Toy Story

I finally got around to taking my water toys to the boat. The big items are my windsurf board/sails and my scuba dive gear. I've been putting it off because I didn't think it would all fit. Anyway the big windsurf board is on the forward port stanchions and the dive tanks went in the bilge after I cleaned and dried it out. Should have done it ages ago. I've stopped working on the boat by midday as it's too hot, and it's only 75! A sure sign how little work I'll get done when it's 90!

The giant 8.5 meter windsurf sail I'm taking with me. 
Great fun in light winds, but it gets overpowered quickly.

Official launch date

I'm planning to cast off July 5th around 9am. I have to wait for the tides in the South Bay to flush me up to the city and to get sufficient depth to leave my Marina. Ive handed in my notice at the Marina and it will be sad to leave there, everyone has been great, especially Ian the harbormaster.

Waiting to head out the golden gate and turn south

My wife (Allison) and my 2 girls (Sophie 13 and Lisa 11) want to do the first leg down to Halfmoon bay as they haven't sailed under the Golden Gate bridge yet. I've been out many times, but we have never managed to do it all together.

I started to installed a high water alarm in the bilge today and also finished plumbing in the water maker to my main tanks. Everything looks good at the boat, I see no reason for delays. There are a few more jobs to complete, like the RADAR mount on the mast that is loose, but instead of re-riveting it, I'm going to replace it with a gimbaled mount that will still work when the boats heeled over.

Last week at home

Its hard to imagine that I will be casting off in a few days now. Had a relaxing weekend and managed to catch a few world cup matches on TV. Sad to see the US team dropped out as well as the UK.

We made plans for a house for our new pet duck who is 3 weeks old and has moved into our pond after being in the brooder for a few weeks. Ali found her running around the tennis courts just a few days old and rescued her.

She can't fly yet, so she runs around the garden exploring. I'm not sure how long she will stay once she can fly, but its great fun having her here now, very entertaining as she chases after the fish and swims underwater!

There are quite a few other jobs that need doing around the house and garden, but I'm sure I will be more motivated to do them when I get back home from time to time.