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