Volunteers swarm four different projects, wish Chef Hunter Bon Voyage home to family for the holidays; Two Volunteers make the 50-Hour milestone.

 The December morning chill this past Saturday did not dissuade, nor did the 10 knot brisk northwesterly blowing down the Cooper River discourage their determination. Nossir!  

Fourteen Volunteers mustered amidships on Spirit of South Carolina Saturday morning with masks and distancing to team up on four separate projects that needed to be advanced.  By day's end, two Volunteers had surpassed their 50-hour Volunteer-hours milestone.  Four others, newly recruited, had added at least six new deckhand skills to their repertoire and with their first-day achievements,  begun a bonding with the ship-as have many of us.  

After quick introductions, instructions, and a reminder from Capt Dan Cleveland of the ship's COVID protocols, and safety standards, Volunteers dispersed to break out ground  cloths, rig bosun's seats and harnesses, measure out D1 oils and varnishes, gather sandpapering blocks, scrapers, and get to work 

Adriaan Zimmerman starts his varnish strokes
 around the Main shrouds

Calvin Milam working another
varnish coat around the pad eyes
on the cap rail.

Four of the volunteers were brand new to her deck. Danny Johnson convinced two, Adriaan Zimmerman and Brian Wylie to try it out. So, they took a morning off from their carpentry work to lay in  with Calvin Milam in the starboard quarter cap rail, tacking down and laying down a seventh varnish coat.

  

New Volunteer Charlie Malone, on a 60-day leave from his Merchant Marine billet, stepped away from moving into his new apartment to do the same with the taff rail, laying down her final coat. 

Lauren Acree, from St. Louis visiting her parents in Mount Pleasant, joined up with her Dad, Bryan Oliver, and volunteered to take a bos'un's seat ride up the foremast lining up with Laura Johnson and Madison Pulley to oil her down, top to bottom.

New Volunteer Lauren Acree  calling below
 to send up more D1 oil

Madison Pulley sets the pace at the foretop.

 Laura Johnson just below, and new Volunteer

 Lauren Acree start the work of

 oiling the Foremast.

Dan Maurin inspects for drip marks
just below the cap rail

John Whitsitt sanding and scuffing the
 outboard bulwark at the main shrouds

Saturday also marked the last day this year, that Volunteers would enjoy a hot lunch conjured up by Chef Hunter. He will be flying home later to join family for Christmas. Hopefully returning soon.

Volunteers enjoy some sunshine at lunch while downing
bowls of Hunter's  fantastic chili and rice, 

Adam Schaich and Mate, Charlie Porzelt
cleaning up the gunwales.

Once the topmen(women) were hoisted up and mast work was underway, Volunteers Danny Johnson, Mikell Evatt, Philippe Agafonovas, and Adam Schaich, alternated between tending their shipmates in the bosun's seats aloft, and  final sanding around the dory's gunwales.  Mikell brought back aboard a canvas bucket he was finishing up for a critique and guidance on "bolt-roping" the bottom. After lunch and securing tools and  coatings, some departed and some remained for practice in line-handling and knots.

By the end of day, two  Volunteers Madison Pulley, and Mikell Evatt had accumulated over 50 hours of Volunteer Deckhand time, qualifying them for the coveted moniker;  "Jibsail Volunteer". A big thanks for their commitment to the ship. They join six other volunteers who have achieved the milestone since the Volunteer Program was re-inaugurated 19 months ago.  Now, looking forward to recognizing  a whole lot more volunteers as they pass this milestone, an indicator of the priceless asset Volunteers have become to supporting Spirit's mission, and her survival.