Rolling stones with the Velejadores da Urca

Urca's Sailors Association had its first inaugural event. We started by giving the old Urca Beach Pier a very much needed maintenance. Many of its stones were scattered around, in the sand beneath the structure. This represented a great hazzard to swimmers, and beach goers in general. Specially kids love to cavort up and down the pier, and they were often scratched and hurt. Also small boats, dingys trying to use the pier, which was made for boaters and swimmers in the first place, were at danger to be damaged.

In 2 hours of revigorating work, hauling bigger and smaller stones around, some in a in great team work effort, we cleared the seaward facing area, and improved the integrity of the pier.

After the little excersize opened our appetite, we blitz organized a great churrasco, a barbecue, where nothing was missed. Some had brought beverages, or meat. The supermarket across the street provided all necessary other ingredients. The Association's "Club House", the stationary classic wooden yacht "SantoAntonio", served as a phantastic location for our event. A more appropriate and scenic venue could not be imagined. We indulged in the pleasure of having created a new group of people, where a amiable feeling of camaraderie exists, which bonds people around common pleasures and objectives. 

I hope the Associacao dos Velejadores da Urca will last for a long while, and bring good and common social benefit to the place where we feel integrated. We want to improve the usability of Urca Beach, we want to keep the water clean and protect the marine and social environment. And I will do my part to support this. 

Remembering

The Main

Last weekend I took my sister and brother in law for a short spin around the Bay, on Arpex. I was very much looking forward to this. A feeble and dying breeze was just enough to move us around, until it dyed completely and the little Torqueedo brought us home. Nevertheless it was very pleasant, and we had fun. Lisa and Mauricio seemed to enjoy the different sailing feeling.

Things could have been a bit more lively, if there hadn't been an issue with the mainsail. When we hoised it, it didn't want to go to the top completely, and once there, it didn't want to come down! What seems to be the cause it a double block which carries the halyards, for the mainsail and the gaff. It seems to be somehow snagging the main halyard once it receives some pressure. I will need go to the top again, to change this...

Just pictures

Random Thoughts - The Rig

I find it very hard to convey the feelings involved in the current stage of my boatbuilding project, Arpex. 

It has been almost a year since launching. And I am glad I did not declare the project as being finished, just then! The last couple of years might have equipped me with a trifle experience and wisdom, just sufficient, to know better.

Because since then, Arpex has given me a ride with highs and lows of any given color and intensity. Critical pieces have broken, and almost catastrophic occurances have troubled the last few months. But I promise you, that the great feeling of realisation, at any given moment that I look at the boat, and the feeling of  pure delight when sailing, have rewarded, me with ample leeway.  

Nevertheless, while I try to enjoy the emotional side, I still promote a rational approach of critical analysis of the boat, the different aspects of sailing and boathandling. 

The rig... for now I am really happy with my rig configuration. The first impressions seem to confirm, that the sail area of about 30sqm is adequate for the boat's displacement. Last week's sail in slow wind, showed that Arpex was capable of  mooving in a quite satisfactory pace. Tacking st starboard and port was possible. The boat actually stops during the process. But holding the jib back gives the needed incentive. In stronger winds this is not necessary.   

The main mast seems to hold well in the given pressures. Looking at it now, the second set of shrouds is seems absolutely necessary. They should have been there from the beginning.  

At the end of the last day of sailing there was an issue with lowering the mainsail. For a reason we could not identify, the main relucted to come down. Only strong pulling on the reeflines brought the sail to the deck. the impression is, that the main halyard got jammed on the top. Not sure how. Not yet. I was, or am, really happy with the gaff... however the problem with the halyards seems to come from that direction. 

The boom works well with the wingsail. The mainsail seems to set in a fair shape. The addition of telltales on the leech are absolutley necessary.

The jib set well. Sheets are easy to work, even if the still lacking trampolin permits the sheets to fall into the water, and trail the boat. A tighter tack point would seem desireable.   

No Wind Day

Unfortunately there was no possibility for sailing this weekend. The weather didn't help either - Lots of rain humidity, and no wind. So I just went to see the boat. Usually a considerable amount of water finds its way into the main hull, most probably through the mast, or along the mast. More likely along the mast. I need to produce a much better cover for the through deck hole.

Associação dos Velejadores da Urca

As mentioned in an earlier post, we are creating a sailing association for the "Sailors from Urca". A visual identity is in the process of definition. We just need to define the colors. Two options are available. I am not sure yet, whether I prefer the green or the red one. Both have something for them.

The visual identiy will help us to position the group within the spaces, where we would like to have a word of contribution and consiteration. We will produce a flag to identify the community's boats, create T-shirts, The wole idea is to bring people together, make us all sail more, care for our surroundings, including neighbors and the small Bay that protects us and gives us shelter. 

Analysis

Last weekends sailing was great indeed. It allowed for many impressions and ideas regarding the sailing of Arpex. But also because it taught me a great deal about the process of testing such a self-built unconventional craft.

Looking back, there are many things I might consider doing better ... if ever I come to be in a similar situation...

First of all; I should have a checklist in my hand. I found out, that the first outings are emotionally intense. In many ways this is limiting. Because there are so many different aspects one should keep an eye on, there is hardly a chance you're be able to do it without a written backup, And that is valid for a pre-sail check, just as well for the during-sailing check.

That is also why I was so happy to have my brother on board. His keen eye and great sailing experience will certaily yeld valuable contributions to the development of Arpex as a usable sailing boat. I'm really looking forward to have a debriefing conversation.

A few thoughts:

In the feeble breeze Arpex seemed to sail percievably closer to the wind when on the starboard tack, that is, with the ama to windward. we managed to achieve a quite creditable angle. On the other tack I'd say it was certainly going to windward, but nothing to brag about.

But all in all, I became clear that sailing the boat is very much more technical than I would have thought. And to find the sweet spots, I must equip the sails with telltales - the sooner the better.

All these spectra lines do stech quite a bit. They strech in the standing rigging, and also in the steering. Last week I had to retighten them. This put the mark I had on the wheel... well... "out of mark". I'd say 40 degrees out! I can tell you, this did nothing to improve the sailing experience. From the beginning I felt the steering was strange, and when I found out the next  day, while putting the boat back to order, I was fairly taken aback. Frankly, I was relieved when I found out .

Andreas Velejando no Arpex