A Vision for Spirit of South Carolina.

 Vision:  A vivid picture of some point in the imaginable future, described in the present tense, as if already happening.  The picture depicted is of a desired state or situation in sufficient detail to convey observable, measurable goals. It should be aspirational, not overly constrained by the present situation.  The depictions it covers should inspire donors, crew, visitors, guests, parents, vendors. 

A picture of  Spirit of South Carolina in the near future, could look like this:

Adopting the best models of Traditionally Rigged Wooden Sailing Ship organizations:  Spirit of South Carolina has sought out, listened to, and benefited from  experiences of successful tall ship syndicates that have weather past years of  economic downturns, epidemics, and political  turbulence.

Expanded Programs:  Spirit of South Carolina recognizes that, in order to generate revenue for sustainability and to support our youth programs, our participation target has expanded.  We are now involving adults and the general public in offering customized Tall Ship experiences and social events, with an underlying educational theme. Wherever the schooner sails or berths, her marketing campaign goes with her, touching those audiences.

Serve the State, and Focus on the Youth: Spirit of South Carolina's "raison d'etre" has always focused and will continue to focus on South Carolina's youth.  They are the future of our State. To that end, we are partnering with the South Carolina Aquarium, the International African American Museum, College of Charleston, Secondary Schools, Boy Scouts, and other State-wide educational institutions offering tall ships experiences in scale from afternoons, overnights, to weekend, and longer cruises. 

Home in Charleston, Spirit of South Carolina is taking a highly visible, prominent role in the revitalization of Union Pier as a City attraction showcasing the Low Country's Maritime Heritage. She is often seen docked at that location, drawing visitors as well as local population to the area,  offering tours, dockside attractions or taking on passengers for harbor cruises and onboard enrichment experiences. 

Other Ports of Call : On cruises, Spirit of South Carolina always has the gangway out, offering shipboard tours for a fee, dockside presentations, and outreach to the local tourism board. Depending on the duration of the Port Call, she is offering harbor cruises for revenue.

At Sea.  Daily life onboard for crew is a constant training opportunity, with experienced deckhands evaluated on their engagement with less experienced deckhands or guest crew, continuously coaching in ship maintenance, marlinspike skills, ship-handling, and seamanship.

Professional Development-Crew, Staff, Volunteers:  The humans not only operate the organization, they are building the brand. They are growing competencies that enhance the organization's effectiveness and efficiency.  They provide the continuity for succession and turn-over.  The support they are given is not an expense, it's an investment, whether in payroll, training, by-name recognition, certificates, or T-shirts.

Governance:  Our Board of Directors is engaged and are the ship's biggest fans. They are frequent visitors aboard. They are recognized and appreciated by the organization for their involvement, generosity, and demonstrated advocacy to the Charleston, South Carolina, and beyond.

First, some random questions answered, like flashlights shining into the dark, a dead end here or there, then a small sense of moving forward, and now a slow grind of building momentum.

 In my defense,, I have a few excuses for not posting in over 3 weeks.  Thanksgiving, visiting family, that included grandsons,, yeah, am I right? 

But there was a low simmer of activity going on. The first meeting resulted in getting a better understanding of the questions needing answers. And there were many, way many.  There were also many ideas tossed in, some of them worthy of sticking in the plan. Subsequent to a first "kick-off"  meeting, with the glimmer of hope rekindled by a donation offer, a loose group of volunteers, sailors, and just interested people took on various tasks.

On Wednesday, 3 December our ad hoc committee of interested people conducted our second meeting.  This time fourteen participants, four of which zoomed in, gathered in the huge Charleston Yacht Club Meeting Room. This time, our questions were more focused.  Hank Hofford, of the Board, attended, and provided much needed context around operations, activities and events of the past few years. Specific tasks were laid out in the meeting agenda with open invitations for participants to pitch in where they could help.  

The prescient issue remained the transfer of ownership of the schooner from Tommy Baker and Spirit of South Carolina Inc, over to a new organization, which has, well, not yet been organized.  The second task in front of us is to develop the Business Plan, the major milestone which would free the release of funds to begin the shipyard project.   Carin Bloom and Adam Reed agreed to take on that task, and they are well on the way to readying a draft for an In-Progress Review. Hank Hofford is approaching the owner to discuss the procedures for transferring ownership, including the likely need for legal consultation. Capt Hackett is also trying to hold on to the trio of shipwrights he had arranged with to start work. 

Our next meeting will be held on 14 January, to assess progress identify new issues.

A week ago- that would be Saturday, I made a quick decision to visit Spirit of South Carolina in Shipyard on the next day, Sunday.  I invited anyone of the steering committee with some flexibility to accompany me. Adam Reed fit that description. Earlier I had contacted our Shipyard Project Manager to confirm the shipyard was open over the weekend.  It had been over a month since I had last been on board, and ventilation of below decks, I suspected might become an issue given no one was living aboard to open hatches, regularly. In the previous two days, copious rainfall had soaked the low country, and I was a little concerned as to how much might've made its way below decks. 

On arrival, the manager on duty informed us, that while the shipyard was open, our schooner, Spirit of South Carolina was off limits. The Manager explained that the ship was two months in arrears for space rental fees due. No one was allowed to do any work aboard until it was resolved.  A short explanation about need to ameliorate probable mildew issues with ventilation, was sufficient to grant us access. We were escorted to the site, where Spirit of South Carolina sat on blocks, about a third of a mile beyond the office building. We promised to be done in an hour, but it took us almost two. Adam and I went thru each space below decks searching the piles of canvas, bedding, and cordage. Some musty smells were noticeable, and black spores were starting to form high on the bulkheads. 

Adam Reed and Bryan Oliver
after rigging all kinds of ad hoc
 coverings over open hatches
 to allow ventilation sans rain.

We pulled up large rolls of salvage sunbrella material from old awnings, and two large plastic tarps. partially opening each hatch  and butterfly, we positioned ball fenders and whatever bulky items  we could prop over the airways to keep the hatchway somewhat clear, yet covered from the next rainfall. Weighted objects spread over the tarp edges weighted them down, and we bowlined  fathoms of seine twine into corner grommets to stretch the  tarps out over the openings.  

A look at the port side, scene of most
 of the worm damage.

Before departing Adam inspected the hull and located the many areas of worm damage that will necessitate  the replacement of 600 feet of planking, according to the shipwright creating the estimate.

Bryan point towards the port stem waterline
 scene of repeated worm damage.

As of this posting, the Business Plan team is completing a first draft, preparing it to undergo a review by other sets of eyes selected for their experience in the functional areas of Tall Ship management.  Hank Hofford and Walter Barton, are consulting with other knowledge sources that will advance us thru the Transfer of Ownership process.  Stay tuned.