Small but Significant Ceremony Aboard Marks Return to our Mission

 Today on deck, Spirit of South Carolina hosted a small ceremony that marked a return, after almost two years hiatus, to her mission (stated in whole, further below).  

Over the past five months, two graduating high school seniors, Jonathan Bautista from Berkeley High School and Keshaun Holmes from Stratford High School, each completed 120 hours of service as Apprentice deckhands.  They were sponsored by the Harbor Freight Company's Apprentice Fellow's Program, whose aim is to enable youth to deepen their interest in and commitment to a trade, and deepen their practical skills and self-discipline as reliable-trusted members of the workforce.  The road to those goals was documented in a comprehensive development plan mutually agreed upon and guided by a mentor, in this case, Volunteer Coordinator, Bryan Oliver.  

And so, Jonathan and Keshaun laid in with other volunteers on Saturdays and occasional weekdays, learning basic deckhand skills, and working the the same maintenance projects, as other volunteers, but with the added dimensions of practicing the self-disciplines of the workforce that would make them attractive hires. In the course of that time on board Keshaun and Jonathan worked side by side with other volunteers as deckhands, picking up, as well as marlinspike skills, the lore and heritage  of Charleston's maritime history, and hopefully building a new perspective of the maritime industry, and its contribution  to the low country. While they never quite got to sailing, they did participate as deckhands for Spirit's engine Sea Trials in July.

This Saturday, they stood on deck among their families, their school educators, and fellow volunteer shipmates to receive their rewards for successful completion of their apprenticeship;  a check from Harbor Freight for $1500.  In addition.. Spirit of South Carolina benefited thru the gift of $500 from Harbor Freight for providing the platform for their successful apprenticeship experience.

The upshot of their experience should be a boost for Spirit of South Carolina. It raised her visibility significantly within a major School District (Berkeley County), generating interest in future collaboration to benefit their their students.  With the right marketing, and attendant publicity, it could further grow relationships with other districts and organizations. 

Thanks to the Volunteers present, Calvin Milam, Mikell Evatt, David Brennan, Danny Johnson and daughter Laura, Frank Thigpen, and John Whitsitt, who autographed a unique Certificate awarded to the apprentices by Bryan Oliver, attesting to their acceptance by their shipmates, and  by His Majesty King Neptune, as "Deckhand".

From the crew manual:  Mission of the Schooner SSV Spirit of South Carolina:

SSV Spirit of South Carolina is dedicated to honoring and curating the  Seafaring History and diverse Maritime Heritage of South Carolina by offering a unique educational platform for the people of the Palmetto State, in particular her youth.  Participants will experience programs designed around an interdisciplinary hands-on curriculum integrated with the history and literature of South Carolina and our relationship to the sea.  Just as important, Spirit of South Carolina will challenge and engage students with a unique Tall Ship experience which:

·       Builds Pride and a sense of achievement

·       Increases self-confidence and belief in one’s self

·       Encourages Self-reliance/independence

·       Develops Resilience

·       Exercises Self-control/personal discipline

·       Appreciates values of teamwork and cooperation

·       Respects and understands perspectives of others resulting in their own broadened perspective

·       Increases knowledge/awareness of different social groups and increased ability to bridge social differences

·       Fosters Organizational skills and time management

 

There is little that Man has made that approaches anything in nature, but a sailing ship does.  There is not much that Man has made that calls to all the best in him, but a sailing ship does.                                                                                           

 -Alan Villiers

 

USCG Certificate of Inspection Quest Reenergizes Volunteers and sharpens Focus on Priorities

Good News, of a sort, came from the offices of Tommy Baker this past week-the message being an intent to pursue the reissuance of a USCG Certificate of Inspection for Spirit of South Carolina. 

 This weekend, volunteers wasted no time in sharply refocusing on the priorities that will bring Spirit of South Carolina closer to the state of readiness for the day when Coast Guard Inspectors will board her. 

As a First Step; Monthly and Weekly Safety Inspection Checklists were resurrected after 18 months hiatus. These documents are regularly examined by Coast Guard inspectors. For the first time in as many months, Volunteers began an in-depth inspection of the vessels systems  documenting issues, and transcribing then to the ship's "Punchlist" for prioritizing and resolution.   Joe Gorman accompanied by Dave Brennan and new volunteer, Michael Huhns, started that project. The inspection process provided double value, as a sort of mariner's scavenger hunt; forcing volunteers into search for and mechanically test things in remote corners, that they had never thought of before, or otherwise took for granted.  13 different thru-hull ball valves were hunted down and exercised;  Fire Control Systems- likewise.   

The Bosun's Rigging Inspection Checklist; about 9 pages worth, led another team of volunteers thru similar challenges on deck in up into the rigging.   Calvin Milam and Frank Thigpen more than tripled their nautical rigging and fittings vocabulary in less than two hours while matching the checklist with look-ups in the crew manual for diagrams and glossary terms, and asking lots of questions.  

While a number of questions remain unanswered regarding mid and longer-term milestones or programs, the ramifications of regaining her COI opens up all kinds of possibilities.  It's a prerequisite for taking on any passengers, for dockside attractions to harbor cruises to longer off-shore programs. It requires new investments to return  the schooner to total operational capability; restoration of her liferafts and fire/safety inspections, with requisite issues resolved after two years of stagnation.

With iffy weather looming in the afternoon, the Inspection work cut-off after two hours, and Volunteers transitioned to addressing a critical component of the COI inspection; the Ship's critical Safety Drills;  Fire Fighting,  Man-overboard, and Abandon Ship.  This morning the crew started with Man

Coxwain Dennis lines up on the port bow,
 while bowman Nate steadies the smallboat's
 "pudding"(woven rope padding) against the hull. 

Overboard, and basic skills of launching, operating, and recovering the rescue boat.  Coxwain-for-the-Week, Nate Mack and bowman, David Brennen  were lowered over the side by rest of volunteers manning the boatfalls.  For the next half-hour the crew practiced push-boat techniques against the ship's hull, then transitioned to victim recovery practice with a basketball tossed over the side.  Practice was cut short by Hunter's announcement for lunch.  Volunteers manned the falls again, recovered and hipped the smallboat, then set up the hotdog picnic lunch across the salon butterfly hatch.   

That would cap the day, as the northwestern sky began darkening, so tools, checklists, and lines were all secured and stowed.  Both, Safety, and Rigging inspections, yet unfinished, were set aside for completion on the next Volunteer Saturday. 

Volunteers Keeping up with routine maintenance while planning for hurricanes and asking, " What's Next for our Schooner.?"

 Earlier this week, Volunteer Coordinator, Bryan Oliver put out the call for Volunteers who would be flexible to commit on a day's notice to muster on deck and cast off for our predesignated hurricane hole, should a named storm threaten the harbor. So far, nine have responded.  Hoping more may be able to join up as these situations start to materialize.  With no professional crew aboard, Spirit of South Carolina will rely totally on volunteers to see her to safety.  The task would be expected to consume most of a day, with select Volunteers remaining on board for  Anchor Watch, unless weather conditions dictate evacuation of the ship.  Old Salt's Chris Sosnowski and Reg Brown are standing by with transportation to get volunteer deckhands off the ship and back to Charleston, and return.  Board Member Hank Hofford  is standing by to offer chase-boat/tender support, and maybe a volunteer or two.    Many BIG Thanks to all who've stood up so far.  Here's hoping we dodge the bullet again and never have to get the phone call going.

Meanwhile, on deck, Several mustered aboard this morning.  Danny Johnson, and two, Dan Maurin, and Dave Brennan gathered up tools and headed down to the floating dock where Dory was sitting on her almost finished cradles.  Danny also returned with his celebrated Two-horned Alien-looking Turbo Fan to get air circulating around the deck in multiple directions.  

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He wouldn't say where it came from, but here's hoping the inventor has applied for a patent on the thing.  I want one.

Calvin Milam volunteered to take on the least popular project;  troubleshooting the aft cabin head that was unable to build vacuum for replenishing flush water. After a morning of cleaning, parts and seals switch-outs, plumbing pipe scraping, and operating manual reviewing, the problem persisted. Only one angle remains to be tried. Save for next week. But at least several months of stagnation,  the Aft Cabin Head is pristine.

Nate Mack started on the starboard Cap rail section that Keshaun had earlier sanded and scraped down to fresh wood, and prep it to receive multiple coats of D1.   Bryan, however,  diverted him for an hour to work with Mikell Evatt, and learn how to splice an eye into a couple of  two-fathom lengths of 3-strand that would be securing the two new, huge ball fenders brought down by Capt Hackett to reinforce our existing inventory for heavy weather.

With Danny Johnson's Dory cradles now complete and secured to the dock, Dan Maurin and Dave Brennan launched the dory and got in a little rowing exercise  inside the marina before stroking out of the marina to Spirit's port side to take some photos of  wear damage on her white topsides-candidates for spot painting.  The completed cradles provide a more secure, permanent, user-friendly stowage capability for the dory and her oars/spars, and fittings.  The new arrangement will allow a team of 2-3 deckhands to prep and launch the dory for rowing, or sailing. She will provide an excellent venue for practicing with students or other participants in the most basic aspects of seamanship and navigation.

And finally, over lunch, Volunteer Coordinator, Bryan Oliver briefed others on his efforts to date to get information flowing from the Board of Directors regarding the schooner's direction and priorities for the remainder of the year.

Deckhands enjoy a cold pasta, chicken and
 vegetable salad handed up by Chef Hunter,
 and a blueberry pie from Danny J.,
 while enjoying the turbo fan breeze blowing
 both port and starboard.

Dory Cradles, Hurricane Plans, and Gangway improvements bring Volunteers together on a Hot Saturday

 Is this the dog days of summer?  I should look it up. Maybe the "slog" days of summer. yeah, that's more like it. High temps/high humidity,, even the sea breeze feels a bit anemic. Best thing about the spotty squalls isn't so much the rain but the shade they bring.  

We happy few, we band of brothers,* who mustered Saturday  defied all that, and moved some things forward.  Danny Johnson, and later in the morning, daughter Laura, grabbed some help from Nate Mack and tackled his Dory cradle project which, when finished, will do lots for better care of the dory on the floating dock.  Mikell Evatt,  fresh from his Saturday morning shift across town, dropped by to help out.  Photo's of the finished product are coming forthwith.

Danny, in keeping with is usual remarkable volunteer recruiting streak, brought aboard a couple from Arizona, for a tour, and an offer to pitch in on a belaying pin oiling project, in return for picking various people's brains  for mariner advice regarding their recent purchase of a Lagoon 40 catamaran.  Later on, another blast from the past,  Tom Dignam just retired from his sailmaking business,  came aboard to look things over.  He'd been aboard years before with Danny Johnson as guest crew and was interested in reconnecting with the schooner.

 

Bryan Oliver awarding Keshaun
 his "Foremast Volunteer Pin
for 100 Volunteer hours.

Keshaun Holmes has been surging on volunteer hours lately, closing in on his 120, needed to complete his Apprentice Deckhand fellowship, put the final touches on the foremast boot, trimming off around the collar and setting the biggest turk's head knot ever, around fellow Apprentice Jonathan Bautista's sealing work at the boot's top. In doing so, Keshaun racked up over 100 volunteer hours,  rating him his "Foremast Volunteer Pin" only a few weeks after earning his "50-volunteer hours Jibsail Volunteer" award.  

Keshaun, installing the last letters
 on the gangway steps.

For his closing performance, Keshaun's last project was installing the new indigo-blue Ship's name letters onto the Gangway steps.  No simple task, you'll have to ask him all the angles he had to attack to get it right.

Jonathan had just completed his 120 hours, and is now focusing on starting a new working life with one of the Shipyards up  the Cooper River.  But he's not done with us yet. Possibly next Saturday, the 21st, we'll shoot for that date to have a little ceremony aboard, celebrating Keshaun's and Jonathan's completing of their Apprentice Fellowship, and award of their Grant from Harbor Freight, with their families, friends, and of course shipmates (all us volunteers).  

Hurricane Plan.  So far this summer, Charleston Harbor has dodged it.  Odds are only increasing when that named storm is going to blow up our coast.   Currently, our plan for the schooner is to have a decision made to cast off from the docks, and motor  16 miles up the Cooper River to  vic Brushy Creek landing to drop anchor.     Making that passage will require at least five deckhands aboard,  eight if we will be launching/retrieving the dory (likely).   

If you think you could commit to a 1/2 day or so, on a day's notice, to muster on board to deliver our schooner up river to a safer anchorage, Please text or email me, and I'll get you on our call-roster. 

Thanks in advance.

*William Shakespeare, from his play "Henry the V".  attribution.   I  just don't want to happen to me, what happened to Bob Caslen,  late President of USC.

Hot Summer Days aren't discouraging Volunteers from a day on the water.

Well, it's been a quiet two weeks around Spirit of South Carolina.. The 25 July Volunteer Day was cancelled due to your Coordinator's skying out to Newport Folk Festival for some father-daughter time - returning just in time to welcome a few stalwarts back on deck on a particularly soaking-humid, sticky roast-your burger on the dock-hot  Saturday. 

Danny Johnson brought along an ingenious contraption for moving air in opposite directions.. a portable fan with opposing exhaust stacks which he set up on deck. You 've got to see this thing. I shoulda' taken pictures. (actually I did,, caught part of it in the photo below )Hope he brings it back.  

The previous Volunteer Day,  in mid July, Danny Johnson initiated his own project to improve the stowage of the rowing/sailing dory, by designing and constructing a pair of cradles to rest permanently on the floating dock, and allow the hull to rest right side up, or upside down, AND enable the spars  and oars to be stowed horizontally underneath, on a rack. It's almost done, and will also make the launching and recovery easier. This past weekend, he, along with Calvin Milam, John Whitsitt, and Mikell Evatt advanced this dory cradle project thru the final trim and painting phase, customizing it in some ways.   Meanwhile, Jonathan Bautista, painted the third coat of white epoxy paint to the foremast boot, and sealed it to the mast.  

Bryan Oliver handing over to Mikell Evatt
 his Foremast Volunteer Pin

Over a welcome lunch, by Ship's Cook, Hunter, of some cold shrimp noodle salad,  Mikell Evatt was awarded his Foremast Volunteer Pin for surpassing 100 volunteer service hours.. only the eighth volunteer to hit that mark since the Program's resurgence in 2019.

Volunteer Apprentice Deckhands, Jonathan Bautiste, and Keshaun Holmes, recently graduated from Berkeley High School,  are finishing up their 120-hour apprenticeships this coming week. Their on-the-job training will net each a $1,000 grant, and $500 for the ship. We're hoping they'll return regularly. 

And, on a bittersweet note, our Volunteer, John Hart will be leaving us for Nova Scotia later in August for a six month stint aboard the barque Picton Castle, attending it's Bosun's School.  This is a unique curriculum aboard a unique traditional tall ship, known for the authenticity of its rig, and sailing culture. There's an earlier blog entry: Picton Castle- Tall Ship Chronicles Reality Show this  about Picton Castle, a reality series built around a crew member, and her several circumnavigations.  Quite a story.   John, I hope you'll keep us posted regularly on what you're getting out of that course.  Link to Picton Castle Bosun School