Advancing to ABS is picking up speed.

Spirit of South Carolina's readiness for her ABS Survey is measurably firming up.  Within these past two Volunteer Saturday's, all the known areas of inspection have been addressed.  Discrepancies noted, and if not yet resolved, (that being hatch gasket seals) are identified with a clear path to resolution. Life Line condition may be the only inspection item not clearly addressed, but will be this Saturday. 

In the meantime Volunteers cleared the Maintenance punch list of several issues, from simple to complex.  

Nate, and Stepdad, Tim adjust
the boot top into it's top lacing
 before folding it down for final
 adjustment.

Bryan demonstrates a flat stitch to
Nate Mack on the freshly cut
boot canvas. 

Nate Mack and stepdad Tim Brown stepped up for the most complex project:  taking off the old worn Mainmast boot, and using it as a pattern, cutting out, shaping, and reinstalling a new Mainmast boot. The project, along with some coaching from Bryan Oliver took from 0900,  thru 1500 when the second coat of white paint was applied to the finished boot.  Next week, will add a third coat, seal the top, set the turks-head, and trim off the bottom.

Calvin coaxes life back
 into the trash pump engine.

On the dock, Calvin Milam returned to his project with the seized up Trash pump, hoping the week's soak will loosen and clean out the residual scale.  Another hour later, volunteers on deck below heard that reassuring sound of a trash pump running under load, looking up at Calvin with a big grin and thumbs up. While Calvin successfully resurrected the pump, he discovered it's drain valve had sheered off, preventing the pump's ability to prime itself.. So now, a new drain plug is being asked for Christmas.

Tony Marchesani, and visiting volunteer, Alphonso, disappeared into the aft cabin bilge to further troubleshoot the aft head macerator. Unfortunately the hoped-for access to a shaft end that would allow manual rotation of the pump didn't materialize.

John Hart laid forward to complete stalling of the jumbo boom outhaul tackle, and seek out a temporary replacement block for the deteriorating/ rusting out turning block.  

Danny Johnson advanced the project of re-oiling/ preserving all the buffalo hide berth settee cushions,, completing the six in the main salon.

As most of those projects were wrapping up, Chef Hunter handed up the galley hatch a lunch of Shrimp and Grits,, you read it right.  His version for  open seas sailing on watch, that is, something that can be carried up a ladder in a bowl and consumed with one utensil. And, as usual,, with the surfeit of helpings he prepared, seconds were all gone.  Not to mention a pumpkin pie dessert, donated by Danny.

After securing from lunch, with insufficient crew to down-rig the foremast awning and set the foresail, Volunteer and recent Bosun's School graduate, John Hart proposed handing up the jib sail and rigging her head/halyard, tack, and clew tackles, furling, and leaving the luff hanks to next week.  To this suggestion volunteers readily endorsed and so it was handed up, worked forward and hoisted up.  The exercise took longer than expected with the inevitable twisting and re-running of sheets and downhaul and a disruptive onshore wind wanting to blow the whole thing into the water.  By 1700, canvas was tamed, furled and secured in the head rig netting.    

Volunteer Coordinator Bryan, happily handing
 over the Jibsail Volunteer rating to Tony Marchesani.

And finally, ending on a higher note, returning Volunteer Tony Marchesani  finished up the long day, accumulating over 59 hours,  qualifying for the Jibsail Volunteer Award. 

This is a nice pin by the way, and if you want one,, 50 hours of  volunteer time goes pretty  fast,, just ask, and another 50 hours will get you the rating:  "Foremast Volunteer" and all the added prestige that deservedly comes with it.

Another good day on the water!