After a wonderful break with our pals we got the train back to Rochester on the bank holiday Monday and went straight to the boat. We needed to prepare her for the riggers. Insurance required the standing rig be replaced so we got this done with the mast up in the yard.
Noel removing the furling and head foil. Servicing the back stay adjuster.
Kevin the rigger would have preferred the mast down as it would be quicker by 1/2 a day with only the one run to his shop. We did see if this could be done but not here at MYC and the local marina could not fit us in for 3 weeks. We got the furling and headstay foil removed which is a tough job on Noels arms and shoulders as most his just up from where your strength is. I was little help simply catching the bits and keeping the area clear. We got it done in great time and pulled the split rings from the turn buckles or bottle screws as they are called here. Uber back to Rochester high street to catch the end of the sweeps festival and up to Heather and Alans for the night.
Slipway with the tide high.
Tuesday up early and to the club, Alan is very generous with his time and has often drive us down or picked us up. We were all set when Kevin and Josh showed up. They did the lowers 1st. Keven has a great Bosin chair with stirrups bridled to climbing clamps. He hoisted his own climbing rope up and then standing to raise the upper climber clamp would then sit and raise his knees to raise the lower climbing clamp. Quick and efficient. Lowers off and away they went. Back for the uppers stays same day so the mast was left with one spreader on one off and just the lowers holding her up. The next day they were by and job was done by early PM. Kevin has just gotten to the top and the rain came for a really solid 45 min shower. He kept working and had some hot tea when he got down. Vicki and I had gone and done a bit of a shop for food things returning just and the rain started. James and Vicki are hauled out next to us and are fixing up a new to them boat and doing a lovely job. That evening after we had put the head sail foil back together we had dinner with them at their place. Wonderful fun and we managed to get soaked again on the walk over.
Kevin climbing
Kevin at the mast head changing a bulb for us.
Toots returns to her cradle from getting the mast down for work 
Vicki polishing
James and Vicki getting the decals on 
Trevor and his pal working away.
Thursday they got their mast down for new electronics (they are deck stepped). This involved moving their boat to the crane and back to its cradle. Very social this boat working in a yard. We had to tighten the rig and re raise the head sail a few times before it was happy. Noel serviced the back stay adjuster and continued to get things sorted. Later Thursday I was up the mast to rig flag halyards and got a few photos. This evening concluded with a feast at Charlie and Abi's. Great fun.
Beautiful evening, SV Polar Bear on the pontoon
View down stream 
View up stream
Launch on Friday was the plan, high water (HW) about 4 PM. Steve came by with the travel lift early so we could use the fork lift for Noel to replace the AIS antenna mounted behind the radar dome. Its been giving us grief for a while so hopefully this is the fix. Friday flew by in a blur not stopping to eat. Steve the Bosin moved us to the top of the slipway and when the time was right we were launched. We were in the cockpit quietly having a coffee with Bob and the travel lift started. We all jumped a mile. Steve laughed, we suspect this has happened before. Noel was a bit too keen and Steve reminded him 1st the sling needed to get dropped and no he was not in the mud just the slings. Bob came with us to the club pontoon which is for loading and watering your boat not really for being tied up to over night, unless your working or getting life rafts delivered. They have water, no power so we tested the solar panels. They work a treat when its sunny! We had Rowland deliver the lift raft, sell us new life jackets and then Kevin and Josh appeared with the anchor chain and then Heather and Alan came down looking for a pint but the club house did not open till 6 so we ended up getting take out and ate at their house. This enabled us to clear our stuff after a month from their front room. Alan then drove us back to the boat before it was dark so we could see our way onto the boat. All was good and we slept like logs.
Tidy up and hoist the dingy on deck
Getting the anchor up on deck
Kalinka 1 passing the MYC Office. Steve with more machinery to command.
Noel replacing the AIS antenna
Tide rising
Steve laughing after we jumped as he started the engines no warning. We were having our first coffee of the day too!
Team effort
Happy Noel
Kevin and Josh with perfect timing!
Bob helping load 50M of new chain.
Saturday there was racing at the club and we were out of the way on the inside of the pontoon continuing with the "To do" list. Smaller boats raced on Saturday went out just in time for a good soaking rain shower and then Sunday was the bigger boats. Hope the pictures reflect the fun. The club was hopping they had held a big meeting regarding the proposed expansion/renovation/update to the main club house.
Noel flaking the anchor chain. Solar panels working fabulously.
Windlass poor connection located.
Still trying to sort the windlass 
The wee new one was rust and dust in side.
Wayfarer's to the finish, Saturday racing
Spinnaker fleet on the home stretch
Sunday Racing, we are still sorting systems on board. 
Pontoon end of the start line must have been favored Muskrat Rambler seems to have had a great start.
Not sure who won but they all had a ball
Strong tied, blustery, and narrow course makes for interesting racing. Please to report no collision nor excessive shouting.
And so ends this blog....We hope you have enjoyed it.
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