Birthday ... again!

There we go: It happened again. My birthday. another year has passed for me. Another one ahead. I'm glad to have many friends, and people who wish me well. thanks to y'all!!! Specially to my girl, Adri, who was so sweet as to find me a boat shaped cake. At least in picture form. The real one, with one candid candle, was quite common in form, and chocolate in color - thank you, very much. Quite delicious it was, too! 

Our friend Val, also found a sweet boat cake. Very kind, indeed! Thanks.

Deck arrangements

Fiat Lux

Electric installation is not something I am familiar with. Which is why I am slowly getting used to it. The challenge is to arrange all the cables, sort them out, bundle them with bracings... So far I'm getting on with it. At least lights are working. However, I will need to install more than the amount of lights I have. Else it will be quite dark.

One more Tim Maia classic... Descobridor dos Sete Mares

Tim Maia - Racional, the full albums Vol 1 & 2

I love the music of the great artist Tim Maia. Yesterday, my girl, Adri, has invited me to a musical, with Tim Maia's story. A great show!!!

This is a link to his album "Racional". An album he did in a period, when he was involved with a rather lunatic religious movement. But he was in a great creative period, and fantastic songs are included. After 2 or 3 years he noticed, that the whole thing was a money making scheme, and that he had been fooled. He therefore rejected his albums, took them from the market and destroyed them. Which is why they are rather difficult to find today. Some of the songs are quite well known today, and I have posted some in this blog. But today I came across the whole album, while browsing. So, here it is. Very funky, with a fantastic swing. Check it out.

Interesting concept

Sailing technology is evolving fast. And people are becoming more daring in terms of innovative configurations. Check this video out.

As a participant in some proa forums, I can imagine that some will try to give this configuration a name. I wonder what they will come up with.

Pulpit and pushpit delivered

My Inox Man, Cléber, has delivered his nicely executed pulpit and pushpit. He did a good job and within the agreed time. Not a very common thing these days.

These part will be mounted as soon as the deck is finished. And this,... is taking time...

Pra Sao Jorge

Pulpit & Pushpit

Today, Cléber, my Inox Man, came to check the measurings for the pulpit and pushpit. They are coming out very nicely. He will now make slight adjustments and add the attachment points for navigation lights.

 Cléber works quiquly, reliably and delivers a clean job. His price is also good.

 The pulpit need some adjustments. The rear legs need a wider spread. I would have wished a wider radius in the upper bow. But it will work for me the way it is.

Outside view

Click on the image for a full size view

Mobilization for a long term campain

Rio de Janeiro is a dirty city. It is amazingly beautiful when looked at from the distance. But if you take a closer look, you see dirt, rubbish and pollution. As a sailor this means that I often have to sail in midst of appalling conditions. Not to speak of the mooring area of the Guanabara Club, where I plan to leave my boat, once completed. 

The causes are diverse. But in the heart of it is a cultural aspect. Brazilians do not have a contestant nature. They do not really rise to claim their right. Specially if is regarding a common, public goods, instead of individual rights. That is why corruption is wide spread, and nobody really mobilizes against pollution.

It has been a while since I have pondered which course of action I should adopt, in order to do my part, in order to try to change the scenario. I have considered possibilities to use this blog as a communication platform, and my boat as a carrier of messages. Now, I have decided, is the moment to start. So, I'm starting. 

I'm not sure how this will happen, nor where this path wil take me. But the boatbuilding experience has taught me persistance. And, I hope to have your attention. And you are invited to contribute. I might start another blog, written in Portuguese to concentrate on the matter. From now, on I will be using this space to also defend a cause which I think is a just, and good cause; I want my Botafogo Bay to be clean! 

I have done a first step by writing a letter to the CEO of the Rio de Janeiro Water and Sewage Company, CEDAE. The open letter, in Portuguese, is copied below.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carta aberta ao Sr. Wagner Victer, Presidente da CEDAE

Assunto: Quero a Enseada de Botafogo limpa

Caro Wagner,

Acabo de escutar sua entrevista na Marketeria, na Rádio SulAmerica Paradiso. Parabéns! Foi uma boa performance, onde você mostrou competência na modernização da gestão da CEADE, e bem apresentou os programas para modernização da gestão, e aumento da capacidade geração de receitas da empresa. Mostrou também ser uma pessoa de visão.

No entanto, a CEDAE tem também a missão, a obrigação, de tratar a água que fornece aos consumidores, depois de ser utilizada. O esgoto.... E ai, a CEADE, me parece, está falhando tremendamente. Como cidadão do Rio de Janeiro muito ligado ao mar, vejo que a situação de nossa Baia da Guanabara, e a Enseada de Botafogo em especial, está indo de mal a pior a cada dia que passa. A cada dia que vou passear no Praia de Botoafogo, ou no calçadão da Urca, me incomoda mais o mal cheiro e a imundice das águas. E você sabe tão bem quanto eu, ou melhor, que esse não é um problema meramente estético. O esgoto traz doenças para a população, mata a fauna e a flora marinha. A situação que vivemos é um verdadeiro sequestro ambiental, já que o despejo do esgoto em natura na Baia de Guanabara, na Enseada de Botafogo priva todos os habitantes do entorno de desfrutar desse lugar de singular beleza.

Esses dias decidi fazer algo contra essa situação. Decidi cobrar, mobilizar e fazer a minha parte.

Por onde começar? O primeiro passo óbvio parece ser uma avaliação da situação e das causas. E ai, na parte das causas a CEDAE figura em lugar de destaque, me parece. E no momento a CEDAE me parece ser parte do problema, enquanto deveria ser parte da solução....

Como fiquei bem impressionado com a entrevista na Marketeria, e como você forneceu o seu email, resolvi começar por esse caminho. Resolvi perguntar para você: O que é que a CEDAE está fazendo para limpar a Enseada de Botafogo? Qual é sua visão, para esse cartão postal da cidade? Ela deve permanecer sendo a cloaca ao céu aberto até quando? Existe um programa da CEDAE? Quais são os investimentos previstos? Quais são os prazos para apresentação de resultados? Onde posso, podemos, acompanhar, e onde cobrar? 

Nos próximos dias, semanas e meses pretendo desenvolver um plano de ação, de comunicação e mobilização para fazer a minha parte. Para que eu possa ver um dia a Enseada de Botafogo limpa. Pelo bem ou pelo mal, o caminho até lá terá que passar pela CEDAE. Já que a CEDAE tem a obrigação de tratar o esgoto que hoje é despejado na Enseada sem qualquer tratamento.

Qual será o papel da CEDAE nesse meu caminho, na sua opinião? 

Atenciosamente, 

Peter Mirow - Cidadão do Rio de Janeiro

Look through the front window

Click on the image to get a full view.

Look through the stern window

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Battery Box

I am advancing on the battery box and console. Almost done with it now. Looks to me as if it will work all right. The battery will be well placed and protected, and the electric switchboard is functional. I like the idea of integrating an iPhone holder into the console.

I had a word with Valmir today. He's slacking terribly. Every week he promises to deliver the painted boat, but he doesn't he does just a little. Just enough to say he worked some. But in this pace we'll still be painting by the end of the year. The bad thing is, it holds me off from other jobs that need doing on the deck.

Electric Installations

Today was a rather slow and unproductive day. I've tinkered about with this and that, mainly preparing electric installation.

I have purchased a 75amp stationary battery, and used it to light up the new LED lamp for the interior illumination. For now, I have 3 of those (hope you can find it on the picture). At a price of R$ 52 I will not buy many more. But I guess it will take 2 additional ones.

I still need to find out how to source and install the solar array to recharge the battery.

During a long time building the boat has cost me very little. Now the money spending begins...

Views of Rio

One of the great views of Rio is actually enjoyed from its neigboring city, Niteroi. The "Parque da Cidade" offers a splendid view. Specially at sunset. Click on the image to get a full view.