A short cruise to Ilha Grande

I apologise to all readers of this blog for the intermittent posting. However, my internet connection has failed on me over the last 10 days.

I'm still dreaming of the days in the islands, with lazy sailing in a paradise. So, here is a video with a few of the shots, to whish everybody a great new year and a prosperous decade!!! May we all have less worries, and more sailing, more time for making our dreams become reality, more love, more friendship and happiness!!! Scol! Get inspired!

Sail to Ilha Grande - Sitio Forte

On the first day, we took off early in the first light, under engine. The little wind we had came from the North. A light rain didn't bother. It actually gave a peculiar touch to my silent and solitary departure. The rest of the crew didn't bother waking up in early morning. And I didn't mind at all. I was eager to get to sea. As I fired the engine at 6:30 am., the boat was already half undone from its quayside moorings, and in no time I was in the channel of Bracuhi Marina, and heading out to the islands in a calm sea. The bimini held the rain off, and the cockpit was tolerably dry and cosy. My old friend, the light foul weather jacket, came in handy to keep me comfortable.

As we approached the islands Paquetá and Itanhangá, after 30minutes of motoring at 5-6 knots, the wind picked up slightly. Still blowing from the North, it made the islands' anchorage a bit exposed, and not suited for the breakfirst I had in mind. And since the crew was still fast asleep, I decided to move on to Jipóia Island, to seek a well protected and solitary anchorage over there. And since the wind had picked up, I opend up the genoa too. Afterall, I came for sailing. And that is what I did, slowly, in a following wind.

As we came closer to Jipóia Island, the crew came to life. The approach to the small and isolated Praia das Amendoreiras, was all I came here for. We admired the wild vegetation of the Island. It sparkled in deep, fresh green, gleaming in the first timid flashes of sunlight. Clean and washed from the morning rain, all vegetation seemed to bust out in vigour. The first morning heat produced clouds of vapour steaming up from the forest. The sea invited for a swim in its esmerald waters. The temperature of the water was such, that you just didn't want to come out of it any more...

After swimming, exploring and breakfirst, we moved on to Ilha Grande. The wind had now veered to a more Easterly direction. After we cleared the Jurubaiba Point, the wind gifted us with an easy close reach, right into Sitio Forte, where we would find a safe and quiet anchorage.

In a lucky stike, we saw a couple of fishermen in a small boat, working on some nets. A quick approach and negotiation rendered us with a bucketfull of still-alive fish. Smartly, the negotiation included killing and gutting. Shorly later, after a heavy tropical downpour, the fish made a beautifull figure on our grill. A white wine kept them in good company, during our splendid dinner.

The heavy rain can be seen on video above, approaching from the West. It came as no surprise. The only suprise was, that the rain waited, until we had our hook planted, and the boat cleared for the night at anchor.

Late Christmas Greetings

Over the Christmas days I took a long awaited short break. It had been too long a time, that I spent without actually going sailing. To spend some time on the water, we rented a Brasilia 32, a very popular monohull from the 80-ies, and spent 5 days sailing the islands of Ilha Grande. My original plan was to go only with Adriana. But in a last minute turnaround, we took my friend Kiko and his 6 year old daughter Carmem along.

We had a great time together, surrouded by stunning natural beauty. The weather was sweet, blessing us with a most amazing set of weather patterns. All of the very beningn sort. In all a most extraordinary Christmas time, with a sky glittering with stars on Christmas evening.

I hope that you all also have had a good time over Christmas, joining your families and friends. And I hope you have a peacefull time, with a good start into 2011 comming up.

I'll post a couple of pictures of our short cruise shortly, as soon as I have edited them.

Rio Soberbo

The tropical rainforest covering the steep mountains of the Serra do Mar, around Rio the Janeiro, is one of the sweetest settings, in my opinion.

Stainless

Minster Palma is being so kind to help me with building all the rudder-hardware. Here he is showing the socket for the rudder tube, through which the stainless steel rudder-shaft will come to the steering quadrant.

An Eco Fishing Boat. by James Wharram

A design contest gave a brief for an under 10m boat for fishing under sail or oar. This sort of "eco boat" is relieved from certain restrictions by fishing license regulations in European waters.

The picture above shows what James Wharram came up with. A lovely little cat, in an unusual but very interesting configuration. The boat can be equiped with one or two cuddies, which provide adequate shelter. For tropical climates it could be equipped with a tent, for use while on anchor.

In my view Wharram has achieved a cool mix between Polinesian lightness and flexibility and English solidity.

I very much like the desing. I would even like to build one. However, in several aspects Arpex is quite similar to this. But having detailed plans available by Hanneke and James, that would be really cool.

Finally sail again...

I've been away from the sea for too long. I've decided to resume this silly situation, over the Christmas days. The fine boat above, a Brasilia 32 will help me in this endeavour.

The Itchin' Feeling

The itching feeling got the better of me. All through Saturday morning, I couldn't help but feel that something was wrong. So I drove out to Ramos, even if just to ease some clamps and check out how the bed bench is comming out. The answer is: "So-So..." But it will work.

And I also just sat down, and took my time to look around and have a beer. While I took a good scrutinzing look at the things I had built all along this past year.

Year End Nearing

The last wo weeks have seen no activity in terms of boatbuilding. Part of the blame can be credited to our little urban war, here in Rio de Janeiro. But thngs have calmed down now. The good seem to have achieved the upper hand for a while now, while the bad have evaporated into the crooks and nannies of the favelas.

But apart from that, the end of the year is nearing, and whith it the social obligations. Streets are full of cars, and traffic jams are the order of the day if you decide to drive around. So it comes, that I'm resignating into a "no-more-work-this-year" scenario. I'm tired and need some rest.

Last weekend we did just that. Resting. Few places are better to chill out, than the exuberant tranquility of the great boulders of the Rio Soberbo river. Just a short 90km drive puts you out into the spicy air of the jungle, the wonderfully fresh water, and the smooth, hot granite bouders. There is something wonderfully relaxing in cooling down in the water, under a waterfall, and then heating up, on the hot stones again - over and over.

But something inside me keeps tickling my mind, and urging me to drive out, to the shed.

I love Rio de Janeiro

After the big turmoil of the last week, things have calmed down a bit, here in Rio de Janeiro. But a slightly alarmed atmosphere persists among cariocas. Normality is not yet fully re-established. Yesterday, I've whitnessed a sad situation, involving heavy guns, a crashed car, and a dead body.

Last weekend we saw the re-conquest of one big slum area, the Morro do Alemão, which's territory was being controlled by armed drug gangs. On Sunday the police entered the perimeter , with armed tanks from the Brazilian Navy Forces.

Me and most other cariocas are saddened, by the pain caused to many families, by this war-like conflict. But one the other hand we feel, that it is a necessary and healthy process. It is time that the law is re-established for all citizens of Rio.

Despite all this misery, Rio de Janeiro is a marvelous city. The beauty of its inhabitants, and the gorgeous beauty of its natural settings is mesmerizing to me. I like to live in this place, even if we sometimes suffer, from the restrictions inflicted by urban violence. If our government manages to install order, we could all go back to carry on living happily, in our sunny jungle-beach city.

Turmoil in Rio

Rio de Janeiro is suffering under a bit of a turmoil, caused by drugdealers and their gangs. In the last 3 decades, armed gangs have ruled unbothered over slum areas, the favelas, where they allways found a safe haven for their ilicit business. The labyrithic, unpenetrable, and highly populated areas gave them protection.

However, in the last 2 years the government has iniciated a strategic, long term plan to regain the territories, claimed by the gangs. Strong police action has driven them out of some communities, with subsequent, permanent installation of police stations, and gangsters are loosing ground.

In a desperate reaction, these villains have gone over to terroristic acts. They are randomly putting public transportation buses and private cars on fire.The aim is to drive fear into the population, and to make a statement of power.

But the result has been the oposite. The population, tired of random violence and fear, is backung up decidedly all police action, to restore the law. The society feels that it is, in fact, a sign of weakness and desperation.

To put an end to the turmoil, the police is joining forces with the army and navy to confront the gangsters in their ratholes. The result is a rather uncivilised, belical confrontation.

Since Ramos, where I build my boat, is right next to the hotspot of action, my Saturday boatbuilding has been veto-ed by the Admiral. Personnaly, I do not believe in letting my freedom be constrained by such things. And I don't think that the Club is in the line of fire either. But, in order not to worry my loved ones, I'll try not to drive out, to build my boat, tomorrow.

Models

The construction of models is an excellent way to learn boatbuilding techniques, and the challenges involved in such a project. I've had great fun in building models from early on. And before I started my first boat, the Arara canoe, I've produced a small model.

As a result from my learnings with the model, Arara came out in a totally different configuration. The model was thought as a proa, while my canoe, despite being a double ender and having a palindrome as a name, was rigged as a tacking outrigger.

Turn of events

In a surprising turn on events, I've managed to put in some extra hours on Arpex, this Sunday. Making the best out of a weekend without my girl, who crossed the country to Fortaleza, to make a presentation of her theater piece, I decided to push the gluing of the bed-bench a little furhter.

And so I did. Things need to be glued on in place, since nothing obeys straight angles. Everything needs to be cut to fit. After some two hours of gluing, I went to have lunch with Jonas. And a delicious lunch it was!

Red flag?

This blog has the colateral effect of being some sort of virtualised conscience to me. I sometimes catch me thinking; "Hell, I need to move on with my construction! It's going to look bad in my monday report, if I say, that I went to the beach, for a ride on the bike, instead of gluing the mast base..."

Sounds ridiculous. But what can I do? In the end of the day, it is a good thing. Keeps me moving on. I say this, because keeping the drive and motivation up, is hard sometimes. Last few weeks have been of the hard sort. I allways get slightly alarmed when this happens, and try to find the true causes for the affliction.

I suppose I have pointed some out, for this case. One has got to do with the current phase of construction. The furbishing and finishing of the cabin is a complex task, and it has no clear definiton of sequence for the mounting of the parts. Lots of small parts, and small projects are driving complexity. This results in me often sitting there, and trying to figure out, whether I will be penalising some other task, if I commit, and glue something on. For example: I try to get all pieces fully finished, before I glue something on, because it is infinitely easyer to do so when the piece is not bonded to something else. However, this approach imposes wayting times. Epoxi needs to be applied. Then it needs to cure, then sanding, epoxi again....

Having lots of small projects going on, means that tasks need to be carried on in parallel, so that the waiting times can be used to work, instead of sitting and waiting. But small jobs also means frequent change of tools, moving of parts, losing of parts,... Which ruins efficiency of my work. It is, therefore, frustrating at times, to see only marginal progress in the end of the day. I mean; Look at how long I've been working on this bed-bench-construction! Today I got the main support beam sanded, finished, and glued on . It is to be seen on the picture below, being held in place by the red clamp. Else, I've glued together part of the bench. I'm not nearly done with the whole thing.

I'm glad there is not much interior to do. Not much left after the bed-bench. ...And the entrance, step-box, mast base, painting of the inside, washboards, steering system, porthole-windows,....

Sitting, waiting?

Well, sitting and waiting, won't help. I need to pick up my heels, and get back to work on my boat this weekend!

A passo de formiguinha...

Rain, cold and a birthday celebration in the Club.

The Iate Clube de Ramos celebrated its 69th. year of existance.I couldn't turn the invitation down, could I? Afterall, we should celebrate a 69-er, shouldn't we?

There are a lot of good and nice people in that club, and they helped me a lot already. So, now was the time to show my appreciation.

The good thing is that during the course of a joint lunch with two of the directors of the Club, Mr. Palma re-affirmed his desire to build the metal parts for the steering mechanism.

Else than that, I just found a little bit of time to re-cut the steering pod parts. It needed sligthly more volume to house the steering drum.

Buckin' bronco ride

The nautical equivalent to a "buckin' bronco ride". Try to keep your hat with the right side up.

See this awsome footage of a solitary sailor, one a sweet looking boat, doing a fine looking job. It is incredible how much power these boats develop. Turn the sound on, put it on full screen, and enjoy the ride.

Valeu, Zé!

O Tahiti Nui Freedom reaching China

The 50ft. outrigger canoe "O Tahiti Nui Freedom", which left Tahiti bound to sail to the coast of China, is reaching its destination.

The canoe used in the epic crossing is inspired by a historical plan drawn in Tahiti by the Admiral Paris around 1820 (standard plank of wood and stich construction). And of course the voyage interests me because of the similarities between "O Tahiti Nui" and Arpex.

Foilers!

Here is one interesting new blog! It is called "Foilers!" Well,... it is new to me, anyway. Actually its records start in July 2006. It focusses on development of foilers, proas and some pretty far-out developments. Some of which have achieved fame and notoriosity in records attempts and speed weeks.

Check it out. A good opportunity to polish you french skills.

The picture I've taken from there. I'll add the blog to my blog-n'roll list.

Slightly disturbing...?

Scant progress

A bad combination of bad, rainy weather, election blues, and, admittedly, a general miss-tune, had a devastating effect on work progress in the last 3 weeks.

Nevertheless, I made it out to the boatshed yesterday. I found the place in a quite abandonned state, after two weeks of neglect. The best job to do first, in such a situation, is cleaning. I took to the sweepers, to give the place a good clean-up. The vigorous exercise also prooved good to hush away other thoughts, and focus on the day's tasks.

After the cleaning, I went back to the current job, which is the construction of the extractable bed-structure. It needed sanding and gluing. And due to rain, gluing was, again, not possible. So all I could do, was to sand all the parts I had cut 2 weeks ago. I found that keeping them all together, and make them all align correctly is a challenge, wich requires time and attention.

In the afternoon, a very heavy downpour occured. It came with the noise of a passing train. The volume of water which came down was so great, that it flooded the whole place, and thus stopped all work. I was a bit frustrated by the precocious end of activities. But then, I just watched the rain falling down, washing this part of the world. As it passed, I packed my stuff and left.

Flash Powers

The box where I keep tools materials and stuff, is in a sorry state. A leak in the roof is causing rainwater to pour in occasionally, bringing dirt and humidity in. When the light also refused work, I knew I had to do something.

I called Ney, the Club's electrician. I stared in disbelief, when I saw him manipulating open wires under load, with lights on! I said; "Godam! Get off that thing! You'll get shocked!" He calmly said: "Oh, don't worry. I 'm used to it, I get discharges all the times." He told me that he just feels a light trickle, but he doesn't care any more. He said a friend once checked him with a voltimeter, and he had high charge on him...

That is how we humans are: We get used to the craziest things.

I made a weak attempt to recommend him the use of appropriate personal protection equipment, for the execution of maintenance on eletrically charged equipment. He smiled at me and nodded.

Rio Branco

This is the main avenue of the commercial center of Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Rio Branco, at its crossing with Avenida Presidente Vargas, one of the main arteries of suburban traffic. The city has been washed empty by a heavy downpour, only an hour before.

Click on the image, and you'll be able to see the monument at the very end of the avenue.

Praia Vermelha

Lost on a deserted island?

Hey! You think you're lost on a deserted island? You might go and think better, because you might have disturbed some agressive natives. Iko, Iko!

Election day

Today Brasil is voting for President. The campaign has become an unbearable show of sordidness. Sordidness leader is the current president Lula, who has totally forgotten, or willingly dismissed, his democratic duties as mandate holder, and keeper of the democratic institutions.

And here comes the bad thing; the people are loving it. At least the majority, it seems.

Disco-sphaera tubifera

It is marvelous how nature can be just so surprising. Look at this little trumpet ball. Chet Baker would have loved it.

It is the tiny "Disco-sphaera tubifera", a miniature type of algae, whith a very appropriate, and good sounding name. Try saying it out loud...

They are miniature in size only, being not smaller than a half split hair. However thay are gigantinc in numbers, living in great masses, throughout the our vast Earth's Oceans. One liter can contain millions of them. You can't really see them with the naked eye. But we all who go to sea, have seen tons of them already.

The family of the "Coccolithophorides", to whom the little "Disco-sphaera tubifera" belongs, form the very basis of the Oceanic food chain. They are also one of the main captors of CO2 from our atmosphere, and therefore an important participator in the creation of our climate. They lock the carbon into their very structure. And when they die, their carcasses fall onto the sea sediment, to form enormous submersed mountain ridges.

No work weekend

Last weekend passed without any work on the boat. I was just too tired from a quite exhausting week. I spent the weekend having fun doing nothing, and hanging around with friends. Good enough. Next weekend we'll have a 4 day holiday. I hope I can make up for the lost time.

Cat - Maranhão style

I made my first trip on a big cat, on a short crossing from São Luiz, Maranhão, to Alcantara. The crossing included a wild ride, on a wide river mouth eastuary, pressing against a strong tide, of up to 4 meters. The cat behaved valiantly, climbing over steep, high waves, offering a fun and safe ride. It sailed swiftly and dry.

Steering drum

Here is the steering drum that I have salvaged from an old powerboat, after authorization from the Club's directors. I don't see why it shouldn't do its service well for another couple of years.

Morning Glory

Every morning, I marvel at the beauty of the rising sun, on my way to work. I find it interesting to observe the changing rising point and height, as the seasons pass. Next Sunday Brasil will change its watches one hour forward, to the official summertime. Therefore, when I commute to work, at 6:30am, the sun will be down on the horizont again. So, the two pictures on this post show the highest point that I will see the sun in the morning, for this year.

Too bad that I will be on a training during this week, and won't be able to shoot my daily sunrise picture.

Dose of doggyness

Dose of awsomeness

Here is a little dose of awsomeness, provided by Julien Capmeil, on his FB account. It is "OK Go - This Too Shall Pass", a Rube Goldberg Machine version. This sort of art is allways stunning and entertaining. I saw lots of new and surpising effects in this one.

Arpex - Leap year project

I've been working on a photo-book, whith the images from the construction of Arpex. A very entertaining past-time. Renata Duarte is helping me with editing of images into the Digipix format, which seem to deliver impeccable quality. The result, I think, will be fabulous.

I was looking for a good phrase to open the book. While browsing in the "Sailors Wisdom" book, I realised that the construction started on the 29th. February 2008. It had never occurred to me before, that the construction of Arpex had started in a leap year (or intercalary or bissextile year). Therefore, I couldn't find a wisdom of the day for the starting day. So I just chose another one I liked:

Tweny years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the tradewinds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Mark Twain

Daqui a vinte anos você ficará mais desapontado com as coisas que você deixou de fazer doque com as coisas que você realmente fez. Então, solte as amarras. Veleje para longe do porto seguro. Capture o vento em suas velas. Explore. Sonhe. Descubra.

Mark Twain

Adri Miranda in the movies

In mid 2009, my girl, Adriana, Adri Miranda was participating in the shootings of a Brazilian movie, called "Nosso Lar". The movie was being internationally produced, by Fox.

And guess what? The movie is this years' most watched Brazilian film, with more than 3,5 million spectators. Adri participated in one of the more interesting parts of the movie, when the protagonist goes through something like hell. A dark querry, full of suffering and pain.

All the makeup was not enough to make her loose her charm.

Timber Research

An interesting research has been conducted by the Brazilian Forest Service for the last 25 years, in the dephts of the rainforest in the northern State of Pará. They are evaluating the resistance of Amazonian timber. Samples of 120 varieties of wood are exposed to the effects of nature in the forest. Only 11 still stand. The study has no deadline to finish.

Only 11 species are still resisting: precious muirapixuna, jataípeba, tonka bean, Maparajuba, bay cinnamon, Abiurana, rosewood, Muiracatiara-striped, red angelim and maçaranduba. The samples are shown on the picture.

The majority of samples have been eaten by insects and fungi, or destroyed by the weather.

The experiment ends when all they are all degraded. Since the survey began in 1985, researchers at the Forest Service go to the site of samples every year to assess the wood. According to information from the researching body, the data generated by research can help increase the value of species by increasing its durability, since restrictions on the use of chemical preservation is growing in the U.S. and Europe.

What actually makes me think that this sort of information, created by the research, could be couterproductive. I'd rather have the forests still standing in Pará, than shipping towards Europe and America.

Red Angelim is among the 11 resisting species. I'm using Angelim for the interior bench-and-bed-seat. I'm not sure this is the same as "red angelim".

From: www.globoamazonia.com/Amazonia/

Steering Wheel

We had two important events today. First, the visit of my sister, Elisa. And then the purchase of a steering wheel! It felt like an important mark.

Fortune had it, that I went for a walk in the club, and saw, that an old powerboat was being scrapped. It had a piece I could use handsomely on Arpex. I went to the Club administrator, and also to the Directors, saying I intended to acquire the steering drum. They just told me to get it, and use it. Because the rest would burn.

All of a sudden, I had two important pieces for the steering mechanism. So, I decided to build a mock-up for the quadrant, and see how the whole arrangement would work out. And, luckily, all seemed to fall into place, just as I had planned for.

The block, that directs the cables to the steering drum, on the left, will be mounted within the box. The whole arrangement will be protected. safe, and easy to get to.

The drum came in, just in time.

Proa development

I find it interesting to watch the development of modern style proas. They are frequently testbeds for new, or old, rewamped technologies, like; foils, sails, rigging... These are supported by the development of modern, super-performing materials, which are also, pushing the limits, and easing former restrictions. Sometimes this goes so far, that old paradigms can be reviewed and eventually toppled. It is an interesting process, which can be seen often these days.

Who would have thought, 20 years ago, that big catamarans would go around the world, crossing the Southern Oceans, averaging 30+ knots for days?!

Sailing has been graced with a mind-boggling development in the last 10 to 20 years. Safety and most of all speed has been increased in many cases, through new designs. But also the preservation, new interpretation and general experimentation with classic designs, developed from a niche to a growing alternative to the plastic mass product. What seduces me in this segment of sailing culture, is the possibility of discovering and exploring the complete process of developing, building and then use. A unique joy, besides the sailing.

New Light

The presidential election, held on last Sunday, showed a new perspective here in Brazil. Marina Silva, the candidate from the Green Party, has recieved almost 20% of Brazilian votes. In this surprising scenario, she now has a great negotiation power, for the next, decisive election, between Mr. Serra and Mrs. Rousseff. None of both were able to achieve a total majority, to decide in the first run.

In a surprising move, Marina and her party are claiming, that they want to decide their adhesion based on programatic negotiations. She wants her potential, future coalition partner, to committ to ethical, democratic and republican principles. Along, of course, a government programm oriented towards sustainable development. That is unheard of, here in Brasil. And with that, Marina and her party are putting a great accent in the Brazilian political scenario. I suppose, Marina is the best news Brazilain politics has seen in the last few years. At least for us taxpayers, its great to feel that someone is actually acting in the name of a good project for the society, and not persuing a personal agenda, involving power and money.

The top picture was taken today, the lower one yesterday. It has been rainy in the last couple of days.

Voting day

Today is voting day. First results show a second round, for a final decision. Good news.

More Benchmarking

Before comitting to specific size, I've done some testing of the bed-and-seat-bench.