Volunteers out-do themselves, and set some high (literally) bars for the rest of us.

Bryan points out Philippe's ultimate
 destination while Laura stands by
to help hoist.

This last Saturday, the 21st of November promised great weather.  What better conditions, and circumstances for going aloft.  Eight Volunteers mustered on the foredeck to take on a new level of team-oriented deckhand projects.  The two masts of Spirit of South Carolina were suffering  overdue maintenance, drying out due to sun exposure and weather. To fix it would require swinging someone aloft with sanding and scraping materials all the way to the top in a bosun's seat; then being slowly lowered down the mast, all the while swinging themselves around the mast, scraping and sanding down the weathering, splinters, and grime, making them ready for fresh coats of sealants and preservative.  And so our crew stepped to it.  Under Chief Mate Charlie's supervision, Calvin Milan, Philippe Agafonovas, and Madison Pulley rigged themselves into bosun's seats, to be hoisted up the foremast in sequence, with sandpaper and scrapers and instructions to scrape and sand down the surface as preparation for applying subsequent coats of DeksOlje D1.  Chief Mate, Charlie made last minute safety checks of harnesses and hoisting tackle. Then, one by one, Volunteers were hoisted up to different points on the foremast to begin work.  Charlie, and Laura Johnson, with Bryan Oliver tailing, sweated halyards to to raise each volunteer crewmember to their assigned position. Meanwhile, Mikell Evatt and  Danny Johnson were applying the final waterproofing steps to their completed canvas tool bags. 

Laura balancing on the
 Foremast Gaff Throat
while sanding down the
lower mast.

Chief Mate Charlie sands down
 the lower section, while
above him, Madison, Philippe,
 and Calvin finish up their
 assigned sections.

Laura took station on top of the foremast gaff with 80 grit sandpaper to reach the lower mast sections. Once crew were safely aloft, and between tasks of lowering the bosun's seats on demand to sand down new sections,  Mate, Charlie Porzelt joined Laura sanding on the lower sections.  

As waterproofing tool bags wound down, Mikell, Danny,  Laura, and Madison took advantage of the remaining minutes before lunch to carefully lift up the finished outer hull of the Dory, and fitted over the butterfly hatch to the opposite side of the deck.  

Meanwhile, Hunter collected contributions, and hiked to Harris Teeter to provision for lunch.  His efforts were notable, and always seemed to surpass his previous triumphs.  This time it was  Pork Loin Chop seared with a multi-spiced and creamed mushroom sauce reduction, Gruyere Potatoes Au Gratin, and a melange of fresh steamed vegetables.   There was nothing left.  

Laura, Mikell, and Danny
 team up on the Dory's grimy interior
 to make her ready for next paint coat.

As lunch concluded, some volunteers secured from lunch, and put away tools, rigging,, and trash. Laura, her Dad, Danny, and Mikell tackled the inside hull of the Dory, sanding, scuffing, and finally washing everything in preparation to painting her at the next Volunteer Day. 

The day was notable in a number of ways.. For first time ever in the ship's life, Volunteers laid aloft to conduct maintenance, a task usually reserved for paid crew.  With the increasing need for teamwork, safe line handling, and self-direction across a myriad of simultaneously ongoing tasks , Volunteers were exercising and demonstrating what they've learned in the way of taking care of the ship.  Not since last January had this ship experienced such a sense of purpose in the people aboard her...perhaps sensing that she once again had a real crew aboard.   I'm sure this crew of 8 aboard this Weekend had to sense the same thing.  Of all the 107 Volunteers currently in contact via the Coordinator's Master Contact list;  Here's hoping they take an opportunity to experience the same sense of being part of the Ship, here over the next few months. Volunteer Days will recommence on 5 December, with opportunities to lay in with the crew on weekdays, by confirming you're intent with the Volunteer Coordinator. 

A few more photo's are available on the Schooner's Volunteer photo album at the link above.

Aeralists Calvin, Philippe, and
Madison take in the unique views
while embracing the sawdust.