Your Love Gets Sweeter

Arpex has given me a lot of joy lately. I have worked a bit on sail control, improving the outhaul, and reinstalling the reef. I have done this in preparation of a race, this forst for Arpex. It proved to be a fun and even emotional experience, since I was lucky enough to sail with my wifem, sister and brother in law.
It was a tremendously gratifying experience, for all the fun we had, and for the opportunity to see Arpex preforming all the normal tasks that are expected when you have a boat, also also in close quarters, and in community with other boats.

Doing this and that

A national holiday made smoe time for boat maintenance. So, I got a little boat time. But no sailing. I took advantage of the overcast day, to do some jobs on the deck, which otherwise, in hot blazing sun, would have been more taxing. I have repaired the forward net lashings, and added a batten, lashed to the unserside of the central bowsprit beam, and thus further divides the loads on the netting.

In total, the whole thing gets more stabilzed. I also swabbed the wooden deck, and got the jib out, to dry it in the breeze. I had to store it half dampened after the last time out. 

I gave the interior some cleaning, and put out the cushins into the sun. Also scrapped off the algae on the waterline. Seems that the coppercoat is holding up well these days.

Fresh Sailing

Even After All

The last Tuesday was a national holiday, and I was lucky enough to be able to put in some good boat time, and sailing time in the extended weekend.

A new thing for me, was that I left the mooring at a relatively late hour, at 16:30, and still got a wonderfull saing time in. Retunring at sunset, with the fleeting light.  

At last a bit of sailing

 Got out late in the afternoon, at 16:30, with spontaneous crew built by Rogerio, and Claudia & Ashton, who are taking care of the James Wharram T30 TikiRio.

Yuloh development

From early on, I imagined to have a strong sculling oar on Arpex, or a yuloh, to move the boat for short distances when there is no wind. And also to support maneuverability in close quarters, when sailing in between other moorings, for example. I believe it would make a fine addition, and would increase the degree of independance from an engine. 

Years ago, ten years, actually, in 2011, I have already posted about this on this blog. Being able to learn from other people's experience is always a great benefit. Which is why I am happy to be in contact now, with Mr. Atushi Doi, from Yokohama, Japan, and who has built and used beautiful yulohs very sucessfully on his sweet 5 meter sailing outrigger canoe. I am very grateful for having his advice, and I find it very interesting to communicate with someone who also has a fine interest in sailing outrigger canoes.

Turks Head and Half Hitch tread

This will be coming up on Arpex'es wheel.

Arpex as seen from Space

 A new Google image shows a surprising level of detail, of Arpex sitting on its mooring. The boat is sheltered under the cabin cover, and the dingi sits on the deck. One can clearly see the forward and stern diagonal spectra tension lines, which are 0,8mm diameter.

From last week.... no sailing today....

I really appreciate how Arpex is able to sail itself, while I tendo to anything else, or work the sheets, or halyards, or whatever else. 

I'd rather be with you.

Sailing with Andreas & Lucas

Arpex Sailing with James and Family

Lovely moments sailing with James Burwick and his children 

 

Rush - Tom Sawyer

Sailing with my sister

Yesterday I finally got the new asymetric out, and up. My sister and brother in law helped me, which was great. Many adjustments are still required. But it was great fun, and we sailed along nicely in very weak wind, which later died off altogether. Luckyly we decided to bring the electric engine along.

Preparations

In order to be able to enjoy my new asymetric light cloth sail, I had to make a few adjustments, or complementations to Arpex. The bow has received a "hornlet", which is there to avoid the spi sheet to fall into the water.
I also added a few lines from the forward beam to the bow, to help prevent the sail from going into the water. On port side I have also added such line. I should actually make it out of spectra. That would add a safety factor for working on the bow.

Also, I have been working on the spi's sheeting point. A carbon structure spreads the load conveniently on different hull points.

Coming up next

 

Magic moment

 

The new sail coming

I have ordered a new sail. A light asymetricnylon sail, as a big light foresial for open angles.

The new sail will double the are at the fore-

triangle

Maintenance Day - Boom Repair

I made good use of a clouded, mostly windless day, with moderate temperatures, to do some repairs on the mast, and boom end. At the boom, some wood rot had installed. So I cleaned it out, fitted and laminated a new piece of wood, as a scarf. All that I laminated with a new layer of carbon. In the process I have fitted a double block, to be able to better handle the mainsail's outhaul.

Previously I had one friction ring there. HAving both, the outhaul and reefline going through there, added too much friction, to make adjustments during sailing a reasonable possibility. The other end will also be improved, and a reduction will be installed for the outhaul.

whi

I had a spare double block, which fitted nicely, after a bit of adjustment with the saw, and reinforced all with carbon. I was fairly satisfied with the result. The cabin received a bit of cleaning and arranging things. 

Here is a shorter version

Arpex sailing around Ilha do Pai

Here is a long video of yesterdays sailing... Sorry, my editing skills are poor, I know. But I produce these as a memory log for myself, so if you get bored, you might just move fast forward.

With a favorable wind condition Rogério and I left the mooring without the engine. We didn't bother mounting it, and later we picked up the mooring under sail, too.

This was one of the most memorable and perfect sailing days. Beautiful sky, lovely temperature, and a pleasant moderate wind between 8-14 knots. With occasional lulls, where we fell into a wind hole. we used the opportunity to refresh in the water. But when  the wind picked up, we made up to 10 knots, with long stretches going 8-9 knots. 

A perfect day, with lovely sailing and stunning views of Rio de Janeiro. 

 

Black Crows

Sailing in memory of Wilfrid, father of Kiko and Guy.

Wilfrid was the father my good friend Kiko, and his brother Guy. He succumbed to Covid, and found his piece. His sons spread his ashes in the park looking over the bay, and towards the Sugar Loaf. We continued to cherish his memory and think of the good times together, while having a few beers, sailing Arpex on a wonderful, beautiful afternoon. A good way to let the breeze take the sadness away.

Rush! Love this album. Rembemer well when I bought it in 1991

Cabin Fever

Sailing with my nephews, Mathias and Leonardo.

Lenine in concert - Wonderful music

Last weekend's sailing day to Arpoador Rock

Master and Commander - Wonderful Documentary

As big as this

People often say, "ah,... so this is a large tacking outrigger"? I find that funny, because I don't think Arpex is a large boat. Yes, at 30 ft. Apex has some length, and deck space is lovely and enormous. But the cabin is small, ....and cosy. I like it, but there is nothing large to it. But for its minimal size, it offers great benefits. I mean,... from inside or outside, just look at that place, in this postcard location. I prefer to be sailing, of course. But, if I can't, even a few hours cleaning, scraping, or maintaining the boat in any way, will give me a good time.

They probably more often than not, refer to the fact that tacking outriggers are usually smaller in size. Usually a size range where crew weight has more influence on trimming. On Arpex it does matter where the crew is positioned, sure, and sometimes I ask crew to shift, for a maneuver. But I can sail the boat, regardless of where the crew is... usually. that is what I was used from monohulls, and that is what I find more convenient.

Trimaran Sailing with James Burwick, Somira Sao and family on Thunderbird

I had the privilege and pleasure to sail with James Burwick, his wife Somira Sao, and lovely family, on the 49ft. trimaran Thunderbird. This capable cruising sailboat is a "Gaviota 49", by Bosgraaf Yacht Design. Dutch built, it sports a simple yet efficient rig, and the boat is regularly sailed by James alone, or with the support of his 12 year old daughter, Tormentita, and his younger sons.

We just cruised leisurely across the bay, enjoying each others company, and the magic carpet ride on Thunderbird. We had very light winds, but still sailed handsomely around 9 knots of speed. She tacked without problems.

Somira Sao is a talented photographer and journalist, having many articles published in magazines. She took some pictures during our ride.

More from Jam da Silva - One of my favorites

Jardim Secreto do amigo Jam da Silva

Family sailing

Sailing with my sister and in-law last week was a treat. We went off on a mission to pick up two optimists, in a club across the bay. Easy thing for Arpex. Specially now, with the installed net. It carried one of the boats comfortably, while the other came to sit nicely on the deck.

 

When sailing is not up, there is always something to do...

I have tried to go sailing this weekend, but it didn't work out, as planned. The bottom was dirty, due to two week's no scrubbing. So I did that early, on Saturday. But then the crew bailed out. Happens. And then the engine wouldn't work. As usual... I need my electric engine to go as I please. 

So I got time to tick off a few pending tasks. Not many,.... but the thing is not to let things slip out of sight, and of mind. As long as you keep doing things, and keeping the boat in good shape, it is all good. It's not like the list is ever going to end... It won't. Only when the boat is gone. And we don't want that,do we?