Volunteer Ranks are growing- in Size and Seamanship

 This has been a year full of net positive's for the life of SSV Spirit of South Carolina. Since her return from Shipyard in Thunderbolt, GA, we've all been part of a steady, maybe slowly, but consistently forward progress. I won't recap that progress; it's all laid out in the last 12 months of blog entries. But will recap this.

Ken Fonville 2019
with a midshipman's hitch
 on the peak halyard

From 2019, when the Volunteer Program was first resurrected, to March 2023, There was a steady growth in the roster of volunteers who mustered aboard. I can remember the first,  Ken Fonville, who, four years, still musters for maintenance and sails, and contributes in other varied ways.  He was followed shortly by the youngest to volunteer;  Andrew Shook, nephew of  Spirit's second Captain, Ben Hall, on a work-study program in high school, Andrew was the first volunteer to go aloft-not even in a bosuns chair, but in a waist harness! He graduated High School and enlisted in the Coast Guard.  Now a full-fledged Cutterman, with a tour in Alaska under his belt, he patrols out of Jacksonville, and still visits the schooner, and pitches in on a project, when home on leave. 

Danny Johnson, center tallest,
 at Volunteer Appreciation Night 2019

From 2019 to 2022 the roster grew from 1 volunteer (me) to 35, of which 8 returned regularly.  Most of those 35 were recruited by Danny Johnson.  I've no doubt that everyone in his professional construction network, and his parish, experienced some kind of pressure to come along with him on board the schooner for a look around. 

In March 2022, Spirit of South Carolina started a 10 month period of exile, in Thunderbolt Shipyard. During that 10 months, Volunteers,  Andrew Shook, Charlie Malone, Dave Brennan, John Hart, Nate Mack, Dan Maurin, Doug Hartley, Reg Brown, Chris Sosnowski, all drove down for a Saturday, to lay in with  Bryan Oliver on a number of projects.  

In that 10 month exile, it's expected that volunteers would drift away. Traditional Sailing isn't for everyone. I can count at least 8 of our regular volunteers, that never returned when the schooner re-docked in Charleston in January, 2023. But then Danny Johnson re-opened his network and began coaxing more people to come down. That, and a random post or two on Reddit by Dan Maurin. resulted in a gradual steady increase of new volunteers walking aboard.  By November, I was counting a total 74 total names on the Volunteer roster.  

Now, full disclosure;  I would say our retention rate, meaning mustering at least twice more after first visit, is about 1 for every 4.  Of those, 22 volunteers regularly muster - once monthly, more or less.  Better yet,, their regular involvement results in a increasing level of deckhand skillsets, that will be critical to our future programs.

 I retain contact information on every volunteer, regardless of attendance record, copying them on every communique, and blog posting unless they specifically request to be dropped.  So, our contact roster boasts around 150 names, old and new.  

All of this to say basically, our Volunteer program not only survived a 10 month hiatus of non-activity, but rebounded remarkably, and increased our average competency level for taking Spirit of South Carolina off the dock -  with volunteers.   The evidence was demonstrated last week on December, when 15 qualified Volunteers signed up to take her off the dock for a sea trial.  First time since 2018 the schooner would've had a full complement aboard.  

She's ready for sail, and a crew available to show her off at the dock, or sail her.  A new page about to open.

New Volunteers "waist" little time in advancing past "never-ever" to competent deckhanding skills.

New Volunteers have been joining us every week now over the past month.. a positive sign.

On traditional sailing vessels, brand new, inexperienced recruit deckhands were given the rating "Waisters", relating to their primary place of work, performing the menial tasks for the time being in the "waist" or midships, the safest part of the vessel. 

With Luke McCain aloft on the foremast sanding,
Walter and Graham manage his tag line,
fixing his position around the mast.

 Our new volunteers didn't take long to rise above, by laying in on some challenging projects. By their second period on deck,  Alex Lyashevich, Josh Zoodsma, and Luke MCain have each, already laid aloft at least once sanding or oiling the masts.   Dallas Spencer has already been out in in the head rig storm-lashing down the furled jib. All ready beyond "Waisters" to apprentice deckhands.

Friday was a full day., volunteers concentrated on securing the rig, and the deck before the oncoming weather system that was due to hit today.  

First job was doubling up all dock lines. Water Barton, dropped down into the Forepeak and handed up three coiled dock lines to Bryan.  Dallas Spencer staged one at the bow, at #2 and #3 kevels.  Lines were run out thru the kevel hawseholes and back over the top of the rails where Bowlines were made off . Bryan passed out heaving lines, gave a refresher in highwayman's hitches.  Each volunteer then made several throws and recovery's just for practice before sending the last heave over to drag the doubled dock line over to secure on a dock cleat.  

Next issue to be tackled was the loosening furl of the jib out on the jib stay were it was threatening to be pulled out by the predicted high winds Saturday.  Walter, Bryan Oliver and Dallas  laid out to the jib boom of the head rig to resecure the jib, where the downhaul lashing had come apart; it's head was now drifting back up the stay, exposing loose  canvas-risked being caught in the wind, pulling apart the rest of the lashing, and.. well, it doesn't take much imagination see how that ends.  So with extra gaskets, Walter laid out onto the jibboom grabbing hold of the jib halyard block. As Bryan loosed the halyard line from the belaying pin, Walter began pulling the halyard block down the stay.  Dallas, straddling the furled jib took up the resulting slack in the down haul, and restarted a new daisy chain furl, overhauling  the slacked down haul-tightening the daisy chain all the way aft to the jib's clew.  

Alex finishes up a primo work coil
 of the Main Sheet, before
hanging it on to boom.

The last project. was forcing the ship away from the dock for setting fender boards between the dock pilings and ball fenders. CAPT Davis in covering and lashing down all the gear and furniture stowed on the dock.  The new director's chairs, were taken onboard and stowed in the forecastle with all the deck cushions. Bryan, Tony Marchesani and Alex, adjusted the fender boards and fenders to protect the hull it might make contact with dock pilings. 

Spirit of South Carolina Shines with hosting another Evening Social Event.

Earlier, Tuesday, Laura Johnson and Bryan
 tag-teaming with a canvas needle
 stitching a patch onto the foresail.

 The social event this time was Saturday evening's  Annual Volunteer Appreciation Night sharing the deck with the Judges of the Charleston Harbor Christmas Parade of Lights. It's been a tradition since 2019, interrupted by COVID for two years. I'm guessing there were 40 or more souls aboard.

Alex Lya just down-rigged from
 his trip up the mainmast to receive
 his 50 Volunteer Hour Award.

 

From my perspective, as a loosy-goosy, unimaginative party planner, these always have the feel of being thrown together. Saturday morning, Laura, Tony, Alex, and Dave, were still  aloft oiling the mainmast, then, we were trying to kluge together a coherent string of Christmas lights and hang the star that would illuminate only on a NE knot breeze.
The beauty in  the technique always coming from the talent of people doing the throwing of things in; volunteers and families mostly, seemingly haphazardly feeding in all the makings, of, and setting up the deck and saloon below, mostly on their own, to make things work. And it does. I swear we must be "cool boat of the Maritime Center." I know this because no one seems to have been sufficiently disengaged to take any photos'. So you have only my story-telling. 

Thanks to Walter Barton set the baseline with selection of appetizers and hot Apple Cider Punch.  I will myself modestly accept credit for the Smoking Bishop.  Ken Fonville's wife, Anne brought a nice counter point.  Others filled in the empty spots, such that the forecastle hatch cover and saloon  butterfly were lined with array of hot  and cold goodies.  Capt Davis provided some sophistication, settng up a bar. More beverages showed up in the Yeti Cooler, along with additional ice, midway thru the party.

Of course, the main attraction was the view. Somewhat overcast, warm with a haze that made for that trademark surreal view surrounding the illuminated Ravenel bridge. And the twenty-some odd boats, each their own wildly illuminated party, passing in review in front of us.  

Bryan introduces Kim, guest
of Josh, to a tiny tot of Hot Buttered Rum.

Many more volunteers than I'd mentioned brought along something to share, or stacked and stowed, and  moved around dock boxes to make the deck ready. 

I only got to talk to about a quarter of the total people aboard, but the vibe I felt was another triumph for Spirit of South Carolina, and her pretty good crew.  

The remainder of days running up to the holidays will be spent dueling with weather temps to complete our mast maintenance, and get in a training sail or two. Volunteers, look for a SignUP notice in your email. I'll post it as soon as I learn of it myself.

  There are no limits to crew, and no drug testing prerequisites. so, Sign up.   

Saturday's 1st Public Tour a Resounding Success. Rain Forecast kaboshes the last scheduled Harbor Sail on Sunday;

As the frenzy of preparation activity reached a crescendo Friday afternoon, Dec 1st, we turned attention to the organization and roles /responsibilities for managing the Public tours aboard the schooner on Saturday starting at 1100 for two hours. There were vague feelings of unease, given our lack of visibility of any marketing/advertising effort to publicize that the ship was now hosting tours. We had no website, or active Facebook, limited Instagram, and only a vague understanding of how we would collect or direct electronic donations.

Volunteer Coordinator Bryan Oliver, divided the 2 hours into two watches of  four volunteers each; 3 to perform roles as tour guides on deck, with one as a dock-side "host/greeter" to make the introduction and manage the flow of guests coming on deck, and keep a headcount..  Each tour guide was set up with a resource binder of background information and 3 education themes to cover, and a route of stations around the deck, above and below as stop and talk places.  It seemed like a pretty good, well focused system.

CAPT Davis moved the Sandwich board, our only known advertisement of tours, out to the main concourse in front of the IAAM while we fretted about our apparent visibility to the public, and the lack of advertising for this morning. 

Volunteer Josh Zoodsma, who, earlier in the week had sat in discussions with Bryan on the very topic of marketing, visibility, etc., decided to take matters into his own hands.  Mounting his bike, he took off towards East Bay Street, towards the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, where the Charleston Tea Party Anniversary was being celebrated. It is said made a swath through crowds the length of the downtown street, even into Hotels to alert concierges.  Must've worked.

Old soldier's saying; "No plan survives first contact with the enemy. "

We were expecting maybe a trickle of pedestrians coming down the dock.  At around 1000hrs Doug Hartley took his spot on the dock next the gangway and our open Donation's box, and looked at a thickening crowd walking down the dock. When it arrived, there appeared to be a couple dozen. Some simply blew past Doug's attempt to gather a group and start an introduction, and walked down the gangway on their own initiative.  

Next-door neighbor, Nao Trinidad (Magellan's Flagship).
We hoped to  piggy back off their tourist traffic.

Bryan, at the saloon butterfly hatch was leaning over his notebook and reviewing some notes, when he looked up to see almost 8 people coming off the gangway and starting to spread fore and aft down the deck. More appeared to be gathering up around Doug on the dock. Bryan immediately gathered as many as he could, herding them towards the foremast and started his intro.  The other volunteers, Calvin Milam, Nate Mack, and later, Dave Brennan, Ken Fonville, needed no direction, but started intercepting guests as they flowed aboard, pulling them clear of the gangway, and starting their own introductions and tour. As the traffic intensified, Mark Held, and Rick Washington pitched in helping with taking questions, guiding guests around the deck.  

The ship had been "spiffied" up pretty well, so our tours covered the entire deck as well as an exploration below into the forecastle, and the saloon.  The aft-cabin was viewable from the deck. As a live-aboard area, those spaces were off limits to the public.   

Bryan with one of his tour groups in the saloon
 enjoying Walter Barton's Christmas cookies and cider
while getting a history lesson in historical harbor navigation.

Thankfully, Walter Barton, exercising his own flair for hospitality had come aboard with jugs of apple cider and Christmas cookies. He promptly set up on the galley and counter with cups napkins arrayed, for guests as they climbed down the ladder with their "tour guide.   Bryan had pulled down his two Historical charts of the harbor, (1865, and 1879) offering a flavor of what "Francis Elizabeth would have had aboard. Another anecdotal tidbit was pointing out the marker where Hunley had sank and was recovered. 

Dave Brennan capping his  tour group's
 experience with visit to the cockpit
 and hands on the helm.

By noon, a passerby on the dock would've seen what looked like a solid mass of people intermingling, and flowing around the deck and in and out of the hatches.

At end of the tour period, around 1500,  Mark Held retrieved the Sandwich Board returning it to the ship.  Volunteers mustered below in the Saloon, munched on East Bay deli sandwiches, discussed the good, the bad, the ugly, of the day,, then tallied up cash donations and tallied number of visitors..

197 visitors were counted give or take 7.

Run-up Week to First Commercial Operations Tests Everyone's flexibility

 This past week was going to be intense.  Two back-to-back "Shakedown" sunset cruises were set for Tuesday and Wednesday, the 28th and 29th, with remainder of the week devoted to preparation to conduct public tours Saturday, and two harbor cruises, all in conjunction with the 250th Anniversary Celebration of the Charleston Tea Party..  

10 Volunteers along with CAPT Davis, and CAPT Hackett mustered on board starting early afternoon to build momentum for a cast-off from the dock at 1600 hrs. It was clockwork. By 16oo, lines were cast off and CAPT Davis pointed her up river into the Wando for a long clockwise circumnavigation of the harbor. The crew raised the foresail, and then jumbo. The rest of the cruise was pleasant and uneventful. By 1830, we were standing off the dock setting fenders and making up dock lines for tying up.  It had been dark for over an hour.  This would be our rehearsal for docking in the dark-the only illumination available were sparse dock lights and a rising full moon. 

As expected, All preparations for docking started early to account for the the crew having to perform their tasks more slowly and deliberately. This was our first experience at night, so tasks like knot tying, measuring distance of fenders to the waterline, gauging the throw of heaving lines were as much intuitive or by feel, than visual. Everyone was tested.  CAPT Davis took his time lining up on the dock, and advancing and backing several times to feel the currents he could no longer see. Dock line handlers double-and triple-checked their highwayman's hitch on the heaving line, or their bowline, even asking a shipmate to inspect their work. 

As it was, during the docking operations,  a few glitches arose but quickly resolved. A heaved messenger line fell short, but was rapidly retrieved and tossed again.  A dock line bowline came loose while made to a dock cleat, but was quickly pulled aboard and remade, and passed back to the dockside.  I think we found that working in the dock tends to increase the level of chatter both on board and dock, making major verbal directions more difficult to hear above. 

Once the ship was secure, Volunteer Coordinator Bryan Oliver mustered midships, both on-deck and dockside crew  for a quick After-Action Review while memories were fresh,  a discussion to identify and reinforce what went well throughout the cruise, and what didn't, with  discussion to identify steps or changes to better manages the shortcomings.  We would be set for an even smoother sail the next day.

It wasn't to be.  On Wednesday morning, CAPT Davis was required to postpone that day's shakedown cruise to Thursday.  Most of the volunteers  signed on to the cruise mustered anyway, thankfully, and laid into the growing punch list of preparations for the weekend.   

On Thursday, CAPT's Heath and Davis made decision to redirect the priority from second shakedown sail to furling sail from Tuesday's cruise, cleaning and preparing the deck a

Volunteers Logan Day, Bryan Oliver, Madison Pulley,
 Kyle, and Laura Johnson harbor-furling the Jib and Jumbo,
 following previous evening's shakedown cruise.

nd below decks to receive the expected numbers of visitors. 

And then the weekend weather forecast changed. Sunday afternoon was showing a high chance of precipitation across the harbor, sufficient to cause the decision makers to cancel the planned Sunday Brunch Harbor cruise.  Friday became the last surge in effort to paint, wipe down, stow, or hide, stuff before tours would begin Saturday morning, and later when passengers would board for the last surviving scheduled Sunset sail that evening. 

Hunter Gets Published!

 Our Late Sea Cook, "Hunter" is a Published Author!

Just two days ago, Hunter's latest, and only book was published in hard copy on Amazon.com. 30 some-odd years of sea-cook experience, stories, lessons learned, tips and techniques finally codified in just 88 pages of wisdom.  I'm not joking. All the more poignant, in that Hunter threw out his anchor just two months ago, and retired, returning to his family in the Dominican Republic. Spirit of South Carolina was his last ship. His quote still rings: "Your favorite ship... is the one you're on." 

The book is a culmination of about 4 years of tinkering since the idea was first hatched.  Back in 2019, Captain Richard Bailey, past Commander of HMS Rose, Spirit of South Carolina, and most lately, Harvey Gamage, had made a hasty phone call to Hunter requesting help for Bailey's new cook aboard Harvey Gamage.  His new hire had cooking experience, but didn't know his way around a traditional sailing vessels, galley, with all the nuanced and stark challenges around feeding and caring for a schooner full of crew at sea.  Hunter had been sea cook under Captain Bailey for most of his 16 years of command of HMS Rose (which later transformed by MGM into HMS Surprise, for the Movie Master and Commander).   And so he asked if Hunter could just jot down some tips, techniques, general advice, that he could hand over to his new hire to help get him started. 

Hunter, along with CAPT Dan Cleveland, and Mate, Charley Porzelt had been left largely idle, while the governing Board decided what to do with the ship after the COVID Pandemic struck.  He had time on his hands.  Without hesitation, Hunter found a spare composition notebook and started writing.  In days he'd filled 23 pages and was still going.  I offered to transcribe his notes into a Word document as he completed each section or topic, to make the thing more readable, easier to organize, and edit.- it was looking like more than a few pages. He readily agreed.  As I gathered his pages from the composition book and read, and read.. I realized I was reading .. "real gold". This was good stuff, practical, easily understood. with a little organization, basic editing, fleshing out of content in some areas, it could be turned into a book or something.  

I pushed that idea to him after I'd transcribed about 30 pages.  I offered to edit the thing for him. He shrugged and allowed me to knock myself out.

And so with lots of time on my own hands,  I started my own project, to  organize the topics, and generally format it into a manuscript, with figures, a few illustrations, a table of contents. In the next three weeks, around August 2019, we had a manuscript in a plastic portfolio presentation binder. I stuffed it in my sea bag and flew north to Portland Maine where I boarded the schooner Harvey Gamage and handed over the manuscript to Tyler Calderwood, banquet chef out of Disney World Resort, looking for a lifestyle change I guess. He certainly got it. He also devoured Hunter's manuscript.  

On returning to Charleston, I proposed to Hunter that he flesh out the manuscript in some areas, and add a few topics, with a concept that we could distribute something of use for other sea cooks,, maybe even publish it on Kindle.  I have a younger brother, self published in 5 novels, both online and otherwise, and through his experience and advice I built out the writing project. Hunter luke-warmly agreed, but he had a condition.  He wanted a copy to be offered free of charge to every Tall ship in the industry.  I didn't try to count all the ships that might meet that criteria,,, I probably should have, but we left it as "Deal".  and leave the issue of financing all those free copies to a later day.

Over the next three years, off and on, Hunter would open the composition book and pencil in some remarks,, sometimes just a list, sometimes a couple of paragraphs, once or twice a whole chapter exploded out of his comp book. At some point in 2022, the muse apparently petered out. I proposed a couple of topics to possibly shake loose his thoughts around him, but he didn't take me up on it., And so I refocused my efforts from compiling to final editing, started reviewing online Tutorials on Kindle Creator. 

The final editing process and Kindle reviews was rigorous, but not all that hard. By late spring, 2023 I had gone as far as I could with it, had run it thru numerous automated grammar-spell checks, even had my brother, the published author review it. He made a few high value edits to it, in areas, I would never have thought of. In June I uploaded the pdf into Kindle Create, the online self-publishing app and started an iterative process of sending it through sequences of review. By October, the computerized red-ink notes and underlines/circles disappeared.  Hunter had just disembarked the schooner to head home.  He absent-mindedly agreed on a selling price we would ask. He expressed little interest in the sales potential, and only reiterated his wish to get a copy out to any ship that wanted it.

On uploading I ordered six "proof" copies, for a nominal price of $4 a pop, and sent them out to some tall ship colleagues to review.   A few returned enthusiastic comments. Nothing really negative-which made me a bit uneasy.  I chose a cover photo out of our Ship's Google photo album collection, a chopped image of the schooner ghosting along under full press. A little self-indulgence, the figure on forward lookout was me. On 26 November, four days ago, I uploaded a final .pdf manuscript, clicked, "Send" and it was done.  

The e-book is supposed to follow, after some synching is done with Kindle.  Most proceeds of sales will go to cover cost of printing the free copies and postage, for delivery to the remaining tall ship fleet. 

Thanksgiving Saturday brings a better than expected Volunteer Turnout, and a Special Tall Ship Visitor

 

If you had come by near enough to glimpse the waterfront at the Maritime Center, your eye would've caught the unusual sight of a 16th Century Spanish Carrack, tied up at the fuel dock.  More specifically, the replica of the Nao(Spanish for Barque) Trinidad, Commodore Magellan's flagship for the first ever Circumnavigation of the globe.  A Carrack, according to Wikipedia, is a Spanish or Portuguese ship of 3 masts, between 200 to 1,000 tons, designed primarily for exploration
. 

Rick Washington anchoring Bryan
 in the Bosun's chair on forward side
of the mast. Nao Trinidad in
 the background.

According to the news, she has docked her for the week, until the 2d or third, and is open for tours.  Her crew has invited our crew to come over for a tour, no charge, just say you're from Spirit of South Carolina. If she is anything like the larger El Galeon, that has visited here twice before, it's a worthwhile tour. 

Bryan aloft on the foremast with his sander
 and Blackbeard's "Jolly Roger"

With Thanksgiving put away, and a Volunteer Saturday immediately following, it was not unexpected that only one or two of us would sign up to come down for projects aboard.  That would've been just Dave Brennan, and myself.  

Rick Washington and Mikell Evatt
on the Main throat halyard,
 hauling Dave Brennan up the mast.

We were surprised and pleased to see another four Volunteers come aboard,  Nate Mack, Mark Held,  Mikell Evatt, and Doug Hartley.  With Rick Washington now available for foreseeable future, we had enough crew to send a hand aloft on both masts simultaneously.  

While Volunteer Coordinator Bryan pestered Capt Davis for more stiff-bristle deck brooms for deck scrubbing,  the rest set up both masts for sending a crewmember aloft with a sander.

Bryan tour-guiding with Pedro
 and Maria of the Nao Trinidad

As the workday was winding down and volunteers began stowing gear, tools, and securing the deck, Dockmaster Christian Lawyer  at the Gangway introduced to crew members from Trinidad. Maria and Pedro expressed an interest in on offered tour, to which Bryan promptly acquiesced, and started them on a comprehensive tour and history of the Spirit of South Carolina.

Doug Hartley securing coils
 prior to disembarking.

 As the tour wound down, and conversation diverged to free time, the Spaniards expressed interest in locating a few dive bars nearby... As is the sailor's wont, they're on a budget, so looking for some rest and relaxation at a bargain.  Between Bryan, Mark, and others, they went away with a choice list of welcoming dives, withing walking distance.  

A few Volunteers answer the call during Thanksgiving Week.

With 2 shakedown sails coming up and a full weekend of Dockside Tours and Sunset Sails celebrating the Charleston Tea Party, Capt Davis opened up all weekdays up to Thanksgiving, as well as this Saturday for volunteers to come aboard if they wished to lay in on the masts or any other work to prep the ship for those events.

Laura working herself down
 the foremast with her sander.

So, last Tuesday, Laura Johnson came aboard, followed shortly by Adam Reed to take on a couple of projects.  Laura strapped on a harness, stepped into a bosun's chair while  Adam and Rick Washington hauled her up the foremast with a Fast-tool orbital sander in her lap to take off another belt of weathered wood on the foremast. The breeze was clipping along at an enthusiastic 10-to 15 knots, and the occasional swell underneath from wake of a passing behemoth headed up/down channel.   After one and one-half hours aloft in the bosuns chair, rigor mortis sets in around one's thighs, roughly pinned inside the bosun's seat risers, requiring a lowering to the deck and stretch.. The oncoming weather made  for a shortened work session.

Volunteer Coordinator, Bryan
 hands over Lauren's 100
Volunteer Hour Certificate and Pin

Prior to her disembarking, Bryan asked her over to the cap rail for the moment to present her with her 100  Volunteer Hours Certificate and lapel pin.  Laura actually hit that hour mark a couple of months earlier, but the tallying was slow to catch up. Meanwhile, she's more than halfway already to 200 Volunteer hours!                                                                                                                                                         By the time we had secured bosun's chairs and other deck hardware, weather was closing in and minds were focused elsewhere on preparations for Thanksgiving, in whatever form it was going to take. Bryan remained aboard a bit longer to try out a TV monitor he's purchased, for purposes of showing video footage of the ship during tours, or for training,, or, yes, even a crew movie night.  Its not intended to live aboard-the salty conditions would eventually ruin it, but to be brought back for planned events.

Volunteer T-Shirts Now In Stock. for purchase

 A new stock of Volunteer Crew T-Shirts, same pattern and color as before, has arrived.   If you alerted me earlier to save a shirt for you please confirm with Bryan Oliver.  Otherwise see Bryan on Volunteer Days to select your size. Purchase price remains at: $20.00.

First Programs Aboard since 2019, are Taking Shape, and Masts remain top of the Punch List

Rick Washington taking the
grime off the foremast before brushing
 on a 1st coat of linseed oil. 

If you've been following this blog  for past few months, I'm sure you're growing weary of photos of Volunteers in Bosun's Chairs. I'm also sure those stalwarts  being swayed aloft to sand, oil, and slush those mighty masts are just as weary of it, so..  Yet the progress continues, hampered only by weather and volunteer availability.  This Saturday, veteran bosun's chair rider, Dave Brennen, and returning volunteer Rick Washington simultaneously covered  an additional 5 linear feet each on the foremast and mainmast, supported by their deck team of Ken Fonville, Tony Marchesani, Gary Lasko, and Bryan Oliver.

Rick Washington on his way up
the foremast, while Dave Brennan
 has a head-start half-way up the
 mainmast.

But before  that activity took place, Volunteers had mustered below to hear Capt Davis lay out the upcoming events in which Spirit of South Carolina would be participating.

Beginning the week following Thanksgiving, Spirit of South Carolina will cast off the dock for two to three afternoon/evenings of sunset shakedown cruises. The intent is to train volunteers in ship handling, dock line handling in increasingly limited visibility of evening harbor sailing.  She needs as many volunteers as possible to participate, in order to  build the necessary bench strength of volunteer deckhands.  Volunteers can sign up for these using the SignUp Genius application.

The first week in December, Spirit of South Carolina will participate in the 250th anniversary of the Charleston Tea Party with an open house on deck for tours, Saturday, afternoon, and sunset cruise that evening. and a 2-Hour Brunch harbor cruises, Sunday. Look for Volunteer opportunities to support those events by 11/20.

Tony, Bryan, and Walter easing the
 guy line steadying Rick Washington's
 bosun's chair on forward side of
 the mainmast.

In the previous Blog entry I announced the particular achievement of four of our shipmate Volunteers, by their accumulating over 200 volunteer hours of support to Spirit of South Carolina. Today, two of those were at muster to receive a Certificate of Appreciation and a personal gift to mark the singular milestone.

Mainmast Volunteers, Ken Fonville and Tony Marchesani
show off their Certificates of Appreciation
and their personalized teak fid, a tall ship sailor's tool usually handled only by more experienced mariners.
Volunteer Coordinator Bryan over their shoulder.

First Post-COI Volunteer Day, Crew Wastes no Time in laying into critical ship's Projects.

Volunteer Nate Mack in the bosun's seat,
 on his way up the Main mast while CAPT Davis
 observes from higher up  on the port shrouds. 

This past Saturday, Spirit of South Carolina hosted our first regular Volunteer Day since the COI Inspection, and hands wasted no time in laying into some critical projects, primarily the scraping, oiling, and slushing of the schooner's two Douglas Fir laminated masts, which had been sadly ignored over the past three years.  

Eight volunteers mustered at 0900. Walter Barton brought along a serious morale boosting Chicken Ensalada casserole for sharing at lunch. All gathered around CAPT Davis who set priorities and divided responsibilities. 

Sending a deckhand aloft in a bosun's chair, 19th century style, is not a simple process.  Safely executed, if requires harnessing someone into a flat-board "bosun's chair" suspended from either the throat or peak halyard tackles. Their tools or tub of linseed oil or whatever is going aloft, are tethered to the chair. Pockets are emptied so nothing inadvertently comes crashing down onto the deck, or heads, from 82 feet up in the air. Two shipmates stand by on the pinrail where the halyard tackle is made fast. 

Nate Mack starts his ride up the Main Mast
for some sanding work.

Last minute checks on chest harness, tether strap looped several times thru the halyard shackle, a belaying line wrapped around the mast to keep the rider from swinging away from the mast. On the rider's command,  "ready on the halyard, hoist away!"  two shipmates start a slow steady pull, hand over hand. 

From aloft, the "look like ants" hoisters,
secure Nate in place and work
on a fouled flag halyard.

Depending on the hoisting tackles used, the "hoisters" might make up for the lack of purchase by "sweating" the halyard, shocking the line (gently of course) to yank the rider up just several inches at a pull. Once the deckhand in the chair is in position they'll shout 'that's well! and the hoisters will make the line fast to the belaying pin, finishing with a locking hitch, the only instance where such a hitch is used on board, that is, when a human being is held aloft by it. 

While the work aloft of moving a power sander around the mast, or slopping on linseed oil, or smearing gobs of Vaseline over the twice linseed-oiled mast isn't physically demanding so much as growing discomfort from limited movement. Therefore the deckhand aloft will typically be lowered down after approximately 30 minutes, to stretch, and another deckhand gets their chance.

In this way, large sections of both masts have gradually undergone portions of their three-phased restoration;  sanding to remove grime and weathered wood, 2 coats of linseed oil to preserve and protect the wood surface, and finally a coating of Vaseline, the modern-day alternative to animal fat/grease, to lubricate the mast easing the mast hoops as they drag the sail upward or down.

Masked to control the sawdust his sander is creating,
 Nate is scrutinized by CAPT Davis
 watching from his perch in the shrouds.

From aloft, observing shipmates lined up
 on the jumbo boom to flake the Jumbo
 as it's lowered.

As work progressed on the masts, idle hands mustered on the foredeck to practice sail-setting teamwork by raising, lowering and furling the large Jumbo Staysail.

Walter mastering the Galley appliances.

Meanwhile, below-decks, in the Galley, Walter Barton is heating up a big mess of Chicken Enchilada's for lunch.

Surge in Volunteer Hours underlies the Schooner's Success in achieving her COI.

The COI has been the undisputed achievement for Spirit of South Carolina's Volunteers as a whole. But underlying that accomplishment has been the surge of effort by volunteers, spread over recent months to prepare the schooner, but also prepare themselves to take the deck.  That achievement is actually measurable in the surge of Volunteer hours devoted to the ship over that period.   And so we'll raise a glass (when it becomes practical, and an extra ration for our shipmates below, )  

Thanks for setting the pace!

This group are the first to hit the 200 hour number[Marlinspike Volunteer] since re-inception of the Program 4 years ago.

Nate Mack surpassed 238 Volunteer hours in September

Doug Hartley          227 Volunteer Hours in October

Ken Fonville             215 Volunteer Hours as of last August

Tony (the Wiper) Marchesani   203 Volunteer Hours August

 

This Group of new Foremast Volunteers have hit the 100 hour number

Laura Johnson surpassed her  100  hour mark last month.

Todd Cole, out of Atlanta  hit 64 hours in March, and 112 Hours in August

Walter Barton, close behind, hit 57 hours and accelerated to 109 in August

Danny Johnson actually hit 100 hours back in January, and would show more if he'd log it (:-)

Likewise, Mikell Evatt, with his 66 hours this year to October puts him over 100 .

These two New Volunteers haven't been exactly loafing either in achieving their Jibsheet Volunteer Rating..

Alex Lya, coming down from Columbia has hit 66 Volunteer hours last month.

Dave Lazar, new this year had accumulated 58 Volunteer hours by July

With COI Achievement behind us, the pressure's off,, and yet it's not.

With the COI no longer hanging over us, the pace on deck this past Saturday seemed noticeably less frenetic. The weather was gorgeous! as it had been most of the week.  Five of us mustered aboard, and Bryan organized them into some simple housekeeping projects. Although winds were at that cusp to discourage bosuns chair projects aloft,  Volunteers leaned into a number of tasks.  Mark Held and Ken Fonville joined Bryan Oliver out in the head rig to harbor furl the jib, which had spent the last two weekends in an ugly pile up by the jibstay.  Walter Barton dragged up on deck all the fo'cstle settee cushions to smear mink oil generously into the leather. Tony Marchesani and new volunteer Gary Lasko teamed up to retrieve from the fore peak, a barely viable plastic bucket of vaseline, and  transfer it's contents to a new bucket with lid.    As volunteers concentrated in the saloon and focs'tle to consolidate hardware stowage and free up berths for possible occupancy, Bryan and Gary separated to a New Volunteer Orientation, getting him signed-in, and immediately started on his basic deckhand skills checklist, and a pet rope to adopt.            

There is still a sense of pressure

 The pressure is just more subtle and less focused but still there. The ship now has to demonstrate that she can generate revenue.   In my conversations this weekend with Captains and educators, and crewmen who actually crewed Spirit of South Carolina in the  years 2007-2014 - they've shared cautionary tales.  From their perspective it's never been that easy, especially here in South Carolina.  Still, there are tall ship programs out there, up this coast, and further west that appear to be surviving well enough. 

Situations vary.  Some are owned by an institution with deep pockets borne of long standing relationships with the their local community and well beyond. Other's have long standing programs with the same clients, which have become "cash cows" in a sort way. Others have state sponsorship. All have a semi to fully professional, though bare-bones staff. a shore party, dedicated to building sponsorships, and organizing revenue-generating events. That in itself requires it's own budget. 

 Finally, there exists a national umbrella organization, Tall Ships America, Inc. which plays an advocacy role, a network, and a collector of knowledge, best practices. 

I've spent my last several years, observing from the deck. It's not exactly a crows nest spot for observing what's going on. My impression, over past years, is that Spirit of South Carolina has not much tapped into those knowledge resources.  Given our track record since 2015, I hope that will change. 

Meanwhile, short term, there is a business plan of sorts taking shape, which will focus more on generating revenue as an attraction vessel and catered event space.  If you've been on board recently, you've noticed presence of a suite of smart-looking khaki sunbrella seat cushions, being arranged atop deck boxes and cabin tops.  

How much of that involves casting off and sailing remains to be seen.  How much of that will include an educational theme, essential to maintaining our 501(c)3 non-profit status, remains to be formulated. 

Regardless, Volunteer support will remain a bedrock to sustaining our schooner well beyond the near-term future.  Volunteers roles will likely extend beyond that of deckhand.  We'll be living in interesting times.  Stay tuned.

This Saturday's Volunteer Day Devoted to Celebration of Successful COI Sea Trial

Volunteer Crew T-Shirts Are on Re-Order- will announce when arrived.  Sold at Cost; $20 

On short notice, just the day prior to our COI Sea Trial, but totally confident of our passing the COI Sea Trial, Bryan Oliver decided to turn the normally Scheduled Volunteer (skill-building-maintenance) Day into a Celebration. He had blasted out a Volunteer-wide communique announcing a Celebration Potluck Lunch, in lieu of regular maintenance and repair work. 

A total of 11 Volunteers used the Signup-Genius application even before the COI cruise to respond with the number of guests they would bring.  Confidence. The final tally totaled out to 18, with several volunteering to bring a dish.

Saturday morning, Bryan arrived aboard early, meeting Tony Marchesani on deck. They began cleaning off and carrying aboard the large Yeti cooler, staging it port side. Next was clearing debris off the dock.  and paperwork /hardware off the saloon table. By 10 AM others arrived to help set up, and off-loading beverages, tables, and food onto the saloon butterfly.  Walter Barton brought along two tables, some finger sandwiches, and cornbread to accompany Bryan's huge pot of gumbo. Wayne Burdick delivered some Publix fried chicken, as did Mark Held. Dave Lazar brought along a vegetable appetizer tray. Dave Brennan and Nate Mack filled the large Yeti cooler with ice, soft drinks, beer, and a wine bottle. Ken Fonville arrived with wife Anne's large casserole of Mac and Cheese. Kenny Blyth arrived and presented a pair of newly milled purple heart belaying pins, to replace a broken pin off the main boom.

Jake McCain, Kenny Blyth, Water Barton
, and Mark Helm at the lunch line.

Alex Lya Dave Brennan, Ken Fonville
 and Dave Lazar wait for the lunch line to go down.

Brandon Clark with Jack Frazier and guest 

Mess Call,, guests move toward the line.

Charlie Malone came aboard with his fiance, Anne Katherine(high risk of misspelling here),  Jake McCain and his wife, Sunny, brought a pretty fancy multi-bean salsa-Chip dip appetizer,, from her restaurant, I think.-must check that out. Danny Johnson came by long enough to help  set up, before returning to work. Alex Lya, and Doug Hartley, with plenty of beverages topped off the Yeti.  While waiting for the rice and gumbo to warm up, Bryan offered a ship's tour to Jake, Sunny, Charles and Anna Katherine.

Wayne Burdick with Charlie Malone
 and fiancé, Anne Katherine

At 1140, with all the main dishes heated and finally brought up from the galley to the table. Bryan called a Muster, made a welcome of everyone, overviewed the agenda for the lunch, primarily Capt Davis, talk after lunch, then opened up the line. 

o

Capt Davis introduces himself

As lunch was winding down and attendees went for seconds, or another beverage, Capt Davis  took the deck, seated himself with the crowd and began his address.  He started with some of his background, and Captains experience, culminating with how he had gotten hired. He also described the steep learning curve in which he'd immersed himself, recounted the COI Sea Trial, making a point that should make us proud. He remarked as cast off from the dock, steering out into the harbor, and looking forward down the deck at the deliberate calm but busy activity, reassuring himself thinking,  "They're (the volunteer crew) are going to do their job."  And we did.

The Coast Guard inspection team left us with a small list of discrepancies to be rectified before actual COI signoff was possible. That list will be our priority Punch list starting next week, followed by the urgent projects still outstanding pre-COI, such as Mast slushing.  Meanwhile, People up at the head office, are scoping out a business plan.  Capt Davis assured everyone, that we would be a key part of it.

SPIRIT OF SOUTH CAROLINA ACES HER USCG CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION SEA TRIAL!

I would like to make those words bigger. This is a BIG DEAL for our schooner. After almost three years in stasis with no professional crew aboard, unable to move, cared for only by a crew of committed Volunteers, she is officially brought back to life. The actual documentation for COI will be another couple weeks coming, as about a dozen small "t's" need to be crossed.  After that, she'll be ready to take on passengers. 

It's been long enough passage. After a failure to secure a Semester program with College of Charleston, in 2019, exacerbated by the onset of the Pandemic, killed off the revenue stream, the last Captain was dismissed, and only her cook, Hunter, was left aboard as caretaker. 

Coincidentally, her Volunteer program was just being resurrected.  Maintaining a traditional wooden sailing vessel, usually requires a minimum 6-8 full time crew aboard.  So volunteers filled the gap, on weekends and occasional weekdays for the next three years.  In 2021 Capt Heath Hackett was hired to oversee the project of restoring the schooner to USCG COI standards. That process would take another two and a half years. Volunteers contributed over 3,000 hours of unskilled and skilled labor to her restoration. 

So, how did it go, you ask?

The previous two days, Monday and Tuesdays were a frenzy of last minute checks and inventories of PFD's, locating documentation, launching and recovering the small boat, and touch-and go maneuvering, reviewing the Station Bill, and some urgent repairs of rot in a deckbox reorganizing the paint locker, clearing up piles of project hardware..

Wednesday morning at 0700 the crew started muster on deck. Bryan Oliver spent the night on board, helping Capt Davis prepare the Ship and Crew's Critical Data binders for the four CG Inspectors. 

Walter Barton brought aboard his usual contribution of blueberry muffins and a large stew pot of white chili for crew lunch. Doug Hartley drove in the night before from Columbia and spent the previous nite aboard his own sailboat on the Cooper.  Scott Depung, a professional Sailboat Charter Captain came aboard to flesh out our sailhandling crew, as did Jack Frazier, a Varnisher and coatings expert from Captain's Choice. Jack has been steadily falling. into the cult of tall ship sailing, and it was hoped this cruise would be his tipping point. Stalwarts David Brennan, Calvin Milam, and  Laura Johnson arrived promptly. Dan Martin had to take some detours around heavy traffic from Summerville, arriving just in time to start going over the Station Bill. Also aboard were two additional members, not officially crew, primarily observers;  Capt Heath Hackett, the ship's Project Manager, representing the Board of Directors, and deputy, Richard, 

At 0800 Spirit's Dockside and Gangway crew arrived.  Alex Alya, Danny Johnson, Ken Fonville, and Charleston Maritime Center Dockmaster Christian Lawyer, mustered dockside  to stand by on the gangway and get the Dock line cast-off sequence from Bryan. 

USCG Examiners confer with Capt Davis
while crew huddles around Bryan on starboard
rail going over the Station Bill.

Also , precisely at 0800 John Doughton, USCG and his three-man Inspection Team boarded.  They huddled with Capt's Davis and Hackett,  wasting no time, quickly in laying out the sequence of the inspection.  Bryan directs crew to boat falls to launch the small boat.  Push-boat Captain, Scott, stands by the starboard rail while crew mans the boat falls, lowering the rescue boat into the water. Boat falls released, Scott powers up the small boat and take station off the port bow, prepared to push the bow out off the dock on order.

At 0820, Capt Davis directed, Bos'n, Bryan Oliver to swing off the Gangway and stand by the dock lines.  Bryan relays directions to The dockside crew gathered round the gangway,  Deck crew manned the fore and aft falls suspending the gangway over the deck. 

Schooner's Away!  Spirit's Dockside Team,
 Alex Lya, Christian Lawyer
 and Ken Fonville on the  Gangway
 and dock lines. Danny Johnson on the Camera

 Danny  and Ken taking off the weight while Alex pounded out the steel pin holding the gangway in place.  Like a slow dance, the dock and deck teams slowly lifted both ends, and swung the gangway up and onto the dock, securing it against the benches.  

Bryan shout's out "Ready fore and aft!", Deck line handlers take off all but one turn on the kevels, standing by to ease out,  then take up as the dock side team throws off the dock line bowlines from their cleats, in the pre-planned sequence. #4, then 2, 1 and 3, as Capt Davis warps the schooner slowly away from the dock. 

Dock lines all in, the dock side crew gives a cheer and wave. Deck hands haul in fenders and prepare to receive the small boat. 

After sweating up the small boat to the sheer plank, the crew had little time for deep breaths, as Capt Davis ordered stand by to raise the foresail.   Bryan directs crew " Hands to Dress the Foresail", and crew immediately disperse to take off the halyards and run them out for hauling, cast off downhaul and vangs into working coils for running, lay out and flat coil the foresheet, and secure the foreboom preventer tackle.  

"Hands to set the Foresail" comes next from Bryan.  Every idle crew, 8 of em, line up equally on the fore and peak halyards. Bryan shouts "Fore and Peak together, Haul Away!".  As the gaff is slowly raised three quarters of the way, Bryan shout's "Avast", Peak Halyard, Make Fast!" then peak halyard hands to the Throat!".  With 7 hands now on the throat, there's sufficient pull to raise the throat the rest of the way to the fore-top copper band.  Bryan eye's the foresail throat position and shout's "That's well on the throat, make fast!... Hand's to the Fore peak!"  Now the crew crosses to the starboard rail, lines up on the peak halyard and takes up the slack while Laura releases the stopper knot, and all haul the gaff peak up until the foresail leach starts to stretch. 

Once foresail is set and drawing.  Crew gets chance for one deep breath before Bryan shouts out "Hands to set the Jumbo." Three crew team up to throw off the halyard coil from the pin, take off all turns and stand by to haul.  Laura climbs out over the knight heads into the headrig to release the jumbo down haul that had been daisy chained aft around the harbor-furled jumbo sail. Another casts loose the jumbo boom preventers.   With the down haul ready to run and a crewmember tending the sheet, Bryan shouts out. "Jumbo Halyard, haul away!"  With five sweats of the halyard, the luff pulls taunt, Bryan shout's "that's well, make fast."  Dave Brennan eases out the Jumbo Sheet to match angle of the foresail.  

"Coil and Hang?", from Bryan and crew sets to ballantine coiling the halyards and securing the myriad other lines scattered and tangled over the deck from the two sail settings.  Ten minutes later we're a mile off Ft. Sumter and tack around towards Fort Johnson. 

Thankfully, there's no plans to set the jib and main. We've proved to the Coast Guard examiners we know how to set and trim sail. Now we're standing by warily awaiting the que for our first test- a Man-overboard scenario." it didn't take long.

One of the Coast Guard inspectors had brought along a child-sized floating mannequin.  We all watched as he casually carried forward to the port rail, look aft to his boss, nodded his head, and casually tossed it overside. 
"Man overboard-Man-overboard" came six simultaneous shouts which quickly relay to five more shouts across the deck. One deckhand pointed and raised his hand in the direction of the rapidly receding mannequin.  The rest was clock work. 

Three life rings and the buoy pendant were thrown overside. Even before Bryan's shout, Hands to Launch Rescue Boat!" crew were gathering at the boat falls, one threw an extra PFD into the boat for the victim.  Rescue Boat Coxwain, Laura was returned from the aft cabin securing a VHF handheld.  On Bryans' command, "Bow and Stern Falls all together, lower away", the rescue boat reached the water. "Fish your falls", and handlers maintained tension on the falls as Laura climbed into the boat, along with Calvin, who would act as spotter and bow line handler for the recovery. In less than on minute, from a standing start, the small boat was away, guided by Walter on deck, the spotter's out stretched hand and upraised arm, signaling we still had sight of the victim in the water.  Another deckhand was bringing on deck the backboard and First Aid Kit. In another three minutes, the rescue boat had recovered the mannequin, and was back alongside. Hauled aboard, laid out on the backboard, Scott and  crew looked expectantly at the Coast Guard Inspector waiting for him to add something to the scenario, like victim unconscious, or not breathing.  After apparently demonstrating we were prepared to administer resuscitation, he ended the scenario. The rescue boat crew was again lowered away to go recover all our lifesaving gear tossed overboard.  All back on deck, again securing all our gear, crew had time for another deep breath and in lowered tones hastily reviewed each other's stations in what would be the next emergency drill,, "fire".  It didn't take long at all. 

As Walter lay down below to the Galley to stir his White Chili on the stove,  A Coast Guard inspector casually followed him down and quietly  told him.. "Oh,, you've just started a fire on the stove with some grease in that skillet over there. What are your actions?"

Meanwhile all of us on deck  were anticipating something, just not sure how it would manifest itself.    Walter's yelling down below,, "Fire,, Fire in the Galley!"  triggered a well rehearsed action.   !Bryan shouted out, "Fire extinguishers", followed  by Hands to the fire mains!", then shouting down to Walter " what's going on?"  His first two commands were actually redundant, since our volunteer crew, already baptized in constant repetition of this drill a week before, were already pulling portable fire extinguishers out of the fo'cstle and aft cabin to stage them at the mainmast. others were pulling out the two fire houses stretching them fore and aft down the deck.  Jack was already in the engine room setting the sea cock and shifting the PTO lever over ( transfer port engine power to the hydraulics powering the port side fire pumps).  

Bryan shouted for "status" down the saloon hatch, prepared to hand down a second fire extinguisher. Walter, cued by his Coast Guard observer, apparently satisfied with Walter's deployment of the fire blanket, and going for the saloon portable extinguisher, prompted the response,, fire's out, under control." On deck, Coast Guard still wanted to observe the deployed Fire Mains (hoses) for appropriate pressure,, so Laura and Scott charged up both mains and  pointed a strong stream of water overboard.  That prompted a stand down of the drill. "All clear, and secure from fire."  Aced another one.  One more drill to go:  "Prep to Abandon Ship".

As the schooner fell off onto a broad reach headed back towards Shute's Folly,  shouted out to Bryan, There's three feet in the bilge and rising,, "prepare to abandon ship".  Now this was the one drill we had only talked about, walked thru in a huddle, but never acted out, primarily due to the myriad of scenarios driving the drill, each dictating various immediate reactions.  Therefore this drill became improvised based on common sense, and a earlier crew conversations. Bryan directed everyone to PFD's, from the passenger stash located in deck boxes.  Two crew disappeared to the aft cabin and returned with Ditch Kits, while the rest of us, with PFD's strapped on, stood by the life rafts, prepared to drag them over to the rails. 

At this point, Capt Davis, apparently seized with a mean streak, tossed an unforced curve ball into the drill. He shouted down the deck to Bos'n Bryan, " water rising,, must strike the foresail and Jumbo."  This was problematic, We're almost running(downwind), light winds but both sails well out to port.  Instinctively Bryan calls hands to haul in the Jumbo sheet as much as possible, Next, "douse the jumbo," three crew on the down haul, and one to take halyard off the pin and let 'er run on command.  On Bryan's command, "Strike the jumbo" halyard was thrown off the pin, and with tugging on the down haul the sail came down fairly quickly, except for the last four feet.  Laura climbed forward to assist the jib hank/rings down the stay the last four feet, while two crew shoved the jumbo boom forward on the horse another four inches, sufficient to slacken the sail's miter and allow the sail to go all the way down.

As the jumbo is coming down, Bryan calls all idle hands to the Foresail sheet to haul in as close to midships as possible, then to the halyards and two on the downhaul. With the ship still running before the wind.  Bryan shout's to the halyards to ease the way, careful to keep the gaff roughly horizontal coming down.  Then the inevitable snag in the process happens.  As the sail comes down, the leach, now really slack catches around the aft- lazy jack and billows out around it, preventing the sail and gaff from lowering further.  A quick suggestion from Scott to Bryan results in his shouting aft to Capt Davis to Jibe the ship, bringing the stern thru the wind, forcing wind over to the opposite side of the billowing foresail, hopefully pushing billowing leach over sufficiently to relieve pressure allowing crew to hurriedly haul down the gaff  throat  and the sail with it.  It works. The foresail piles up neatly between the lazy jacks, all secure.

We've done it. Now it's time to point back to the dock.  Dock lines, previously coiled up on the aft cabin roof are now sent back to their kevels, bowline knots made up, and heaving line's hitched on.  As we approach, fenders are sent over the side, and positioned hopefully to contact the three yokohama fenders. Heaving lines go over from 20 feet out, The dockside team takes lines. Somehow # 1 line's heaving line makes it to the dock, but the dock line itself goes into the water.  Quick teamwork between dock and deck has the heaving line tossed back on deck, the dock line quickly hauled back on board, heaving line re-hitched and tossed again. This time the dock line goes across and made onto the cleat "without a hitch". 

Dock lines secured, the dock crew takes the gangway falls and swings the gangway out over the deck and lowered into position. 

The USCG Team huddles with Capt Davis for a short recap listing the few things that need to be tied up before a signature will make the COI official, small stuff not unusual at all to be handled afterward. 

The crew with the dock side contingent musters for a quick nod from the Coast Guard, Capt Davis thanked them for their work, advice during the sail, and all gathered for a group photo. 

 

As the Coast Guard team disembarked, the crew  secured the ship, harbor furl the sails.

Bos'n Bryan proposes a celebration toast 

A muster one last time midships where Capt Davis appeared with champagne and glasses for the crew.  Bottles passed around, glasses filled,, Bos'n Bryan tried to keep it short (for once) with a recap of the past few months that got the ship to this point, and the significance of our achievement, then proposed the toast to Spirit of South Carolina and her crew. Capt Davis closed it with his own words, and a final command to lay below for a well-deserved lunch, already set up by  Walter. 

Danny Johnson, leading the dock-side crew
 tries out  some of Chef Walter's white chili.

Now it's time for lunch and swapping stories.