johnson, Gary Pope, and Dani Feerst volunteered to build simple bosun's chairs, that will allow more than one crew member aloft for mast maintenance. Gary Pope also took home a bag full of rusty saws, and dulled scrapers, bringing them back restored and sharp... Big, Thanks, Gary!
Sean McQuilken, and Danny Johnson have been collaborating  with  construction sites for recovering still viable lumber remnants that might be useful for carpentry projects aboard.
Bryan Oliver just completed a small project - a napkin dispenser commissioned by Hunter for the Salon dining table., and before that, a canvas gasket bag for the line locker.
We're putting together a new crew manual. Any help offered here, in formatting, proofing, cutting and pasting, searching for clip art/illustrations. would be most welcome. Text me.
Varnishing of Cap rail and deck furnishings has somewhat abated only by the social distancing and subsequent reduction of brushes being otherwise wielded by volunteers.
Captain Dan Cleveland has posted a recent entry on the Facebook page; worth reading.

Spirit of South Carolina's Facebook Page

And if you haven't done it yet, take a look at Spirit of South Carolina's Video Playlist; an archive of older and newer footage sure to regenerate a bit of excitement about our future.  It's on a tab under the Blog title Banner.   Until then:
"HOLD FAST" (another movie quote, or literary quote).   Text me with the source and I'll treat you to a beverage when this quarantine is through.

Are you running out of Projects at home?  Try out these Suggestions.

Cabin Fever about to set in?  Frustrated at inability to get back onto Spirit of South Carolina's deck and pitch in on the to-do list, or  practice some of those deckhand skills, in anticipation for the next Harbor Cruise? ..and there Will be one.  Capt Cleveland has decreed the first cruise off the dock at the end of this affair will be for Volunteers.   

Here's a list  of  projects you might want to consider.  These are special in that they all fill directly, or indirectly advance the Mission of our Schooner.  By the way,, keep track of the hours you spend in these projects.  You will want to log them, once back on board.


Tool Maintenance.   

• Sharpen Paint scrapers and chisels.Our paint and varnish scrapers, plus other assorted edged tools are badly worn and dulled.   Others are rusted, and in need of clean-up. We need a volunteers who know how to use files and sharpening stones to sharpen edges.  This is a project you can do from your own home. Simply arrange with Chief Mate Charlie, or Bryan Oliver to "check out"  specific tools, along with the requisite sharpening files/ or stones.  If you have your own sharpening tools, so much the better.   Because these tools are frequently used, you should try to complete the work and  return restored or sharpened tools within 48 hours. 

Small Carpentry Projects:

• Bosun's Chair.   Construct a second bosun's seat, possibly a third, of pine or similar lumber, similar construction to the existing seat, only six inches longer, and 3 in wider.  If you can donate the wood materials, as well as construct the seat; that's preferable.. Otherwise, arrangements can be made to procure wood, fastenings and finishings.  Arrange with Bryan or Chief Mate, Charlie to coordinate taking lines off the current chair. for measurements. Illustrations of the existing bosun's seat, unrigged, is below.

Top view

Bottom view

Crew Handbook

• Join a team to Revise the Ship's Crew Handbook.  How are you with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or Excel?   No sailor experience needed. We have two "Benchmark copies of  other Crew handbooks to use as models.  Our job will be to transcribe relative content into our own new draft, and create or import illustrations/diagrams.  This will be a collaborative team effort, where we will divide the work between composition, layout, proofing, editing, and illustrating.  The current old copy is available to you by a clicking on the link in the right-hand column of the Blog. The content is 11 years old and orients on students rather than crew.  Capt Dan want's a version focused on value to new crew, both volunteer and professional (such as yourselves).   Contact Bryan Oliver if you can help with this effort. 

• Volunteer to Co-Edit  the Crew Handbook.  Coordinate other volunteers in the project of revising a new draft of the Seamanship manual.  Collaborate with Capt Cleveland, and Chief Mate, Charlie, first getting their vision and guidance as to the focus and content of the manual  Help organize  the  effort, of other volunteers; engage and consult with appropriate subject matter experts (crew, or literature), and draft new content.  Contact bryan@spiritofsc.org if you're interested.

• Master the Lingo - Nautical terms and definitions. You already know  the significance of this knowledge everytime you set foot on deck.  This is a good time to refresh and reinforce. The current Seamanship manual and other references listed in this blog are good resources.  If you volunteer to help revise the Crew Handbook, you'll pick up a lot by osmosis.  If you hit an obstacle, or point of confusion. email me at bryan@spiritofsc.org

• Make a list of suggested Revisions of the Spirit of South Carolina's Website. Start with some obvious shortcomings,, postings out of date, stale content.  But go deeper.  Research best practices, by internet search of other Tall Ship Websites for ideas, our use your own experience/expertise.  At some point, the website and it's administrator will  be accessible, and we should be ready with a  list of specific validated updates/improvements to apply.  Send your list to bryan@spiritofsc.org, and we'll organize a team to put this together. 

• Brainstorm a list of Fundraising Projects.  Generating revenue to keep the ship operational is, and will be, short term, a BIG priority as soon as our Public Health restrictions are raised. Send your idea list to me, and we'll organize a team to consolidate and refine, including 1st steps, and pass on to Capt Dan..

•  Practice your Deckhand Skills. Review your Deckhand Skills Checklist. It's available for download from this blog,, right-hand column,  Several  skills could be practiced at home with minimal tools or  references. Click on the "Books and Useful Apps" link under Links to References in the top of the right-hand column of this blog.  If you can't find a reference for a specific task, email me at:  bryan@spiritofsc.org.