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. 

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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.