Arpex Back on his Mooring

Arpex is back on its own mooring, safe, untouched, and sound. Just in case, I also inspected the underwater body of Arpex. Afterall it could have touched rocks or whatever else in its crazy unpiloted night drift. On saturday, I have supervised the installation of the new mooring equipment. 

 

Arpex Adrift

Bad start into the day, with a good ending. This morning came with a call at 5:15am. Arpex broke his morring, and was adrift, in strong winds, and a pitch black night. Short before dawn, I had to scramble together a rescue plan and team, in a matter of minutes. who can you call at 5.15am, in pitch dark, cold and wind, with prospects of going out to the sea, in search of a runaway boat???? 

Luckily I have good friends who did respond, either with my call, or even without, on own initiative, as I came to hear later. Thanks to these guys Aprx was under control and safe, about some 30 minutes later. all happened so fast! But I can tell you, it was frightening.

I was very happy to see Arpex, on a unusual location, but tied down, and safe. As light broke, winds abated, and could start to reclaim the boat, and assess the cause for such an grave incident. Especially considering that I had executed a mooring maintenance not 2-3 months before, as I do regularly! 

 

 Turns out, that one part broke which connects the chain to the rope, with a swivel. I should have been changed on the last maintenance. Lessons learned; change them in regular intervals, independently if the diver says it can still hold for a while....

Arpex could have been lost, winther on the rocks, of in any other way. nd I must say, the thought of it, caused be to experience great anxiety. But the positive outcome, and the support form my friends, gave me a warm and safe feeling.

 One of the root causes was also my lack of experience with mooring equipment. Now I know better. Last time I dived to check myself, I was the swivel, and I thought it would sill be safe. However, when I saw the new part, I immediately thought, Geez!!! the old part was in no way in operational order! It should have been changed - no question! I won't do that mistake again.

Fresh Sailing

Winter Sailing in Rio with a Cup of Coffee

Had a lovely sailing day, with balmy conditions. Arpex, with a fresh cleaned bottom was a pleasure to sail, with nimble reactions to helm and tacking easily. It took a bit of work, since I had to re-install the mainsail, and put everything back in place. But all was very well worth it. Sails looking good  - despite the feeble breeze I still made 9 knots, during a gust. 

We sailed across the bay, and out, but since time was already advanced, I turned back. And just in time it was, since the tide was running out, and the wind was not enough to push us back inside. I just barely made it, with a little help form my electric engine friend. When I noticed we were starting to go backwards, being flushed out of the bay, I called for his support, just to bring us in. Once back inside the wind shifted, and we still had a few leisurely tracks in flat water, during which I even prepared a cup of coffee for my wife. Nobody will be able to say that I do not care and provide for my crew, and make everything to make her happy aboard. Happy wife, happy captain.

Winter Sailing in Rio

A lovely sailing day, with balmy winds, and a spectacular sunset.

Mood light

Last time I have removed all sails, covers, and other textile items for maintenance and washing. Now these have been brought back aboard. However, I couldn't resist to leaving the boat without it's cover for one more day or two, just to enjoy the view of my uncovered boat, in the lovely evening light.

Geez,... I can't get enough of it!

Moreover, I am planning to get Arpex out of the water. It has never been out, since the launch, now more than 5 years ago. I need to repaint the bottom, and, maybe even the complete hull, since it is already fairly battered. Let's see.... I have already purchase the CopperCoat needed for the bottom paint. Now need to find the time, money and organize how to pull the boat out.

Lately I have been thinking about maintenance tasks, which are urgently necessary. The start has been made by the sails and rigging. I took the day to remove the sails, sail cover, cabin cover, and internal cushions, main-sheet and jib-sheets, in order to inspect them, and do minor repairs, and wash it all. 

Fortunately I found that the sails are in very good order. I will only replace and add telltales, on mainsail and foresail, in order to improve my possibilities for sail adjustments. 

Washing the sails was not an easy task, since I have limited room, living in a not overly large apartment. However, with some creativity, lots of time, and a cold beer (or two), I managed to wash and dry the sails on my veranda. I am very happy with the job done.

In parallel I managed to find someone to mend my cabin cover, which had a rip, and produce a new mast-foot cover. I hope to receive this today, so that I can take all back to the boat.

Rainy Sunday Morning

As mentioned in my last post, I went to check the boat on Sunday morning. Not sure why, but I actually woke up in the very early morning, before sunrise. Taking the opportunity to get to my boat undisturbed, I headed out, walking the 20 minutes to Urca Beach in the dusk. While I dragged my dingy over the beach to paddle to Arpex, it started raining... I felt incredibly well, and satisfied to be out in the fresh air, feeling the rain on my face. 

After removing the cover, and opening the boat, I just layed down on the bunk, and enjoyed the view. The boat was floating in circles around the mooring. It was an incredibly odd feeling, to just look out, soaking in the various angles that the boat was offering me, on this apparently gloomy morning. I didn't feel gloomy at all.    

  

Cat Corner

Lovely to see many catamarans gathered in my home port at Urca Beach, in Rio. Two Wharram Tikis. A 21 and a 26, which is here as a guest, and who came across the Atlantic, from Europe. It'ss skipper, young Niko, is sailing his cat "Wayan" southwards. Had a nice chat with him and his crew, Dani and Victoria on Sunday early morning, while I checked in on Arpex. They were interested to see Arprex, too.

Where is the Tiki Cat?

Lovely sunset. World seems almost normal seen from here. Went out on my friend Roger's Tiki 21, Alamoana. What a nice smooth ride, even is choppy waves.