It's a long, long,.long way - it's a long way

Itaipú is far in the distance.

In between the hills, far on the horizon.

But that's where I'm heading tomorrow, in the morning.

Luiz Fernando has started building.

All templates for the frames where cut, and the is strongback assembled.

InshAllah!

Why not here in Rio?

Some more cool stuff from "The Horse's Mouth".

Bebel Gilberto

Indians

Short History of brazilian indigenous people
It is estimated that 6 million indigenous people lived in Brazil when the portuguese came here in 1500. They had 1.300 different languages. Main tribes were the Tupi, Guarani, Tupiniquim, and so many others lived here on these lands as well.
In the 1950 the antropologist Darcy Ribeiro estimated the residual populations to be about 100.00 people. 12 percent of brazilian land belongs to the indians, in reserves. Many seldomly see white people. But many oothers have adopted western habits.

História dos Índios
Em 1500, quando os portugueses chegaram ao Brasil, estima-se que havia por aqui cerca de 6 milhões de índios.
Passados os tempos de matança, escravismo e catequização forçada. Nos anos 50, segundo o antropólogo Darcy Ribeiro, a população indígena brasileira estava entre 68.000 e 100.000 habitantes. Atualmente há cerca de 280.000 índios no Brasil. Contando os que vivem em centros urbanos, ultrapassam os 300.000. No total, quase 12% do território nacional, pertence aos índios.
Quando os portugueses chegaram ao Brasil, havia em torno de 1.300 línguas indígenas. Atualmente existem apenas 170. O pior é que cerca de 35% dos 210 povos com culturas diferentes têm menos de 200 pessoas.

Mrs. Arpex

Mrs. Arpex doesn't drink.

Guarana

Guaraná is an amazonian fruit. It contains some sort of cafeine, which is used to produce stimulating brews, jucies and also softdrinks.

O Guaraná é um arbusto originário da Amazônia, encontrado no Brasil e Venezuela. Seu nome científico é Paullinia cupana e pertence a família Sapindaceae, descoberto no século XVIII pelo médico botânico alemão F. C. Paullini. Sua fruta possui uma substância parecida com a cafeína (guaraína) e devido a essa propriedade estimulante é usada para a fabricação de xaropes, barras, pós e refrigerantes. No Brasil é cultivado no estado do Amazonas e Bahia. A fruta possui casca vermelha e quando madura deixa aparecer a polpa branca e suas sementes, assemelhando-se com olhos. Na região próxima ao município de Maués, onde é cultivada, os índios da nação saterê-mawé tem lendas sobre a origem da planta.

Wikipedia article on Guaraná

Drinking

That's the best I can do today. Take to drinking...

To try lifting my morale, I'm endulging with a strange drink... "Boazuda", composed of wine, apple juice, catuaba and guaraná extracts. It is, of course, due to the amazonian catuaba and guaraná, which are both strongly "energetic", offered as a strong aphrodisiac. Might also have something to do with the suggestive artwork on the bottle. So, maybe just what I need today.

My visit in Itaipú, yesterday, was disapointing. While I thought we'd have the workshop all organized and ready to go, it wasn't. I actually thought we'd have the strongback ready. But it wasn't. I expressed my worries to Luiz Fernando about the construct start delay. I understand the issues causing the delay. Nevertheless, I'm worried. We have a long project ahead, and I am already comitted to it, since I have already bought 75% of material cost for the hulls. We have not yet initiated our contract. I will have to train my patience a little more. I'm already becomming a buddhist priest, ... in terms of patience.

The article below, extracted from Veja magazine, says Catuaba can make stopped hearts beat again, litterally raising the dead!!!

Catuaba:

Que a catuaba é uma planta vendida como afrodisíaco potente, isso já faz parte do folclore brasileiro. Mas que ela é capaz de reverter uma parada cardíaca?
É exatamente o que uma equipe da USP afirma ter descoberto: ao testar um composto com a planta em corações de coelho, os órgãos dos bichinhos voltaram a bater normalmente. A mistura usada pela equipe do professor Irineu Tadeu Velasco, do Departamento de Clínica Médica da universidade, é bem brasileira: catuaba, guaraná, gengibre e muirapuama, e foi batizada como "catuama".

Extrato de artiga na página da revista "Veja"

Arara sailing in Rio

Good times sailing Arara. Sailing out of the bay, like on this day, when I sailed to Praia Vermelha, requires having an eye on the tides. If you're cought outside when the tide goes out, there is no way you're manage paddling in again. There is no way other than waiting for the tide to swich, landing of Praia Vermelha, or accept a tow...

On these days like on the picture, with just a little breeze, I would confortabely lay down in the cockpit and enjoy the ride. In the afternoon sun, on a bight day, it is a guarantee of great views of the bay.

Tacking Outrigger

Three impressive images of tacking outriggers. One is a ilustration of a traditional tacking outrigger as they were used in Polinesia. This one is a samoan type of outrigger. They were used as short expedition vessels, as opposed to the catamarans, or double canoes that were used to carry loads and people.

And both pictures below are modern reconstructions, interpretations of tacking outriggers. Note, the interesting rig options. I'm currently struglling with my ideas concerning the rigging of Arpex.

The sky is no limit

Wouldn't it be great if we had time enough to swim, fly, bike, dive, surf, kite, climb, bike, drink, eat, laught, enjoy friends, sail, build boats, make love, dream...

Actually we do. In a life time we do. But just never quite enough...

What do you want to do with your life?

Fala sério!

ARPEX Construction

The boatbuilding has been struggling, and all activity plans have to be redone. 4 weeks after the start, we are 3 weeks late. Only the construction start party was smack on time and performed as planned. Even over performed! Enough to ruin my reputation, anyway. What a bummer...

But there is light. Luiz Fernando is back, working. He has given his workshop an upgrade, an thorough organization, and has now built the strongback.
Yes! I'll go and see something on Saturday!

Rio antigo - Urca?

The neighbourhood called Urca, is a result of a landfill, performed from 1919 util 1922. Before that, the steep sides of the Sugar Loaf would fall vertically into the water.

O bairro da Urca foi criado por aterro entre 1919 e 1922. Antes disto as rochas do Pão de Açúcar caim verticlamente no mar.

Heros

Our time lacks heros. Among my heroes are the sailors that push the limits, sailing at incredible speeds, under unimaginable emotional and physical distress around the globe. Francis Joyon has recelty sailed around the world in less than 60 days!!! His red catamaran IDEC is a beautyfull racing machine.

Hero - Definition by Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

1 a: a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability b: an illustrious warrior c: a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities d: one that shows great courage2 a: the principal male character in a literary or dramatic work b: the central figure in an event, period, or movement

Who are today's generation's hero's?

Arara Roots

Sorry that I don't translate the whole text below. It is interesting information on Araras. Besides their fabulous colour, they have a peculiar behaviour too. Considered intelligent, they live a monogamic life. Which is why they are commonly seen flying in couples through the sky. Hence the name for my double hulled canoe, Arara.

They live up to 70 years. Several of the many species are endangered of extinction, due to the devastation of their habitat, the tropical brazilian rainforests, and hunting for animal traffic. They need lots of room to develop. They take up to 2 years to reach maturity. They are an awsome sight, like a flying rainbow.

They are a symbol for Brazil and tropical South America. Even having polinesian roots, I wanted a typical Brazilian name, and reference for my tacking outrigger.

Aves notáveis por sua coloração e comportamento, as Araras atraem todos com sua simpatia. Juntamente com os Papagaios, são consideradas as aves mais inteligentes do mundo. São bastante longevas, chegando aos 70 anos de idade. Encontram-se espalhadas pelas Américas e, no Brasil, podem ser encontradas no Amazonas, no Nordeste e nas regiões do Planalto Central. Infelizmente o desmatamento e o tráfico ilegal de animais silvestres têm dizimado populações inteiras destas coloridas aves. Inúmeras espécies estão atualmente ameaçadas de extinção, entre elas a Arara-azul ou Araraúna (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus), e a Ararajuba (Aratinga guarouba). Algumas já são consideradas extintas Como a Arara-azul-pequena (Anodorhynchus glaucus) ou praticamente extintas Como a Ararinha azul (Cyanopsitta spixii) e a Arara-azul-de-Lear (Anodorhynchus leari).

A Arara Canindé possui o corpo predominantemente amarelo, com as asas azuis. Sua cabeça apresenta as cores branca, preta, amarela, azul e Verde. Já a Arara-vermelha possui a cabeça e o corpo vermelhos, com detalhes verdes, amarelos e azuis nas asas, variando com a espécie.

Reprodução: Monogâmicas, isto é, formam um casal Para a vida toda, as Araras vivem em bandos e nidificam em fendas de falésias e troncos ocos. O período reprodutivo ocorre entre OS meses de inverno e primavera. A fêmea coloca de dois a quatro ovos em intervalos de 2 a quatro dias entre um ovo e outro. O período de incubação dura a cerca de 28 dias. O macho é responsável por alimentar a fêmea durante todo este período. Após 12 semanas os filhotes saem do ninho já com aspecto semelhante aos adultos, porém irão depender dos pais por mais alguns meses. As crias podem se tornar muito brincalhonas e carinhosas se forem criadas à mão nas suas últimas etapas juvenis. Aos dois anos já exibem a plumagem de adulto.

Manutenção: Necessitam de bastante espaço onde possam se desenvolver de forma natural.

Fonte: Este texto foi reproduzido da página web do PetPage - uma página de informações sobre animais. Retirei algumas partes.

Carioca - Arpex

Pictures of the Carioca model with reefed mainsail. Pictures were taken in the rowing pool of the Guanabara Club. The probable future location of Arpex's mooring. The upper image gives a nice view of the waves created by the boat.

Early PowerPoint ilustration. Things have changed a little since then, but the overall idea stays the same. The daggerboard is gone, and also the canting wing mast. Cabin structure has gained some more volume.

Carioca - Arpex

Early computer renderings. ...

The boat would actually look really good at about 12meters. But cost would, of course, increase exponentially. Which is why Arpex will measure 9,2meters.

Heliconia Mobile

I started doing the Helicoonia Mobiles in 2005. I love the play of the elements. It is made of aluminum sheet and steel wire and red paint.

By now I must have made more than 15 different heliconia mobiles. But none of them is the same. They all have something in special. This particular one, below, is with Television Network Rede Globo right now. I have lent them 3 mobiles for decoration on TV novel sets (soap opera). They used one, called "Corvo" (Raven), in a telenovela about one or two years ago. It measures something like 60cm x 70cm. The upper mobile is much bigger, with about 120cm x 90cm. I made it for an american woman, Bonnie, who was living in Rio. It gave a nice touch to her big living room. It was, coincidentally the same appartment where I have been born! It was a strange feeling for me.

Sunday Heliconia

Duran Duran - Rio

I've found this video on the H2oH blog, by Craig. He posts great videos. It is one of the first videos, and shows nice sailing sequences. Simon LeBon has sailed on this boat Drum on the Withbread regatta.

I love these landscapes...

This is the Sugar Loaf as seen from the sea, looking towards the bay entrance. On the left extermety is Ilha Cotunduba. You can see the same image in the first scenes of the recently posted video. Ironoxide Corrosion on dacron sailcloth, from the series "Correntes".

The dark spots is old motor oil, applied as I rested a dity, oily chain on the Sugar Loaf during the tree days it took to make the oxidation work with water and crude salt. I did it in the backyard of the Castelinho. The cloth is nailed with copper nails and lashed to a wooden chassis. It measures 2,7meters x 90cm.

Incredibly cool

I found this incredible video on Youtube while reading the Horse's Mouth bolg.

Beautyfull.

It remembers me of the time I've trained my kiting skills on the flat, wet sands of Praia da Piedade, in Recife, NorthEast of Brazil. I lived in the Golden Tree Hotel, which had the beach right in front. At night, when I would come back to my room, from project work, they had floodlights bathing the beach in bright light. A 70meter broad, white and very fine sanded beach. A few people would allways be there walking or playing footbal (soccer).

When the tide went low, big, white, flat, wet and hard sand would appear. I trained my 8,5m2 kite several times in a feable, maybe 7-9kts breeze and would skid over the sand, wearing strap sandals. And train jumps. The kite was allways flying over the top of the coconut tree. But there was lots of room to fly. The wind came allways straight from the sea. It was allways very funny. And beautyfull. Specially when the moon was bright. Nice tropical nights.

Rio de Janeiro Bay entrance in video

Here is a video taken from the back side of the Sugar Loaf. One can actually almost walk up to the peak. It is a steep climb. But at one point, a 10meter edge requires ropes to make a safe climb. The Sugar Loaf is 350meters high. The viedeo is taken from about, maybe <>

Rio de Janeiro - my belowed landscapes

Nevermind the terrible narrator and music. The looks are nice.

Favela...

O Rappa - Minha alma

Ugly Reality.

A video with sequences from the favelas, the carioca slums.

Praia Vermelha

A few pictures of by belowed Praia Vermelha. I love its views, the oportunity for an occasional swim in the sea in walking distance from home. The Beach is next to the bay entrance. Therefore its waters are not allways well suitable for swimming. I usually consult the tides first. During high tide, the water coming in from the ocean is clean.

Los Hermanos - Samba a Dois

Correntes - Enseada de Botafogo

This is one of my works of the Correntes series. It shows the landscape of the Botafogo Bay, "Enseada de Botafogo", as seen from the water, just after entering the Bay.
It is made with ironoxide, corrosion, on a piece of Dacron sailcanvas. It is an old sail, with its structural elements, wear and tear adding to the structure of the "painting". It is tied to the wooden frame with strings and fixed with copper nails. It meaasures 110cm x 90cm. The high peak is the Corcovado Mountain and the lower one to the left is Gávea. The ironoxide corrosion paints interesting patterns on the canvas.

Rita Lee acoustic

An acoustic version of Rita Lee.

Rita Lee Grafitti

Nice grafitti portrait of brazilian rock singer Rita Lee. It is painted on the walls of the Federal University on the Praia Vermelha campus - on the way to Praia Vermelha Beach.

Santa Cruz

Nice view from the other side of the bay, on the mountain side above the Santa Cruz Fortress. On the other bayside, opposed to Santa Cruz, lies Fortaleza São João. In colonial times, they formed the first defensive stations on the entrance of the Guanabara Bay.
The picture also gives a nice view of the "outer" face of the Sugar Loaf. It is there that I went for a walk yesterday.
The peak in the distance is the Corcovado Mountain, with the Crist Statue. The bay is to the right and the Atlantic Ocean to the left. The tide is running in, as can be seen on the foam, forming on the rocks below of Santa Cruz and its high stone walls. The clouds in the distance are forming above the vast Tijuca National Park, where the rainforest is soaked with humidity.

The sun is back!

Today the sun came back. After long and exhaustive raining, we did a smal walk to the outer side of the Sugar Loaf. AS you can see, you get a nice view of the bay entrance. In the distance you can actually see Itaipú Beach. It is in the center of the horizon.

Meu caro amigo

"Meu caro amigo", de Chico Buarque.

Living colours

No samba queen pictures, no boatbuilding.... The only alternative is to go deep into the hart of Brazil, thousands of miles form the sea, and go see what's going on in the Pantanal Lodge of our friend Lucas and Musa. They run a charming lodge, deep in the swampland of the Pantanal, a gigantiic natural reserve with amazing wildlife. Check it out:
http://pantanal-lodge.blogspot.com/

Arpex construction

Yesterday I spoke to Luiz Fernando. He has gone through a battery of tests, and all seems well. He is eager to start building on Monday. As much as I would welcome the building action, I guess I will ask him to wait until we have an oficial medical word on that. I would be catastrophic to have to interrupt building in half stage...

Since there is nothig going on there yet, I will not go to Itaipú this weekend.

The inevitable.... END

It's over. The phantastic season of the year, Carnaval, is over. Only next year are we going to enjoy the crazy, foolish action in the streets again. It's true, rain has dampened spirits this time. But none the less I enjoyed to follow the action remotely. And now it's all over.

... since we are in Brazil, and we can never get enough, there are still some blocks in the streets though... maybe I should...?

And the winner is.... Beija Flor de Nilópolis

The samba school Beja Flor has won the samba school contest for the 5th time in 6 years. The queen of the bateria, Raissa, deserves the honour. She is to be seen on the lower picture. Selminha Sorriso is the flag holder. She honours her name (sorriso=smile).

Rainha da bateria

Wikipedia:
Rainha de bateria é uma mulher escolhida pelos ritmistas para representar a ala de percussão de uma escola de samba do carnaval brasileiro. Soninha Capeta,desfilando pela Beija Flor no carnaval de 1988, foi a primeira rainha de bateria. Não confundir com madrinha de bateria.

The "Queen of the Bateria" is a woman chosen to represent the percussion of a samba school. The percussion, bateria, is formed by 60 musicians with percussion instruments. The queen is responsible for bringing the spirits up during the 80 minute performance in the sambodromo. She needs to be a good samba dancer.

Moro num país tropical!!!

Two versions of the same song. The phantastic Jorge Benjor, and his "País Tropical". The "ao vivo" type of performance is more of his style.

Who cares about speed records?

Let's be honest; who cares about speed records in cold Germany?

From whatever side you look at it, in colour or black and white, carnival in Rio still rules!

50Kts world record broken!

The 50kts speed barrier has been broken in northern Germany. Tilmann Heinig has clocked 500 meters at 50,9 knots.

Tim Maia 1971

Carnival still pulsing

It ain't over yet! The samba is still in the streets.

Watch out!!!

You better take care; If you keep our eyes too much on the dancing action, you might miss a mischiveuous approach.

Brazilian Mermaid

Brazilian Carnaval brings many things to sight. Also mermaids... well guarded by some sideous looking sharks.

Memaid series are a tempting challenge. But, unfortunately I can't afford that. Only a carnavalesk pretext allows me to post about miscelaneus content. Maybe just once in a while, just to keep the coulour in the compound of visual information.

Carnaval is also sound and movement

Mind you, carnival is not just beautyful images, it is also sound and movement. Actually, it is mainly sound and movement. The images are just a by-product. But that's ok. Make sure you have your boxes on, and the volume up. Note, these images were taken at a rehersal...

Golfinhos fazendo arcos de ar

Este vídeo é incrível!

Finalmente descobri como fazer para postar vídeos do Youtube. E este vídeo foi escolhido para ser o primeiro. Não é incrível?

Carnival. Last day...