Sunset over Lagoa

It is lovely to live in a city with such great beauty. Rio de Janeiro offers magnific views from every angle, and at any time of day. There are barely 20 minutes between these two moments. Click on the images for a better view.

Rio Sunrise

Happiness is where you find it. As a matter of fact, it is the small things that recharge my batteries with good vibes. One of them is the priviledge to see see such an inspiring sunrise, every day I go to work.

I like to keep tuned by carefully looking out of the window, because besides crowning my day with beauty, the sunrise will remind me of the time of the year. After 3 years of observing it every morning, I can interpret the position of the sun against the various hills on the horizont as a calender, like on a sunwatch. The images in this post show the position of the sun, when it rises around the 20th. June - around Solstice. In this case, its northernmost position. From here on, it will wander back South, towards the Sugar Loaf, on the right. During summer it will rise behind the Sugar Loaf. It will also stand much highter by the time I drive past, exactly at 06:35 am.

Of couse my observation will also tell me something about the weather of the day. All times of the year bring interesting weather patterns, which I like to observe.

I never get tired of looking at these pictures. Do yourself a favor, and click on the image to see it full size.

Brazilian futebol party

The game Brasil vs. Ivory Coast was great fun. Specially because Brasil won by 3x1. I watched it in Leblon, with my friend Jonas and his girl, Iris.

To get there, I decided to take the bike. And that was a good decision. It was a beautiful day, and a joyful ride along the shore. Since I was a bit late, Ipanema beach and shoreside avenue was almost deserted. A rare situation on such a sunny day. Everybody was preparing to watch the game.

Only Copacabana was crowded, where a big FIFA fan fest is taking place, with many colorful characters.

Warming up

After venting my indignation and anger agains incendiary action of ballooners, it is time to start heating up for the upcoming game of the Brazilian Canarinho Team against Ivory Coast. I expect a great, exciting game! A final score of 3x1 would be perfect! ... Time to leave home, and enjoy this beautiful day, a cold beer and a good "jogo de futebol" . This will be guys-only day, since my wife has gone visiting her mom for the weekend.

... I hate using the word "soccer"...

My best regards to our Ivory Coast friends, and even more and better vibes and whishes towards the Brazilian Team in South Africa. Lets see how the game ends.

Those egg-head ballooners should be old enough to know, that there are much better ways to set a place on fire than the odd firebomb. Like the above, typically brazilian, cheer-ladies know.

Go Kiwis!

Italians must have a sour taste of Kiwi right now...

Today, for the first time since the previous America's Cup, I was cheering for New Zealand's Kiwis. Their soccer team managed to tie a game 1x1 against Italy, who is a multiple world champion. New Zealand is a clear underdog is this contest. These boys can be proud of having done a good job. Just imagine; one of their players makes his money as a banker!

Scusa me, Stefano! :-)

Criminal action - Balões

Every year, during the months of June and July a sad ritual is repeated. Organized criminals produce big hot air baloons, made of fine paper and heated by open fire, and relase them free into the air. The inevitable consequence is, that these blind, incendiary time-bombs fall randomly onto houses or into the forest and cause great damage to life and environment, not seldomly even casualities.

Yesterday they striked again, almost causing a great tragedy. This time, they almost burned my good friend Guy's house. I can only imagine the anxiety they went through, fearing for the safety of their new born son. Their house is the closest near to the line of fire. The picture above is taken from the website of daily newspaper OGlobo. It shows the Morro dos Cabritos, in the middle of a residential area around our beautiful Lagoon - Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, in the heart of Rio de Janeiro.

These bold criminals are organized and even have an official web site. The word goes, that the organization is covered by high ranked officials from the Police- and, Fire-Department, and even judges. These pictures were taken from their site. They boldly display logos and generously distribute information to promote their deeds.

As you can see in the picture above, they even "adorn" their paper ballons with little candles on the outside, literally producing a time trigger for the calamity. I can only hope that someone has the balls to stop and arrest these stupid, vicious madmen!

Stairway to Heaven?

Tomorrow is another game day for Brazil. Local fans are forstering two main hopes and whishes for the game. First that the team wins the match against Ivory Coast. And second that they do it with many goals and joyful play. Or might it be the other way round? One doesn't know for sure. Brazilians want to see goals! Bola na rede! Winning should just be a consequence!

This is the stairway to Santa Teresa, parting from Rua Benjamin Constant. Should the beautifully painted stairway indicate the path for our team? I hope it is so.

Top sealed

I didn't work on the boat this weekend. Instead, I did a family demonstration tour for my mother and aunts. Several familiaries are visiting us in Rio, to celebrate my mother's 70'ies anniversary. I had fun explaining them the construction process.

But last week I had sealed the cabin top with epoxi, and I left the shed while the epoxi was still sticky, not fully cured. Sice we are having rather cold and humid nights, I was a bit aprehensive. Therefore, I was happy to see, that the resin had fully cured. Now I need to sand it and give it another coat, and then another... The cabin top and sides will not be glassed, and need good sealing.

Autuum Days

Despite a negative forecast, we were gifted with a splendid clear day. The kind of day that make you feel priviledged to live surounded by such natural beauty. Just perfect for a Valentine's Day .

Decorated Streets of Rio - Series

Here is a nice one in the neighborhood of Flamengo. ... I forgot to take note of the strees' name.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau

What the hell happened to my post??? Must have something to do with the new version of Java, which I installed right before writing this post, in honour of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who had his 100th. anniversary celebrated on the 11th. June 2010.

Cousteau was an extraordinary man. His documentaries captured the imagination of millions, including me. The video above shows this in a school-like manner.

And the rest of this post? Well that is the result of some computer software gag. Translator programms have come a long way. But they still have a long way to go. I can't barely understand my own posts content...

..............................

Estes Que, NÓS cellebrated 100. Aniversário do grande pioneiro do Mergulho, Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

Como menino UM, OS filmes Produzidos Por Foram Cousteau semper Uma Janela UM parágrafo Mundo mágico novo. Este vídeo Início capta o Espírito. É A partir do 60-se, portanto, Mesmo pingos do tempo Meu. Que demonstra IstoÉ Cousteau Não era Apenas UM Documentário pioneiro fimer e Diretor, Mas Também UM pioneiro corajoso Mergulho. E Como tal, Ele É UM dos Exploradores ousados Mais do Mundo Já VIU. UM E SEUS Grandes Feitos de, meninas e ter demitido o imaginiation de Milhões de meninos e, par Não Falar de TODOS OS Adultos. E Mostrou o Caminho UM parágrafo um mundo novo descobrir.

Sua Viúva, ESTA actualmente um tentar Reanimar o Calypso, Navio de Exploração inteprid Cousteau. DEPOIS de afundar e Três semanas Ficar No fundo, o Calypso ESTÁ passando Reequipamento. Mas A FALTA de DINHEIRO ESTÁ impedindo Trabalhos OS. Colegas Gostava Ricos ALGUNS financiariam um Cousteau Recuperação do Navio, trabalho Seu o SEUS e Projetos, para quê Seu Espírito em vivo!

Talvez Eike Batista Meu blog lê? Eike É rico Homem um, o 8. Mais Ricos do Mundo, e Ele fez muitas Coisas Boas Para o Rio de Janeiro já. Tal Como Ele limpou uma Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. Ele apoiou Também uma Campanha Vitoriosa n sediar Jogos Olímpicos de OS 2016. Ele PoDE abençoar o Interesse em colocar Navio Cousteau e tripulação operativa em Ordem, Limpar uma Baia de Guanabara, e pedir-lhes abençoar n fenícios OS Navios e amphores, allways Que Dizer Que Ser DEVE Escondido em Algum Redor AO Lugar. Um Já amphore, supostamente Foi Encontrado.

http://www.cousteau.org/

Underwater Basejump into the Blue Hole

This is an amazing video, showing World Champion Freediver Guillaume Nery, while he dives free into the Blue Hole. I find it hard to believe, that he didn't breathe during the dive and the following climb upwards! How ever it might be, it is an impressive feat and great images. Watch it fullscreen.

Thanks to Joe Rouse, from the Horse's Mouth.

Access Street

A Copa do Mundo de Futebol já começou. Brasileiros são fevering para seu primeiro jogo. No entanto, o meu série sobre decoração ruas não tem feito grandes progressos ainda. Mas eu espero encontrar um pouco mais bem decorados ruas como as receitas do torneio. Realmente não é uma questão de encontrá-los, pois eles estão por toda parte. É uma questão de ter a minha câmera comigo no momento certo. Infelizmente, eu não consigo andar muito pela cidade durante a semana de qualquer maneira.

Na semana passada eu tirar uma foto da rua de acesso ao Yacht Club Ramos, onde eu estou construindo Arpex. O clube está localizado no meio de um bairro muito pobre, uma favela. A rua é mal decorado. Apenas uma bandeira solitária na exposição ... Achei isso de alguma forma surpreendente e disapointing. Talvez eles vão fazer melhor que o produto copo.

Dreams

"If your dream does not scare you, your dream is not big enough."

While days of economic exuberance produce an amount of extremely wealthy citizens, the advancements in engineering and production techniques, make it possible to create just any object that you'd care to imagine. The combination of these factors is driving creativity of yacht designers.

Would you say that the image above is actually a boat, a catamaran? It looks rather like a vintage Ferrari without wheels, when seen from the rear (image above).

What fascinates me in that regards, is the sheer diversity of concepts, and the various forms that designers have found to give them life.

Being free to create an object which combines design, art and engineering creativity, is a fascinating experience.

In the materialistic world, money is nicked "freedom chips". Money buys. It gives you the freedom to make someone produce just any object for you. Having dispendable financial resources available, buys you the know-how for design and production facilities.

In the spiritual world, money is the contrary. In the spiritual world, resources do not matter much. If you focus on creativity. everything else fall into place. Personnaly, I think that both points of view are right.

Thanks to Craig Russel, from the H2uhO blog , for the heads up. He has provided the link to a Yacht Design Forum which presents a great variety of boat concepts and renderings.

Imags from: http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/future-yachts-concept-boats-289/

Autuum Mornings

I love these beautiful autuum mornings, like today...

Happy Birthday Lucas!

Feliz aniversário Lucas!!! Happy birthday!!!

I love this picture of Lucas, my nephew sitting on the Arpoador.

Arpex Figures

Sometimes I find it hard to figure out which picture to post. To escape from the dilemma I have put them all together in a video. I never find it boring to look at them.

Yesterday, a holiday, I used much of my time to prepare for the outside finishing of the pod-decks and -cabin. This will include epoxi sealing of the cabin, bogging and fairing, and glassfiber laminating on the decks.

The preparation included sanding and vacuum cleaning. SInce I have it all clean now, I have found myself a neat cover. An old spinaker will keep everything nice and clean.

Arpex

Pantanal - Barranco Alto

Here is a nicely produced video of my friend's Lucas and Musas lodge in the Pantanal. If you like to see wildlife and birds, go there!

Window Stories

Saturday was a day off. It was fun to step out of my weekend routine, and have some fun with the guys. But, true to my approach to at least do one little activity of boatbuilding, I did fetch up the piece of polycarbonate, which I had ordered for the rear window. I was eager to check how it all worked, and see all pieces come together. I had built a template for the shop to cut the polycarbonate. But there was a slight room for misunderstanding. And sure enough, this room had been used. The good thing is that the piece was cut to big. So I can just adjust it next time.

For the next couple of windows I`ll have to do better. This polycarbonate stuff is expensive! The 70cm x 40cm piece for the rear window cost me R$ 115!!! But before I complain about that, I remember that a proper hatch of this size would cost me easily R$ 1500, probabely more. Therefore, I`ll adjust the piece I have, and smile happily at my new window.