Summer Sail 2012

Tomorrow we will be parting towards Angra, to spend a few days afloat. We will have the company of Christian and Bruna, his wife. Lets see what the weather does. It will determine the pattern of our movement - of course. It might gift us with wind and thus favor my preferred option, the above. Or the wind might fail, favoring Christian's preferred, option 2. I'll be happy either way.

Since I can't find my camera, sorry, there won't be no pictures...

Enjoy yourselves in the next few days, and have happy entries into 2013!!!

Cat with a free standing wingmast

Merry Christmas to y'all! I hope you enjoy, and have a good time with family and friends.

Last touches of the year

The year is coming to an end. This Saturday I made may way to the boatshed. But only little I got made. Basically I've glassed the rudder. But only one layer... Why? Because I am running out of resin, and I have only 2 batches left, from different suppliers. And I was not really comfortable mixing. Meaning I would have to apply one layer of one and then, on the still wet epoxi, the next layer form the other supplier. Since the rudder gave me a lot of work already, I thought that it was unnecessary risk. So, I'll wait for this lamination to cure and will then apply the next.

On the positive side, I can report, that Valmir has glued part of the anti-slkid of the stern section. So, he has not totally forgotten of his pending jobs.

I don't think I will be able to do more this year. Holidays, and some days of vacation, sailing in Angra, will keep me away. But in total, I can look forward in confidence. I think launching is not too far to windward.

Go to start

Every end is a new beginning.

Veranis

Still shaping the rudder

After the disappointment regarding last weeks lamination, I had the urge to just go home again... But I resisted the first impulse, and thought: "I drove all the way out here, so I should at least do a tiny little something". Which is what I did. I've sanded a little more on the rudder blade. It looks fine now. The shape seems smooth and fair. You can see, that it is not a perfect foil shape, having a flattish section in the middle. But hey! It is not too bad either, and it is the best I could do for now.

Next step is to laminate it with glass. Then fair it again. And then prime and paint.

Sometimes I think: "Maybe I should have chosen a larger diameter for the rudder shaft". But then I ponder: "But if I hit something that breaks this, than it should rather break the rudder than rip the hull in two. Which it would if it were a stronger shaft"... I guess.

Bad lamination

My gut feeling didn't fool me. I was right. My last lamination went bad. The lamination of the pvc tubes, which will hold the rear and forward trampoline  didn't cure properly. Maybe it was the rain, maybe the mixture, maybe a combination.

What to do now? As a first measure, I put them in the sun, for some temperature. I'm not sure it helped.

It is the third time something like this happens  The fist time was right in the beginning. The reason was obvious since I was a greenhorn, and mixed resin for hardener, which resulted in a completely wrong mixture. The second time, I didn't find out what went wrong, but hurry may have been part of it. And now, again.... Damn, ... I hate this!!!

Old spars

Today the commodore told me, that the club is going to get rid of some old spars which they have around. They have been around for years and nobody claims ownership. He told me I should make my pick, because otherwise they're gonna land in the bonfire...

Among them a couple of old Guanabara Class masts (that is what they seem to me). It seems a pity to throw them away... However I don't seem willing to spend the time to do something with them. If I weren't building a boat right now, I would sure produce something.... not sure what. But an hour or two of sanding, and a bit of varnish could produce a nice... Something!

10m Tacking Proa in Queensland

 

Mark Thomas Hansen has launched a 10 meter tacking proa, built of aluminum plate, in Queensland, Australia. Mark is quite happy with his boat's sailing performance, having achieved 14 knots of speed during first tests. The boat looks very interesting to me, and I am very curious to hear more details about the handling and performance. I have also listed Mark's blog in my blog n'roll list. I very much hope Mark will post about his sailing experiences on his blog.

Thanks to Peter Evans for the heads up. Peter has put together a great collection of pictures and links to tacking outriggers on his site: Tacking Outrigger.

End of the world? Again???

I'm not very good at keeping dates. Anniversaries, celebrations, holidays,... I often get surprised by them. It seems to be the same with "The End of the World". I thought if ought to have been on the 12.12.2012, last week. But now I'm surprised to hear that this was not actually the date. Even if, in retrospect, it explains why not much happened in terms of apocalypse  in the last few days. It sure is hot in Rio. But that is not uncommon  in the summer months.

The "real" "End of the World", as predicted by the Mayans is now supposed to be on the 21.12.2012. Clearly someone must have switched the numbers, which puts a shadow on the credibility of the whole thing, in my humble opinion.

Think as you will about it. We Brazilians think it best to keep to the plan, and this includes preparations for the upcoming carnival 2013. And who should blame us? If the End comes, we might just as well be dancing.

If you need inspiration:
http://carnaval.ig.com.br/rio/2012-12-14/escolha-a-passista-ig-2013-do-carnaval-carioca.html

Regatta Preben Schmidt 2012 - continued

The Preben Schmidt regatta is a race for classic boats, but with participation of modern yachts, which start at a later moment.The participation by the classics make it a very pleasant happening, since it offers vantage views of these classic boats in action. Like the centenary Aileen, which made a good figure starting out in front. 

The story of Joshua Slocum

Regatta Preben Schmidt 2012

Sailing is good fun. Don't miss it, if you get a chance. Specially if it is a lovely boat, and a fun crew.

Highlights of the regatta? Tacking in front of the Grael family... A short lived treat, born out of a lucky move.

All you animals better run!

Eagle 44 - Modern classic

I should be in the boatshed again, today, to get the last touches on the boat before painting. And part of this is task is to motivate Valmir to do his job, which is yet unfinished...

However, I got a very tempting invitation to sail a regatta on a very good looking boat, with an interesting crew. And you guys know how I am attached to beauty. I couldn't possibly resist. But the weather is not very kind on us today, and the whole thing might be called off because of rain.

Working on it...

This was a terribly hot day... At a point, after sanding the rudder, I thought I should just let it be. But, somehow, I don't really know why, maybe it was just too hot to pack up and go, I stayed, and moved on. I've sanded the rudder, I gave final touches on the mast partner, and I've glued on the pvc tubes that will hold the trampolines. 

 And then came a heavy rain. A hefty downpour, with powerful discharges. I didn't see it coming, as I was focused on the tasks at hand. So it came, that I was handling the epoxi to glue on the pvc tubes in the middle of a tropical downpour. Now I usually avoid laminating in rain, not to speak of a deluge...

I have no idea whether the lamination is going to be all right, or whether I'll have a complete mess in my hands by tomorrow. ... I would hate to have to clean this up and repeat the operation. Honestly.

The mast partner received a little epoxi bog for fairing and a layer of glass for improved resistance. Should be stong enough now...

Cheiro da chuva

If it were possible to capture the smell of the rain, you would now feel a very scent y, delicious smell...

Vamos aproveitar o dia

Sailing Cairu II

Last weekend I had another opportunity to sail on Cairu II, a Class Brasil, built in 1949. Following an invitation by owner Eduardo Regua, I took a flight to Florianópolis, where a regatta around the island was to take place. 

We had great fun sailing the boat. Florianópolis offers great challenges in terms of navigation, which was one of my attributions. The crew also found easy access to each other, and soon we were having fun, working the boat and chatting away. So all went well... until the wind died away. ... One hour, two hours,... competitors pulling out and motoring away.... Checking the weather forecast didn't bring hope for improvement. So we also pulled out.

That's how sailing goes. I enjoyed the day tremendously. Good company on a fine boat. What else can you ask for?

As a treat, I took advantage of a crew members right to sleep on the boat. Since all other crew members were local, I had the privilege to have the lovely cabin all to my own.

Still here...

Life goes on. End of the world has been postponed, until further notice. So, maybe, I'll get to finish this boat eventually. Next weekend will bring me a little step closer to this.

End of the world?

This is it. That's what "they" said.

Anyway: Maya's. What do they know?
Well, I don't really buy it. But who knows? It might just as well be. In any case, others said we should live our every day, just as if it were the last...
For the record: I'm sorry I didn't manage to finish the boat in time for the end of the world. But on the other hand, I'm happy that I did go sailing last weekend. Enjoy the end party. Or, if ever we should wake tomorrow for another day, then keep enjoying.

Construction of a modern classic - Fairlie 55

Regatta on Cairu II

No boatbuilding planned for  this weekend. It is for a good cause; I'm going sailing. Eduardo has kindly invited me to sail the regatta around Florianópolis island, on Cairu II. This should be an interesting experience.

A long and busy week ahead

A busy week lies ahead. And none of that time will be spent in the boatshed  And during the weekend I'll be travelling. So, keep you patience.

Aligning parts

"In a secret boatshed in Rio de Janeiro, work continues on a strange craft...."

Yesterday, besides shaping the rudder, I have cut the hole in the deck which will receive the mast to right diameter and have glued on the "collar". Cutting into the structure of the boat always takes a little courage. But, well, here it is now. And now, "all I need to do" to be able to put the mast up is adjust the mast step, and fix the fitting which will hold the fore-stay. 

I have also spent considerable time slotting the akas into their place, in order to check alignment, and to mark the position for the pvc tube, which will hold the trampoline netting.

Die Fledermaus 1944

Michael Schacht, has brought us a fascinating story on his Proafile. Go there and read it. As usual, Michael's rendering triggers your imagination, and the story it comes with is intriguing as it could be. Cool stuff.

Life in Rio

Living in Rio de Janeiro is great. Where else could you have just such a panorama on your way to work?
And I mean work in a busy commercial center, which is just 5 minutes from this very spot.

Shaping the rudder

The shaping of the rudder, is taking me some time. But this is time well spent.