Saturday Morning brought up yet another new project for the Ship's Maintenance Punchlist.

First, things:  Welcome aboard to new volunteer, Frank Thigpen.  Frank first came aboard during our rather hectic last Saturday morning, which lasted only a few hours, but was seen early on laying in on the headsail halyard downriggin'.  Frank, hoping to see yourself back this next Saturday. 

The routine of a ship "in shipyard", or in winter maintenance, as Spirit of South Carolina currently lies, can sometimes appear to become a boring place. There are lots of projects to perform, some are excruciatingly repetitive, like varnishing and coatings. However, others add novelty, with opportunity to practice new individual skills, such as canvas repair(with sailors palm, or with sewing machine), replacing the foremast boot, or turning in an eye splice.. or working together  

A tall-ship's rigging is the bone and muscle of how she functions, and arguably just as complex,, and just as likely to wear out. Traditional sailing rigs tend to wear faster. As such, they need regular inspection and maintenance.  And so it was this Saturday morning,, the Chief Mate surprised volunteer crew with something new. Down-rig the Head-rig.  

While Calvin and Frank Thigpen secure the gantline,
John Whitsitt keeps watch on Charlie
 while he solo free-climbs aloft.

Translated,, completely disassemble all the lines and tackles operating the jib and jumbo sails from the foremast, and bowsprit/jibboom, lower them on deck, and inspect/repair tackles.  The project requires going aloft or out onto the headrig to cut seizings, mousings, unscrew shackles while not dropping tools onto the deck or overboard, and then safely lowering the freed tackles by gantline down onto the deck. 

Doing it safely, especially with a crew new to the task requires not a little preparation, explanation, demonstration, and rehearsal.  After walking thru the procedure with volunteers, Charlie secured the tools required to his belt and climbed aloft.

Charlie cuts mousings and frees
 the shackle holding the jumbo halyard tackle.

When its not flying the head of the fisherman sail, the foremast gantline acts as a utility line turning on a block at the masthead, and belayed port and starboard pinrails. Charlie bent the gantline onto the jib and jumbo halyard tackles, and volunteers lowered them to the deck.  To prevent the piles of line from tying themselves into gordian knots, volunteers flaked  them on the deck, then set about inspecting and sanding down the blocks for repainting.

The volunteer day ended at lunch this last Saturday. 

This coming weekend, and ongoing, as weather permits, we'll devote the afternoon after lunch to deckhand skills and drills.  Volunteers hoping to be asked aboard as crew, will want to be seen at these sessions.