Volunteer Talent Showing Through amid dealing with obstacles.

Since our last episode, During the last week of July,, the Harbor Master passed on the new restrictions to the Maritime Center Parking lot. Because of the influx of construction contractor traffic, most or all of available parking space would be preempted for construction and contractor parking.  Likely for the rest of the year.  

Inconvenient.

That leaves only metered spaces in the area, except for 12 free spaces two blocks further out- slim chance.  Nevertheless, Saturday morning, several volunteers tried some metered spots.  Nate Mack was one of them.   Cost 5 bucks for 3 hours,, effectively the morning.  Somebody else risked the Maritime Center Parking Lot on Saturday; there was evidence a Meter Maid came thru, but he wasn't ticketed. Dare we interpret this as "the Man's" willingness to accommodate our volunteer parking passes? I"m going to check it out.. likewise for after 4:30 pm on Thursdays. like tomorrow.

Thanks to renewed direction and focus by Capt Davis, our Operating Tempo has picked up. The brightwork on deck is largely finished, except for the helm. The Caprail will  be left as is for time being, possibly a cleaning and application of something like Outdoor Oil. I'm sure she's seen the last of the Deks-olje D1-D2 products. 

Last Thursday, Capt Heath brought four of his own team members who scrubbed down the deck. He also invited LtCdr John Daughton, USCG, our COI Inspector. on board to go over the vessel informally.  John Doughton  has inspected Spirit of South Carolina several times before, and knows her well.  He was impressed by her progress since last aboard in Savannah.  He's on our side.

Following on, this Saturday morning on deck saw a flurry of activity until the heat and parking fees turned onerous.

Dave Brennan as far aloft
  as he'd like to go, refinishing
the throat halyard block.

Dan Maurin touches up
the Foresail sheet blocks.

Ken Fonville checking the
 blocks for sheave covers

Dan Maurin has produced a nicely done five minute Volunteer Recruiting Video. Look for this link once we've properly posted it, then start spreading it.

Nate Mack finished up filling  the screw holes for the salon butter fly hitches.  It's ready to secure. Turns out Nate also knows metalwork.  He took home the severely cracked brass salon hinge, and braized it..,,like new, critical since they don't make em any more.

Also, Saturday afternoon, Shipwright John Little and his team mate completed their repairs on the port side Plank sheer rail.  All that's left if for a few of us to go overside and sit on the scaffolding he left rigged for us, to repaint the project area. Good as New.

What's next?

 Heath plans to bring on UK sails to go aloft and uprig the mainmast halyard and boom lift tackles, as early as this weekend.  He's also commissioning them to install a modern bosun's chair for rigging aloft. With the boom and gaff varnish project finishing this week, we should be in position to rig up the boom and gaff the following week.  

And then, ON WITH THE SAILS!

Oh.  Still is the urgent need to "slush the masts" - two coats linseed oil and a slathering of vaseline.

Then we start training for the COI.  Think these thoughts;

Plan to participate. It's likely a significant portion of our crew will be Volunteers.

Think about what you need to learn, in order to participate.

Dockside drills, 

    -Walk-thru's basic deckhand skills refresh and check-off.

    -Launching and retrieving the tender.-piloting it.

Sea Trials, Expect to participate in several. Possibly starting later this month.

    -Starting simple, Casting off, setting sail, tending sail,  deck discipline,  

    -Practice MOB, Abandon Ship, Fire, setting/retrieving anchor.

  

While con