On the evening of November 17, Spirit of South Carolina hosts a private sail for a group of about two dozen guests who are getting to know the ship and considering how they might support her. This is one of the most important evenings on our fall calendar, and volunteers make a real difference in how it goes.

Most of these guests want to take part in sailing the ship, and many of them have sailing experience of their own. They will be invited to haul on halyards, ease sheets, and stand at the rail as we work Spirit through Charleston Harbor in the late afternoon. Volunteers work beside guests, show them which line to take and when, and help them understand what the crew is doing and why. For a lot of these guests, the person working next to them on deck will be their clearest picture of what…