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.