Mobile - Regata

Last weekend I finished the detour  from boat construction in good style, by delivering my newly created mobile. The new owner of this beautiful piece of work, is "BR Marinas", who will soon inaugurate its new premises for Marina Bracuhy. The mobile will be giving a special touch to the entrance hall of the administrative building. It really made a good fit - even if, however, it was really hard to catch it on a picture...

Hopefully you can make it up yourself, just why it is called "Regata"... Wind, water, sails and sun, these are the elements represented. Materials used are painted wood and stainless steel wire. Its "wingspan" is approximately 2.30 meters, and it is, thus, the biggest mobile I have produced yet. A challenge I am happy to have accepted. Thanks to Monica Soffiatti for giving me the opportunity. Monica knew about my previous work, and asked me whether I would like to produce something for the place. Since it was also a financially interesting offer, I was more than happy to accept.

Today I just received the message, that the Marina's Board of Directors visited the premises, and that they were delighted with the my artwork. Of course, I'm very pleased to hear that.

Sailing a Laser

Adri and I spent the weekend in Angra, where I had to go to install the mobile "Regata", in the new Marina Bracuhy. Monica and her partner Duda, were so friendly to invite us over for the night in Dudas fabulous house right by the bay. Additionally to the splendid location, the house was equipped with all sorts of water toys. We spent quality time sailing a Laser, and paddling on SUP boards, when we were not chatting away on the varanda. Our many thanks to the couple, who made us feel right comfortable in their own piece of paradise.

The missing link

People keep asking; "So, what's missing?" And go on to continue; "The boat looks ready to go to water. Go now!" But I kindly remind that a boat is not only made of a hull, and a mast. If you have two hulls, you've got to join them. And the space between them needs to be filled with a platform.

And this platform is not quite ready yet. It is almost. But not yet. Additionally, the boat needs an engine mount. It was not yet clear to me how to build it. Sure, the basic principle of a pivoting sled, is the simple part. But it all needs to be fixed on the boat, in order to transfer the thrust from the engine safely to the structure of the boat. And this took some thinking work.

And , how it often is with these things, sometimes all it takes is to put the saw to the wood, and cut a bit of material. Provided that you did your thinking work, things will fall into place. And this sled is now finally taking form. My friend Roger, from TikiRio supported me with advice and some drawings, pictures. My thanks to him. 

Also the other aspects of the deck platform have been decided on, and will not take long to be built. and that is the good news.

The bad news, is that I have lost my long trusted and hard battered cordless drill. How did I loose it? I think it was stolen. Last weekend, when I left the club a little late, it was getting dark already, I forgot to lock the boat. I think the tool was in the boat. I remembered the mishap on my way home. But since I had never lost anything in the club, I decided to come back and lock the boat on Sunday only. Well, that was too late. Someone was good enough to lock the boat for me. ... But the tool was gone. A great, reliable tool. And I am much helpless without it now. An equivalent new one costs about US$ 250 here in Brazil. I bought mine for US$40 in the US (The package together with a disk saw was US$ 80). 

During the day I tried to "ignore" the fact, and get on with my work as well as I could, avoiding the jobs which needed the tool. I also had the slight hope of having the tool at home, since I'm busy with an other job, where I needed it at home. But it was not. And so I felt the loss somewhat cruel in the evening... 

Deck fix

Trying to keep it up these days. But not too successfully. 

I made a "test" of the deck, to see how it carries. And it does handsomely. Pondered a long while about how to fix things together, and decided for wooden pegs in epoxi. Also started to fix the beam onto the bulkhead.

Construction of Ontong Java

Ontong Java II from jcaprani on Vimeo.

Top Gun

When it comes to sailing, the mainstream is not my cup of tea. I am attracted to out of the box thinking. And here is one nice example of it. Gun Boat have developed the next generation of catamarans. The model is named the "G4", which is heavily inspired by the AC72. I'm very curious to see this boat perform on the water. Hope it gets built soon.

Detour continued

 The better part of this weekend has been dedicated to my "detour" project. It is coming together as planned - for now. But will still take my time till next week. It needs to be ready before the 24th. of October.

We had a beautiful Sunday. Our neighborhood Urca was shining bright.

Detour?

Despite the focus on finishing all things to put the boat in the water, I admit that a side-job, it might be called a small detour, is also occupying my mind. Can't tell much more about it now. But indirectly it does have to do with the boat.