So. Here in Rio we frequently have weak winds. Specially during winter times. Which else is a lovely time to be out on the water, due to the more clement sun radiation, and sheer heat, and the fabulous golden light conditions. The more angled light incidence brings out the lovely rounded shapes and volumes of the Rio de Janeiro montaneous landscape. The golden, yellow light also brightens the lush vegetation of the tropical rainforest, and shines the water in shades of blue. I just love to just be out there, and have a boat that allows tends to herself, and allows me to let my eyes take in the beauty and the grace of the far distant peaks of the Serra do Mar, which reaches 2.000 meters hight.
If you catch my drift, I do not mind sailing in light winds, and do slow progress, relax, and have a generally good time on the water. Be it alone, or in company.
However, I also do like to sail the boat at speed. For this, in generally light winds, a large asymetric light cloth sail, is a must. With only a little breeze, the asymetric gives Arpex a turbo boost. Which on the other hand makes the bay seem quite small, and maneuvering capability must keep up, to avoid hazardous situations. Which is why I haven not set the sail yet, when sailing solo. I have done it usually with more experienced crew only.
This weekend I tried it solo for the first time. Conditions were very calm. There was just enough breeze to sail, perhaps 2-4 knots. We were sailing at 1 to 3, max 5 knots. Perfect for a first trial. To know how it feels to set the spi solo for the first time.
Setting all up and getting ready to fly the kite was actually quick and easy. It is a good thing that I can actually leave the helm for extended moments, to go get the sail, attach halyard, and sheets, while. I should put it in as a standard to prepare all, before going out sailing. When I did pull the halyard, the wind was almost gone. It was just enough to fill the sail, and give perhaps 1 knot.
I didn't mind. The breeze was just enough to keep moving, steerage, and the sail set. So, I could do a gibe in all calm. For the next time, I hope to have a bit more of the pressure, to get the little red cracker moving as it should.
The other interesting aspect of this sailing day, was that the wind actually died eventually. Just before it did, I had the good insipration not to sail into the channel. Whcih was when I gibed. The channel is not a good place to be when the wind dies. If you sit like a duck in the channel, ship traffic will be unable to avoid you. Luckly I avoided that situation. But I was on the fringes of the chanel with an outgoing tide, when I noticed we weren's realy sailing any more. Only the end of the tide was pushing us out of the bay.
That is when my little electric motor gave a helping hand. First in a motor sailing mode, and then only motor, we reached the mooring which is one mile distant (1.2miles). When arrived back at the mooring, I had spent 32% of the battery capacity.
