A Captain's Farewell, More Educational Programs Contacts Developed, and a drowned out Volunteer Day. Maintenance-Not so much.

 'S no use fighting a Low Country Monsoon and a King Tide on the Charleston Waterfront.  I"ve been sitting here this morning at Toast, on King Street, for 3 hours  ordering a breakfast I should not have.   At same time, since 0830, texting back and forth with Rick Washington who's been on deck and below all night for past two,(nights) tending the bilges and constantly checking our shifty ball fender-yokohama alliance, as 15-20 knot winds clock.. around the clock. 

The tides were enough flood to keep four of us from making the Maritime Center this morning for our Saturday Volunteer Day. We may salvage some of the day, but in the meantime I'm catching you up.  

Bryan attempting to coax a medium-grilled
 double cheeseburger out of Danny.

This past Monday I met socially with Jonathan Green, the successful Maritime Artist whose bright, colorful images of Gullah Rural life are visible just about everywhere in the area. Turns out he' an advocate of education in African American Maritime History, and partners with Dr. Kim Long, with whom I had a meeting the previous week on the same topic.  We may find the schooner partnering with their projects in that area.  That translates to more active dockside and sailing opportunities, likely higher end clientele, looking for a more enriching experience on the harbor, than the normal tourism references to points of interest.  It can be in our wheelhouse, but the onus lies on Volunteers.   Time to start getting ready.  More later, as that develops.

Tuesday, the Crew bade Fare Winds to our Captain, Davis Alford.  Davis finished his official responsibilities officially, a month ago, but remained on to attend the Tall Ships America Conference,, afterwards flying directly to the Caribbean to retrieve his ketch, and bring it north.  His shifting itinerary gave us scant advance notice of his return, so a farewell soirree' was organized on board with whoever was reachable via text and email.  Amid a hastily put together burger and chicken grill on the dock, several of us gathered on deck.  

Danny describing the minimum social distance
 required to observe his grilling technique

As of this writing, Capt Davis is back in Puerto Rico, affecting final repairs of boat's diesel. He is pursuing possible opportunities in the Caribbean, or possibly returning to the Charleston area. 

Dave Brennan, Rick Washington,
 and Ken Fonville

Meanwhile, there is a short-list of replacements which Capt Heath, our Project Manager has been managing. which have yet to be announced.  It will include the selection of a new Captain, and possibly a Mate.  The hiring process is being unfortunately stretched, to my understanding, to accommodate peculiar marine insurance requirements.

Tony Marchesani and Mark Held
 waiting to transport burgers and chicken aboard.

Capt Davis, Frank Frazier,
 Ricki Washington, Hayden Hartley

As all that settles down I can report on our new access to an entire Google Drive Folder of  Educational Materials;  Curriculums, Lesson plans, teacher guides, games and activities created back n 2011 by the Low Country Maritime Foundation.  This sharply focuses our foggy notion of what educational programs might look like aboard. 

At end of the month, the Schooner Denis Sullivan is returning to Charleston with a manifest of Ashley Hall students, to drop them off after a 10-week, semester at sea.  She will be rafting up to us around noon on the 31st (Easter Sunday)  for only an hour or so, to disembark these students. Afterwards, she may be at the fuel dock.  On April 3, she will again raft up to us so she can host a Reception aboard for her recent Ashley Hall crew, their parents, and faculty of Ashley Hall. All that will be passing over our deck.  It's apparent that we've an excellent opportunity to showcase Spirit of South Carolina to this audience. Ashley Hall has been a past regular client, and has recently asked our status to hose education program cruises.  While we're not anticipating doing so for rest of the year, it's in our interest to cultivate the relationship.   Volunteers are the visible element to delivering the message.