The Ship's Visibility improves with boarding of Special Guests. Critical Maintenance Projects Advance

Carin, in deckhand mode,
 steadying the gaff jaws

 While we're all waiting to welcome a new Captain, work thru all the usual "breaking-in" the Captain, restarting a Volunteer Crew operating rhythm that includes regular harbor sailing, another dimension to the schooner is slowly taking shape;  Educational programs.

Just two weeks ago, Carin Bloom, historian, educator, and interpretive presenter came aboard as a Volunteer, bringing with her a number of ideas for organizing and delivering historic aspects of  Charleston's Maritime Heritage.

Two days after that, I received an inquiry from the Flatrock Middle School in Winston-Salem NC, regarding chartering Spirit of South Carolina for a day/field trip, likely this fall and/or next spring in April.

Bryan and Dr. Long
exchanging ideas  

And just this past week, Dr. Kim Long PhD, of the African American Maritime History organization (not affiliated with IAAM) stepped aboard, and sat down for an hour and half with Bryan Oliver trading ideas for delivering a variety of educational experiences for high-end customer/city visitors. Dr. Long already delivers historically themed presentations at selected venues, and sees Spirit of South Carolina as an excellent setting for such programs.  Because her programs are already well formed, proven and priced, they could be almost turn-key and the first to appear on deck.

And then came Saturday. Several Volunteers mustered in the morning, ostensibly, to down rig the fore sail gaff so it could be sanded and varnished, and to continue the deck leak repairs under the main mast boot. But for most of em, think the real draw was to meet P.C. Coker III.  More on that later.  

After grabbing some coffee from the saloon,  All hands mustered at the Mainmast where Bryan explained the priorities for the morning,, and the plan for afterwards. Ken Fonville, Tony Marchesani, Carin Bloom, Gary  , Dave Brennan and Rick Washington  teamed up to down rig the foresail gaff, from its current position, jaws around the mast, lashed to the head of the foresail, steadied by the lazy jacks.  Their task was to:

• First, tie down the furled foresail, securely to the boom with sail gaskets
• Unlace the head of the foresail from the gaff 
• Lower the port side boom lift to slacken the lazy jacks on that side. 
• Rig taglines to run forward from the jaws, and aft from the gaff peak.
• Remove the parrel bead line securing the gaff jaws around the foremast.
• Using both throat and peak halyards, lift the gaff up one foot.  
• Then with hands on the tag lines, force the gaff aft, for the jaws to clear away from the mast
• Swing the jaws to port, then pull the gaff forward, clearing the lazy jacks, and lowering the gaff until it is waist level, suspended and lashed down horizontally on the port side of the boom-ready for the scrapers and varnishers to pile on. 

• 

  Once jaws clear of the foremast,
   gaff cleared out of lazy jacks
  then lowered to its suspended
  resting position.

  
  

[There you are, steps all nicely bulletized, for any of you to simply reverse the process and up rig the gaff after it's once again shiny and new, hopefully next week]

While that exercise in teamwork was being masterfully executed,  Mikell Evatt and  Alex Lyashevich took on the more circumspect project of fixing the deck leak from the Main mast area down into the saloon. The job involved scraping, digging out deteriorated deck caulk around the main mast boot ring, and Fife Rail Post, then brushing it clean for caulking.  Grabbing a reefing tool and mallet, Mikell also dug out three feet of deck caulk adjacent to the Fife Rail Post, which was separating from the inch-deep sides of the teak plank, allowing rain water to migrate towards the lowest point.. the mast partners.

Around  1100 hrs,  Walter Barton appeared at the gangway,, with a large grocery bag of sliders, and our special guest, Mr.. P.C. Coker III.

P.C. Coker III's book, Bryan's annotated copy.
 A clean copy belongs to the ship,
 A couple personal copies may be available.

Now, if you're a history buff, more specifically a Charleston history buff. This would be on your bucket list. P.C, is a Maritime Historian, professional model shipwright and author of the definitive Maritime
History of Charleston Harbor. Four years ago, a young Coker relative brought aboard two copies of that work as gifts for the ship.  The book has been a cornerstone of our Volunteer work of formulating historically themed programs around Maritime Heritage of this city and harbor.

P.C's arrival on the gangway provided the perfect excuse to pause operations.  While Bryan gave the walking tour around the deck. The rest secured tools, and lay below into the Saloon.  Walter laid everything out,  Sam Gervais, Director of the Low Country Maritime School, joined us below, and shared in the animated conversation that ranged from history to the future.   

P.C. had brought with him two additional copies of his book as donations for the ship.  They are currently out of print.  Our copies, will  most likely be purposed as fund raiser.. The ship already owns a copy. it's visible in the library rack over the saloon dining table.  As volunteers, ya'll would have first right of refusal, so anyone interested in making a donation to the ship in return for one of these beauties, please contact me.  It won't be a bargain price thing,, up front.  This  is a fund raiser.

And a BIG thanks to Volunteer deckhand, Walter Barton for arranging P.C.'s visit.

Saturday's Volunteers gather around P.C. Coker III
our lunch guest.