New wardrobe for Camelot

Everything is arriving at once, the water tanks are back and sitting in the bilge, while the painting and varnishing of the cockpit is finished. We were surprised to find these three blue packages sitting by our front door, an early arrival of our sails from Hong Kong!

Nice, new, white "wardrobe" stacked neatly on the boom, now to decide on an overcoat (new sailcover) colour style etc, decisions, decisions!!!
The staysail also needs a new coat due to increase in size!!,

Neil was sent aloft hoisted by the muscular Jackie to release the forestay for the fitting of its outer coating of a roller furling,
All was going well and after several remeasures assembly began, until as usual, a problem!!

One of the tracks is damaged. Feeling a bit disillusioned, riggingonly.com was contacted and brilliant service within 15 min they had spoken to Harken and another piece of track is on its way!!!! So hopefully the furler will be up on Thursay and we can get back to attacking the anchorages around the bay.

Modern day Knights gone soft

Todays Knights need soft, comfortable beds. After careful measuring of the space, and allowing for the flare of the hull, Jackie is ready to attack our new mattress with our electric caving knife.

To China camp and back

New knights on board a recce of China camp was made with refreshments and adult beverages while we surveyed the place for possible future landings and invasion!! We were spotted and checked out by their Chinese Junk and we headed back, the wind and sea's built to put up a good fight and dowsed some of new knights with the salty stuff, but alas we arrived safe and sound for a feast and review the days scouting.

Water tanks.....can we do it.....Yes we can!

After weeks of head scratching and hair pulling Neil sent off his tank design to the tank man in L.A., who promptly made the tanks.
Overjoyed with the prompt service Neil inspected the tanks and found that the baffles (small walls inside tanks to stop 160 gallons of water sloshing about) that were supposed to be inside were still sitting on a shelf in the tank making factory.
So we decided to try them for size before they were returned.
Sunday was spent, in the beating sun, heaving, pushing, pulling, dropping, and finger squashing them into and OUT (very hard work) of the bilges. ( See photos)
So they fit, and we are happy about that, can't wait to have to do it all again when they return.

Also new topside paint and non skid, we're the shiniest boat on the dock!

Time to be measured for a new "suit of armour".

Measuring up for a new set of sails didn't take too long.
Peter our sailmaker set about the task with vigour.
Tape measure hauled up the mast to measure the height, sightings from the dock to check everything, and away we go, off to Lee sails in Hong Kong with our order. In 4 weeks time they should arrive, and be ready for a test sail.

July 4th.....more Knights meet at Camelot

Boiling hot, and ready for a cooling sail, we set sail for Paradise bay for a July 4th picnic and swim.
Swim I hear you cry in Northern California.........yes Tessa and Jackie take the plunge.
Breaching the high walls to return to Camelot was no picnic, wet damsels had to be winched back on board.
Arthur needs to buy a swim step!

The amassing of the knights begins on Camelot

Iain and Christine tentatively pull up their chairs around the round table, and join us on our maiden voyage.
Battling the wind, and waves we dodge the barges and negotiate under the bridge.
Out of the high winds we dance around the south bay, playing and enjoying the way she sails.
Safely into harbour, time for a light refreshment, and cheers to Camelot.