We'll Remember May 25; Spirit of South Carolina's Coming Back, and will have some new Allies.

 One of these days in the near future, say next six months, when we look back at these past several months, as Spirit of South Carolina after 2 years of sitting still, and finally, getting into shipyard to get well, I'm confident that we'll remember the 25th of May.  You deserve to get the full story, but it's still in the making. 

Just four days ago, I was privileged to join a small group of leaders from the South Carolina Aquarium, and our own Volunteer Deckhand and Ashley Hall crew alumni, Danielle Feerst, in making a business proposal to Tommy Baker. They were proposing an alliance to reenergize the waterfront between the Aquarium and the Charleston Maritime Center, creating a Maritime Heritage Attraction for the city, with Spirit of South Carolina as a focal point, in  keeping with her Mission Statement. 

As a result of that meeting, participants left with a renewed intention from Mr. Baker  to engage the Board of Directors in backing a new plan that would synthesize the strengths and assets of the Aquarium, hopefully, the International African American Museum, Spirit of South Carolina, and other maritime affiliated organizations around the harbor to create and sustain something vibrant, educational, multi-dimensional, larger than a dockside attraction, more interactive, and immersive.  

While it's early to share details while so many negotiations are under way.   I can say that I walked out of that meeting with a renewed energy.  Much stronger hopes than I'd harbored the entire past winter and Spring.  Tommy Baker gave me, personally, the strongest hope I've felt in a long time for a renewed energy and focus from the Board of Directors, in supporting a new plan an business model (researched and presented by Danielle) to get Spirit of South Carolina back into sustainable operations. So,, no.  She's not being sold. She's staying here in Charleston. 

That said, there's much to be accomplished along the way.  The first major milestone is for the schooner to regain her COI.  The prerequisite tasks are (Nothing new if you've been involved to this point- the difference is the emphatic voice by Tommy Baker to support it): 

• Complete the repairs necessary to enable Spirit of South Carolina to be launched and return under her own power to Charleston. (Expectation is she'll be ready to launch 30 June.)
• Complete the remaining repairs, and up-rigging, in Charleston to make her mechanically ready.
• Conduct a search for talent to take on roles of Business/Program Development, marketing, and fundraising.
• Hire a Captain(s), and Chief Mate, and organize and train a combination of paid crew and Volunteers to sustain daily maintenance and sailing operations aboard the schooner.   
• Train for and conduct an inspection cruise with USCG for a Certificate of Inspection which will allow us to host dockside events and take passengers aboard for cruises.

Spirit of South Carolina has already been approached by organizations who are interested in in using the vessel. 

So what's the role of volunteers?   Same as it's always been; maintenance and deckhand skill-building, but now with a renewed focus, and new levels of commitment  on projects, that we've been unable to maintain due to the distances of shipyard.  She will be a tour destination, a dockside and under sail educational platform, and will sail.  Volunteers can expect to take active roles in all three.

In two weeks, on the weekend of 11 June (Saturday-Sunday), there's a call for Volunteers to converge in Shipyard for a focused effort on tasks on deck and below, to make her ready to get back in the water.  A few of you have already answered the call.  We could use more.  There will be berths available for Saturday nite;  meals provided, as well as great shipmate comeraderie.  During the week of 5 June we'll finalize any ride sharing opportunities, and other details.  Respond to my email, or reach back to me via the email link in the Blog column to the right.