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.