This past Saturday's Volunteer Day began on a different note for the seven Volunteers, Nate Mack, Dave Brennan, Ryan Smith, Stephen Folwell, Alex Lya, Ken Fonville, Walter Barton, and Doug Hartley, who mustered aboard. Alex was welcomed back sporting a wrist cast on his left arm. (He has a story); Doug had just returned from his first blue water solo cruise across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas. But that's not the different note.
Volunteer Coordinator Bryan Oliver kicked off the Muster as usual with a layout of the day's projects to be taken on. But before breaking out on those tasks, Bryan started a topic new to most Volunteers; Shipboard culture/the way we do things/ standard operating procedure/ whatever you may call it. It's the mundane routine of shipboard life-day-to-day at dock and at sea, that ensures shipboard harmony, good hygiene, order and discipline among people who work and live together in close, non-private conditions. It's a subtle but significant component of good Seamanship.
Actually it's not so new to volunteers, everyone who's come aboard has learned the deck habits of caring for, and stowing tools and hardware back in proper locations, securing hatches and coiling/hanging all lines prior to mustering off at end of the day. This time, Bryan walked the Volunteers thru the routine of caring for below decks, particularly the Saloon, the Heads, and Galley. There is a standard operating procedure for use and stowage of kitchenware, cleaning materials; a discipline for cleaning up the Galley, and keeping the Saloon table clear. As Volunteers spend more time aboard, and the Galley starts getting used more often for meal preparation, Shipboard culture takes on greater significance.
One volunteer began checking all 5 bilges.
Another finished cleaning up the Galley and l Saloon table
Two volunteers disappeared into the forepeak to secure Grease and Tar buckets that were discovered loose from their hanging hook and resting in top of the anchor chain in precarious about-to-tip-over positions. The tar bucket was lifted out and disposed in trash.
The Bilge Check revealed the usual suspects; Forecastle was showing 18 inches depth after less than a week. Ryan led Ken and Alex below to the engine room for a Pump-out tutorial.
Doug began assessing the Dory Damage and laying out a project plan for repair and restoring her to use.
Walter and Bryan wrestled with gorilla double-faced jello-tape attempting to affix the replacement letters for the Gangway Steps, only to find it unworkable, and settle with the included double-faced tape.
Nate and David worked on calculating dimensions for a replacement telephone pole to control the Yokohama fenders.
As the projects progressed, Ryan took lunch orders from the rest and phoned in a carry out from East Bay Deli for lunch.
After lunch break, Volunteers completed projects, and began securing tools and materials, saving for last, the task of doubling up all dock lines.
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