Harvey Gamage docks and disembarks Ashley Hall student Crew

 Chief Mate Charley Porzelt, and Volunteer Bryan Oliver stood by at the Fuel dock at 1100 today to take lines from the Portland, Maine Schooner Harvey Gamage, as she took advantage of a rather slack flood current to effect a portside tie-up.  She had aboard approximately 20 students from Ashley Hall School in Charleston, who had boarded Wednesday in Brunswick, GA  for a 3-day passage.  As she slowed and set up to toss heaving lines, it was evident her student crew were in high spirits, having just braved 3 days and nights at sea in cold, blowing,rainy conditions.  We are confident their character has definitely built up some as a result.     

Friends and family and plenty of signage were in evidence on the dock as dock lines came over and we set to securing her. 

We didn't stay long, except long enough to introduce ourselves to the chief mate, extend our welcomes as well as an invitation to join volunteer crew on Sunday afternoon for a story swap, some refreshment and jerk chicken.  

Harvey Gamage and Spirit of South Carolina share some similarities and interesting differences. 

Both are wooden coastal schooners, built to represent mid-19th century sailing vessels, and both are schooner-rigged, with generally same hull design.  Both  are designed to accomodate approximately 30 crew and students.

 Harvey Gamage is older, being launched in 1973, from the same Bristol RI shipyard that built other notable tall ships,, Shenandoah, Clearwater, and Appledore II. She was built not as a replica of a past vessel, but representative of the New England Coasting schooners engaged in fishing or cargo trades. 

By contrast, Spirit of South Carolina was launched in 2007, over 30 years later, as an enlarged replica of an 1879 Pilot Schooner, Frances Elizabeth which ranged out of Charleston for 25 years.  She carries a taller rig than Harvey Gamage by 20 feet, and almost 1,000 more feet of canvas under full sail, reflecting the intention of her designer to be a fast, competitive vessel for the pilots who would take her to sea competing with other pilot schooners,  to find inbound shipping.

Harvey Gamage is scheduled to remain at dock until March 13.  She will be conducting some dockside venues and possibly a harbor sail or two during that time.  All are welcome to come down and take a look at her.

While docked her, both vessels hope to generate more public interest in their missions and capabilities, leading to organizing sailing and educational programs that will generate funding to continue their existence.

In that vein, Spirit of South Carolina has been laboring to "get well" after suffering the double whammy of COVID-19 canceling planned programs last year with the College of Charleston and  Boy Scouts, exacerbated  by a summer lightning strike that disabled her critical electronic systems. Reassuringly, in conjunction with the arrival of Harvey Gamage, the Executive Board overseeing Spirit of South Carolina issued the following statement this morning:

"After a devastating setback caused by a lightning strike this past summer, our team is diligently working with several companies to get the Spirit of South Carolina back to her full capabilities. The pandemic has presented additional obstacles with scheduling repairs, receiving shipped replacement parts and other logistics.  Although the schooner is still able to host dockside venues, the challenges of Covid-19 have limited many possibilities. It is our intent to get the Spirit's functionality fully restored and operational.  Along with her sheer beauty and rich maritime heritage, the Spirit of South Carolina will continue to educate and enrich all who admire her."