Planned Sea Trial postponed for Weather. Wish her a Successful Sea Trial when it comes.

 Well, Capt Hackett wasn't far off at all.  He'd set his objective of having Spirit of South Carolina casting off for a mechanical Sea Trial by mid-month.   Last week, the electronics necessary to control and monitor the diesels were installed and tested. This past week, Raymarine technicians boarded and installed her navionics.  The schooner has been tied to the dock for the past 22 months.  And so, tomorrow morning,  was planned with a mostly volunteer crew, Capt Hackett, along with Capt Charlie Porzelt would have taken her into the harbor to exercise her systems and evaluate her readiness for a future, yet undecided.   Tropical Storm Enriquez is throwing a lot of wind against our dock Monday, so the trial has been  postponed.

To get her ready for trials, nine volunteers mustered on deck Saturday, the 26th, and immediately divided into separate projects, large and small.  Danny Johnson, and Layne Carver started by doubling all four dock lines; taking off the third lines, coiling and stowing in the forepeak.  Nate Mack and John Hart teamed up to retrieve 5 gallons of gasoline and refuel the gas tank on the small boat. Joe Gorman began an inspection of each of the 18 guy lines holding up the foresail awning, and re-securing them with slippery hitches, to ensure a speedy dropping and stowing on Monday.  Bryan Oliver, Calvin Milam, David Brennan, and Jonathan Bautista, gathered around the forecastle to work the problem of bringing up the massive Jumbo staysail that was rolled and stuffed into one of the berths. As a back-up plan, in case of engine failure, the crew would have the option of raising the remaining sail -foresail and Jumbo staysail, and sail back sufficiently close to the dock for warping in.

As dock lines were coiled and stowed below, deckhands laid in on the jumbo sail roll, using lift straps and concerted pulling and lifting, forced the canvas ball up thru the forecastle hatch, laid it out and dragged it forward up into the head rig, where John and Nate began lashing the luff to the stay. 

Bryan Oliver sets up the first lashing of the Jumbo
to the Forestay. Dave Brennan positions to
pass forward the Jumbo halyard.

 Calvin and David swung the Jumbo halyard forward to be shackled on, while Layne overhauled the jumbo sheet tackles and shackled  them directly to the Jumbo clew.  There would be no Jumbo boom rigged up for now.  Jonathan split off to cut and sew up a new canvas lead shot-weighted bag for a heaving line. 

Volunteer Coordinator, Bryan Oliver
 awards Jonathan Bautista
 his 50-hour Jibsheet Volunteer Pin.

Meanwhile, Hunter was making his usual culinary magic below in the galley. As projects wound up,  lunch was handed up.  But before the feast commenced, Bryan called muster, to recognize Jonathan Bautista for hitting the 50 Volunteer hours mark the previous week, and award his JIBSHEET VOLUNTEER Pin. 
 Following lunch,  Dave Brennan completed logging in his hours, and ticked off just over 100 volunteer hours total. That qualified him for  award of the FOREMAST VOLUNTEER Award.   Special thanks to Jonathan and Dave for all they've done to keep Spirit of South Carolina going.

At present, her Mainsail, Jib, tackles,  and spars remain entirely down-rigged for hurricane season.  But she will keep Jumbo staysail and foresail rigged. Given new ability to maneuver under power, and motor up river in event of a named storm, it's likely the Mainsail and jib will be up-rigged for shakedown harbor cruises.  

"From the deck" perspective, still awaiting word on plans for any haul-outs or COI renewals.