Masts are unstepped, Allowing a New Discovery of an Ancient Tradition.

Around Midmorning, Rigger, Stephan began

securing the last remnants of rigging still secured to the masts shrouds, halyard blocks, boom lifts, all tightly lashed at the bottom of the mast  to stabilize their tendency to swing their weight in unpredictable ways, endangering the crane operator or anyone else nearby. The Foremast is now clear  and horizontal, being aligned onto its cradle. 

A close look at all the rigging remaining attached at the foremast top. The huge Yoke-looking cable is the forestay, with headsail halyard blocks still attached.. The remaining Shrouds under the forestay demonstrate how all rigging was doubled around the mast and seized together at the bolsters.   All standing rigging Is being inspected, then where worn off, will be wormed, parceled and served, then painted over with a preservative.   

The Search for  The Coin

Since Roman times, shipbuilders and sailors would place coins, of any denomination, at the base of their mast, the most recessed lowest bottom part of their boat or ship , where it would remain always, to be used as fare to the Boatman, Charon, for souls lost at sea, enabling safe passage across the river Styx, from the underworld to the Afterlife. 

Sailors, being superstitious, for thousands of years, honored that tradition. It was honored in 1879 when Francis Elizabeth, Spirit of South Carolinas namesake, was built, and again in 22, when Spirit of South Carolina was launched.  We found the coin after lifting her mainmast, an 1879 Silver dollar.  It remains undisturbed awaiting again the stepping her mainmast.  Volunteers gave the coin a short touch for luck, if you believed that, or for some reason more spiritual.. After all, the coin has never been needed. Who would want to break that?

The base of the Foremast, displaying the implant of two copper coins, likely pennies,  which would suffice for any lowly sailor.  Like the silver dollar, they remain undisturbed.

Now its waiting a day for the Coast Guard inspectors to come. Until then we cannot touch these masts.

Before the After, pre dismasting.
readying for mast cleaning and rubbing off grime.
 Some random hardwares scattered in the container.
 Once the mast rigging is taken down, it will be mostly full.

111111111

Coast Guard satisfied.  it really Starts with sanding off endings of each mast for closer inspection.