Volunteers Make use of Lessons Learned improve the experience for Impact Charleston Youth

Only two days later, on 19 July, a slightly different volunteer crew mustered on Friday, at 0900, this time, to take on board another Group from Impact Charleston, for underserved Youth in the City. With lessons learned from our first every Charter and this group. Volunteers were better prepared. 

Friday was to be a regular hot humid day with a light breeze. With an expected full complement of 17 or more youth plus a couple of chaperones, coupled with favorable light conditions, it was perfect for setting three sails, Jib, Jumbo and Foresail. At 0900, Bo'sun Bryan mustered the volunteers on deck and laid out the days agenda. The previous day, they had received an email with the Watch Bill, assigning volunteers to one of two watches under a Volunteer Watch Captain. Each watch would take on a specific responsibility during deck prep and sea stowing, embarkation, casting off and docking, etc. That plan enabled the entire crew to immediately lay in on their assigned responsibilities. The payoff was that all preparation was completed in time to welcome aboard our participants. 

First task was to take down and stow the huge midships Portside Awning.

 At 1030 Bryan met the adult leader at the IAAM to quickly explain the boarding process. Five minutes later, Bryan stopped the group at the "T" of the face dock. He introduced himself and offered the welcome-aboard message with a quick explanation of what they were about to experience. He then asked the Chaperone to split the group in to two equal sizes. Bryan then designated the Starboard Watch and Port Watch and sent them single file to the gangway for boarding. Volunteers on both ends of the gangway ensured a safe crossover. Once all aboard the gangway was taken off, Volunteers took in dock lines, Nick in e small boat nudged the bow outward for a clean break off of the dock. Colleen of the Baker Group, had brought aboard 2 coolers of bottled water, and sandwiches from Jason's Deli. The crowd voted for an early lunch. That was a good decision, in that it eliminated what would otherwise be a major distraction in the last part of the cruise, which required participation by passengers. As soon as the small boat pulled alongside and discharged the shore team. Bos'un Bryan called to "Standby the Foresail". At the dock, volunteers had already "dressed" the head rig, and the foresail, laying out the halyards, casting off downhaul coils, sheets, and sail gaskets. Volunteers organized participants by watch, equally on both halyards and then explained the drill to their team as well as expected commands. This time, the emphasis on a rhythm set by an impromptu Shanty, the Foresail rose slowly up the mast. The Port Watch raised the Jumbo, followed by the Starboard Watch setting the Jib. Next was coiling and hanging. That concluded Teamwork lesson #1. Sail setting evolutions were improving immensely, and some of us wistfully stared back at the still furled mainsail. Soon, as our crew competence increased and crew numbers filled in, we'll be sending up the Mainsail too.. That would be "Full Press". 

Sighting in on Ft. Sumter before
 taking a compass bearing 

 With sails full and drawing, the Watches split with their crew "coaches " across three different learning stations. One group moved aft to the helm for orientation on points of sail, steering, taking a bearing off the binnacle compass. The other watch gathered around a double-block Handy-Billy for a demonstration of "purchase". Volunteers first set up a Tug o' War on a 3 fathom rope. With sides of roughly equal weight, each side with exuberance heaved away trying to force their opponents off their feet. After just a few moments, their watch Captain stopped the competition, declared a winner, then set up a different scenario, this one with a double becket block at one end with a pendant, and a double block at the other end. 

Students line up on the line
tugging against their coach,
who has the 4:1 advantage.

 The group then selected three strong members to take up on the pendant, while one light-weight member elected to take up the standing line leading out of the double becket block. 

 The Volunteer Coach set up each end for ready, set, PULL. Each side dug in and began the strain. Not a few participants were awed as the single person on the standing line, straining herself, was actually pulling inches of line, inch by inch, while the three "strapping lads, were gradually pulled forward, finally across the marker. Simple tools, and physics, ..and teamwork. 

Coach sets  to take up the strain
 against his all of his students. 

As the schooner made her mark just north of Fort Sumter, we tacked onto a reverse course for the Ravenel Bridge. Watches switched over their activities, and continued, until Captain Bobby informed the Bos'un that the schooner was tacking and bound for the dock. On that directive, the crew and participants set to taking sail and setting up dock lines. One by one, sails came down in reverse order, Jib, Jumbo, and finally foresail. 

The small boat was sent off with two crew to take lines on the dock and send over the gangway. 

As was he day before, the combination of contrary tides working against river currents made for a confused stretch of water directly in our path to the dock.  Capt Bobby took his time powering forward, then letting the water push her backwards slowly closer, almost backing us up to the dock.  Heaving lines sent across over the heads of our shipmates on the dock enabling them to grab the lines up short and more quickly pull the dock lines across.   As soon as all dock lines were sent across and secured, the shore team was dragging across the gangway, and reaching for the falls swung up from the deck.  In minutes the gangway is set, and, with confirmation by the Chaperone, passengers began streaming up the gangway, spreading along the dock to take a last photo. As the last ones disembark, the crew reverts to securing the deck, stowing gear, and making her ready for the next morning, when some of them will be returning to start all over again.  This time with Coaches for Character, and a group of exceptional students.