Happy 2015!

A day to remember

The day we brought Arpex from Ramos to Urca, was actually a memorable day. It started very early, at 3:30 am, when I got up, and prepared to be picked up at 4:00am, by my unlce Roland. We were about to join a few friends, to hike the trail up to Pedra Bonita, to see the sun rise.

The effort of waking up early, and hike up through the dark, is ten times worth it. What you get is an incredibly beautiful spectacle. Its just sweet. The view of the city is breathtaking, and the dramatic shadow of the Gavea Rock adds to the unique experience. The top of Pedra Bonita is a slightly inclined rock plateau, with scarce vegetation. Every side you look, you enjoy a magic view, be it to the sun rising over the awakening city of Rio, or the still dark and dreamy Barra da Tijuca. Towards the other side, you see the dense vegetation of the Parque da Tijuca. Turn the sound on the hear the birds.

I do recommend you to click on the image to see the large format.

We met our friends at 4:30, in Sao Conrado, at sea level. After whiting a short while for people to trickle in, we started the ascend by car, driving about 20 minutes to the parking spot inside the Park, at the trail start.Shortly after 5:00am we walked into the dark forest. Some had flashlights. So did I. But I preferred to walk without, just getting a little light from the other trekkers. After a quick, occasionally steep  hike we arrived, just about when the first light came to the sky. We watched the deserved reward of a very early wake up call.

The walk back down revealed the lovely forest we walked through in the dark of the night. The temperature was very pleasant, and the starting day promised good things. But the temperature would rise quickly now.

As we started our way back, we decided to take a quick dip. Being on the western side of the city, we decided to take advantage of the position and go to Joatinga Beach. A tiny and charming Beach, in between steep rocks. The water was wonderful.

From our quick swim in the waves, we went to get a solid breakfirst, and then moved towards Ramos, to get Arpex to Urca Beach. Mind you, there are still things to be done on the boat, before I can fully test it. But at this point I prefer to do this while at the mooring in Urca. Even if this might make the work a little more difficult. 

After I went to get the fuel for the engine, we maneuvered out and crossed under the bridge into the Bay. To my utter surprise, the engine started after the first pull on the cord. It worked happily for about two hours, until we had maneuvered and mad the 10 mile trip to Urca.

The quality of the water in this part of the bay is a scandal, for crying out loud!!! For me it is not understandable how a city who will host the next Olympic Games, or just wants to be civilized, permits its own water body degrade into such a situation, and do nothing against it. This Bay is so beautiful! If it had clean water, it would be a recreational paradise! Not to speak of the health of the people which of course suffers under these hygienic conditions.

On the last miles we had to steam into a 15 knots breeze, with an occasional nasty chop. But all went well.

Soon we arrived in the wind shadow of the Sugar Loaf, and I enjoyed the familiar, but always surprising scenery. We picked up our mooring, and secured the boat. Arpex reached its shore base.

After cleaning up the boat, we launched the dingy, and made a first try, paddling the tiny thing to the beach. I will make sure to always have my phone in a waterproof cover when using the dingy. We were actually lucky that Roger was around, on TikiRio, to reception Arpex. He gallantly borrowed us a spare paddle. I had forgotten mine in Ramos! Not a good thing to do. Better to alwasy have plenty of spare paddles around.

The occasion was celebrated with a couple of beers in my "Club Bars". Bars? Yes, there are a couple in Urca.

Impressions

All has changed now. The routine of 7 years of boat building, has changed completely. The boat is now a 15 minutes footwalk away. Power is not at hand. To get to the boat, I bring my paddle with me, from home. To reach Arpex from the beach, I launch my dingy from the sand, and row to the boat. Sometimes against wind and tide. Sometimes with it. I could not imagine a better situation. 

I still have to organize the deck hardware, in order to be able to actually sail the boat. I wanted to get much of this done in the evening hours of today. Not having the sun burning my back was a benefit of the late hour. However, a couple of passing rainshowers crossed my plans. Avoiding to get drenched, I retreated into the cabin, and took advantage of the comfortable cabin. I took my time to savor the moment, enjoying the sound of the rain on the cabin roof. But in the end of the day I only managed to fix one of the two - actually three - tasks I had planned for today.

For now, I have to say, that I am really pleased with the way the cabin and deck arrangement works. Of course I need a tend, and a bimini on deck, for sun protection. But I am confident to find a suitable solution.

The tender has served me well for now. It's limit, it seems, is to carry 2 passengers in safety. For a passage with only one, it is very convenient. It seems that for two passengers, it would be better to work with two paddles. But only one paddle is also too bad, if the wind helps.

It is very good for me to spend time on the boat to listen to its structure working, to sense, the volumes, and dynamics of the hull movement. 

New Panorama

Click on the images for full detail.

The Arpex has landed

This time my uncle Roland joined the trip. Great company! I was very happy to share this with him.

We made the 10 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes. The last stretch into a breeze of 15 knots. I'll give a better report later.

Random Thoughts

Christmas 2014

Hope you all had a blessed and peaceful Christmas. My greetings go to y'all who are waiting for first sail tests. I assure you: I am burning to start the tests. It will be my second best Christmas gift.

Message in a Bottle

The good news and the bad news

The good news is that I have made progress with the deck arrangement. I have bought two boxes, to redirect my halyards. Now I just need to decide on how to stop and secure the halyards. I considered stoppers. Pretty expensive things, stoppers. Specially if you are using 8 or rather 7 mm spectra halyards. Anyhow, I am considering to use simple cleats, positioned on the beams.

For now the boat is able of sailing under jib. Next step is to attach the redirecting block, position and fix the cleats. Then, I still need to produce the main sheet, and the boom downhaul.

Ok. Now the bad news. It is, that I will need to replace the windows. the protective pellicule, left there to protect until the boat hits the water, now does not want to come off any more. I have tried heat. I also tried WD40, even if later a friend told me never to put oil on the polycarbonate. Also a glue remover, which my sister gave me. She said it worked well on silk. She didn't know whether the manual said something about polycarbonate.

I spoke to the company that sold the material. They said laconically, yes, the film must be removed within 6 moths time. The thing is, this was never mentioned, nor informed anywhere. And sow the god damn stuff is not coming of. They sold me a perishable material, and didn't tell me.

But for now I will test the boat, and sail it. I don't need windows for that. Eventually I will go back to Ramos and do a window replacement operation. I expect that the owner of the shop at least will cover the replacement material cost.

And there is one more thing. To my eye, the boom seems fragile. I am not at all sure that it will hold. I am already working on plans for a new one. I am tending towards a plywood triangular box, in an "Park Avenue" style.

Sail without logo...

In this picture, a mast has hidden the logo on tha main sail, giving an impression of how it would look without. For my part, I am very happy to have the logo on the sail. I think it adds to the charm.

Video: First test of the sails, while tied to the dock

Stepping out of the boat, to look at the sails from outside was a perturbing experience. I had only my stern anchor out there, to hold the boat of crashing into the dock.

Of course the sails were not drawing fully. The jib was held aback, and the main was stalled. But still. I'm glad I did step out, and record in video and photo, how the sails look from outside. For me it is a delight to watch it.

I am very happy with the work of Carlos Sass, from Sass sails. I think he has built beautiful sails for Arpex, and they look right on the boat.

New Suit of Sails

As promised, Carlos Sass has delivered the sails and sailcover for the main. On a first test they looked very fine to me, and I am very happy. Specially the man, which has some specific requirements, slightly different from a standard Wharram Wingsail. 

We hoisted the new canvas with the boat tightly parked at the quayside. For some moments I was concerned, imagining Arpex jumping forward in acceleration, and hitting the wall, high, dry and hard. Nightmare. Nothing happend, though.

Now I still have to work a bit, to prepare the deck for sailing. I can already get the jib working. But I probably need a couple of stoppers, or cam cleats. Specially the one for the gaff. I am happy to have bought the spectra halyards for that. It does not give, and therefore keeps the gaff high, and the sail well shaped.

Carlos has put the boat symbol on the main, just as I had asked him to. In dark green, it makes a good figure. The overall impression is positive. Now I need to get it work under way. For that I still need to arrange the mainsheet, downhaul,... and boom hanger.

The deck is very workable. Once the trampoline is installed, one will also move about with improved safety.

One setback has been the situation with the polycarbonate windows. The protective plastic is refusing to peel off. That is very annoying, and I wonder whether the provider will have a solution in store. I have also learned, that the sikaflex that I used to glue the windows was probably not the most appropriate one. The thing is, that it smears off when abraised.

Carlos was very helpful, commenting on some specialties of the sails design. His previous experience with Wharram Sail was very helpful. All in all, it seems to me as if this configuration will move about as desired.

Now I am working on getting the boat ready to sail. This means to decide on the arrangement of deckware. Cleats, stoppers, cam cleats... Now, with the sails in place, I can get an overview, and find a suitable way for handling of sheets and halyards..