Hull

The forward hull sections are now ready.

Keel

We are now gluing the keel. It will have a couple of stout bolts to screw it on. Later, of course it will all be laminated with glassfiber and epoxi.

Mast construction

In the last few weeks I have been busy searching for mast sourcing possibilities. Considering the rig options that I chose, I need a simple tube - without the usual mast profile.

I first thought about a wooden mast. But building it would not be simple. And Luiz Fernando has indicated that it would be a great challenge. A new, very strong, strongback would have to be constructed.

Then I thought about building in foam and glass, or maybe carbon. But the construction technique is not simple. For carbon a vacum pump, and oven for postcuring, would be needed. Else it would be a waste of money.

I have also contacted mast builders to try sourcing aloy masts, or a aluminum tube for the Wharram Rig. Not sucessfully.

Then Luiz Fernando mentioned the possibility to source an aeronautical aluminum tube. The 6061T6 aluminum is strong and light. But the tubes come only in 6 meter bars. The 6 meter tube weights 12,75kg. A radius of 16cm and wall thinkness of 2mm of strong aluminum alloy should be sufficiently stiff and strong. I will fit a wooden to and base extrusion to make a through deck supporting foot, and a "flying top". "Flying" because the top part would be unstayed.

Total mast height would be around 8,5 meters. This is 1 meter less than I whished for. This will make light wind performance less than expected. But it might just work out well. I might end up with a 25 kg mast. I think thast light enough.

I think it will look nice.

Ropes

An other donation from my brother. Since he is selling Narwal, he has sorted out some spare sheets and ropes, that were never used on the boat, and donated it to the project as a present. Great help!

Fish on Saturday

Uma bela Corvina para o almoço.

Arpex Construction Pictures

I worry a lot about future maintenance issues. I will probabely varnish the inside wooden struckture, so the wood can still breathe. It seems incapsulated wood in epoxi can cause rot. Keeping clear varnish in corners that will seldomly get wet, one can see the wood. Only the living quarters will be white, and epoxied inside.

I'm considering a colorfull outside finish, going along with the fishermans fashion of the little brazilian fishing boats, the traineiras. I'm going to study that idea.

New berth for Blue Nose

My brother Andreas has given me his beautyfull model of the famous american schooner "Blue Nose". I will take care of it as a trustee until his return.

Arpex Construction pictures

Construction is progressing towards the closure of the main hull. The lateral stringers have been attached and the st'brd sheerstringer. The stern still needs finishing.

I have also tested the model in the closeby lagoon . I managed to get some nice video images, but don't seem able to get it loaded onto the computer.

Construction is now progressing towards the sheeting of the main hull. Having completed this step will be great.

Argurias Arpoadorensis

My home computer, a laptop, has a burned up it's motherboard. This leaves me stranded and offline. Just to give an emergency report I have resorted to go to a internet cafe. A big library in Shopping Center Rio Sul. It will take a week more until I know whether the problem can be fixed. If negative, I will have to buy a new one.

The boatbuilding project is suffering some serious issues as well. Low productivity has lead to an immense gap in the planned timeline. Instead of having the main hull and akas ready, we are barely beginning to plank the main hull. Several steps are still required to conclusion. Part of it is due to health issues. Ok. Well,...

I have therefore changed some of the financial arangements, and will do my part against delivered products. Which is according to contractual arrangements, which were discussed before the start of building. The timeline is now just distant theory. The builder will execute the resting construction steps according to his own working possibilities. I sincerely ope this arrangement will fit him better. ... We will see how this works. I have little alternatives.

I have decided that I will also have to do some contingencial complexity reduction regarding construction. Akas will go across main hull to give a strong stay fixing point. They will support the leepod. All rig wil be smaller and less sofisticated. I don't have the confidence to do a more complex structure right now. Maybe if things clear up later...

I have shot some images and videos of the model sailing. To increase my mood and motivation. I'll load them as soon as I can.


1640

Computer breakdown

Can't post due to a computer breakdown. Hope to be back on line by next week... HOPE!

Leepod buoyancy

The leepod buoyancy needs to be estimated carefully. It should deliver buoyancy soon enough. But harmonic lines need to be achieved also. If the boat heels as far as to have the mast touching the water, the mast should lay as horizontal, flat as possible. For this the leepod should not form a "step".

Mast development

I have decided for a keelstepped mast. It will have an internal supporting structure, and be sustained by two top-shrouds.

The current discussion at the proa-file made me think. Before, I considered the mast the designed breaking point. But then I realised:

The mast is thought to be buoyant, to sustain the boat in case of a capsize. It is of no use if it breaks. Additionaly, pressure from the stays can be reduced, if part of the load can be carried by the internal structure, to distribute torsional and other loads into the hull-structure. Since Luiz Fernado, my boatbuilder, is a gifted and creative craftsman, I think that building the somewhat complex structure would not be too difficult.

Now I'm studying the different material options for sthe spars:

• Building in carbon seems difficult. Tempting. And very expensive... My budget is tight.
• Wood and Glass is an option. But I fear the wood-rot in the mast.
• Foam and glass is a good option. But would we have the skill to do it to an acceptable standard?
• And, of course, there is aluminum alloy. It is durable and good quality. I will have to see if I can get a conical tube done. It is not very common on the market.

And of course I need some structural advice. Preferrabely I would have plans form an engineer. I'm studying the opportunities. I got some creative ones.

Dark ship

Wondering about that funny wave at the stern? Click on the image and look more exactly.

This dark ship is harmless. It is the "Pasha Bulker", and lies well lit, safely on the beach. Safely for the crew, who can just step out. Not safe as defined by the insurance companies...

Imagine what a bad time the captain must have had.

It would be a valid tactik for a shoal draft vessel, capable of going throught the surf and beaching. But not for a tank-ship...

Sra. Arpex

Sra. Arpex. Foto de Christian Gaul.

Angra dos Reis in colours

See this beautifull, enchanted beach! The colour of the water!

You don't need to see the whole video. But make sure you stop it after 2 minutes. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Angra do Reis - Praia das Pedras

Narwal lying in Enseada de Palmas, on Ilha Grande. The boat rests in close company to a few of the traditional dugout canoes found in the region. Their shape has allways fascinated me. They use typically shaped paddles to propel and steer the canoe. Some are equipped with tiny diesel engines. They are used for all types of fishing and cargo transport.

Stefano helped me to bring the boat from Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro. Stefano is a dear friend. He is the responsible for the success of the Castelinho 38, a pousada and cultural center in Santa Teresa/Rio de Janeiro (http://www.castelinho38.com/blogger/).

Our trip turned out to be a stormy night-ride, with winds in the high 30ies. One of the famous Sudoestes, cold frontal winds, came in. The wind came with heavy rain, and from behind us, and we surfed towards Rio in a dark, wild ride. We managed to furl the genoa, but still were going at hull speed and surfing down waves. Since we didn't have harnesses, I asked Stefano to stay downbelow.

Thankfully, I know the way, so managed all right. But one close encounter with a large ship made my adrenalin go pumping high. It is incredible how fast a ship is right next to you when you are going at around 9-10 knots! I recon that the ship was also doing 10+knots, on a reciprocal collision course, so in the end approaching at 20+ knots. Judging distances to some high navigation lights, in the pitch dark and rain, is challenging!!! I can tell you.

We we were on port tack, and had the wind right from the st'bord side of the stern. I had no instruments to measure. But it was around 30+ knots. Jibing was not an easy option. Around 3-4 miles to our left we had the hard rocks of Rio de Janeiro coastline, and beachbreak. I knew it was 3 miles since I was targeting to pass inside of the Cagarras Islands. I could see the light of the small lighthouse. To my front-right was a passing ship, on colision course. It had to be comming from right outside of the Cagarras Islands. So it was approximately 3-4 miles to my left. At 20+ knots it meant?? I tried to focus and do the maths... I reconed I would meet the ship in less than 10 minutes.

If I diverged clearly, I would have to steer towards the coast, and I would be dead downwind, with crew downbelow, or else unprotected on deck, risking a "chinese gibe". I decided to stay on course, don't gibe, keep clear of the ship - thought it would be easier to miss! I wondered if the large ship was aware of my presence? Had it seen me either on the lookout or radar - which was more likely due to the heavy rain and total, moonless darkness? I warned Stefano, and asked him to help me on the lookout, and to stay ready for a quick maneuver, if needed.

As you are reading this today, you know; we missed the ship, and made it to port safely. The high walls of the cargo ship passed less than 300 meters on our st'board side. ... About 40 minutes later we were hiding behind the Sugar Loaf and picking the mooring at the Club.

This was a close encounter, that gave me many lessons. Fear is a great teacher.

We visited our friend Ulisses on the way, who has a small house, which he occasionally rents friends and turists, at the lovely Praia das Pedras, in the Enseada de Palmas. There are plenty of small hidden beaches with calm, clear, and warm water.

Arraial do Cabo: 70 miles

This is a picture of Arraial do Cabo. It is a cape region, 70 nautical miles East from Rio. An island, Ilha do Farol, forms a protected bay, in a region where there is usually plenty of wind. Actually, NNE of the cape, in direction of Cabo Frio and Búzios, is daily about 15-20kts of wind. Often around 25-30kts.

On the picture you can notice a small, tight channel which goes out of the bay to the open ocean. To SW, in direction to Rio de Janeiro (righthand side of image), winds are usually weak, between 2 and 10 knots.

This bay is a protected paradise, with calm, transparent water and white sand. The water is often cold, due to the resurgence phenomenon, which brings cold water from deep ocean currents to the surface. But these currents also bring nutrients. Therefore, there is a rich maritime life to be found. The bay is also very shallow, as you can see on the picture. Only a tight channel between the shoals and the rocks of the island, leads you towards the port of Arraial do Cabo and Cabo Frio.

Due to the clear water one can see it clearly. The channel is formed by the tidal currents around the island.

Butterfly sex