Rewards

Folks might be getting sick of boat pictures. Specially those with the boat hanging to the mooring. Nevermind. These days I just enjoy the view, whenever I can. If you read this blog, it is because you are interesed about boatbuilding, and the other sides of boating, and maybe boatownership. 

Well.., part of building your boat, and specially if it is a sort of different approach, is the part where you cash in your reward. I mean... All the effort must have a reward. Right? 

Right. It is all these moments when you sail, work, or maybe just look at your boat. When you get to see your dream there, floating in the golden light. 

You find that cheesy? Maybe. But, whatever. It is priceless. Consider this. 

Arpex at (light) work

On Sunday I took my girl out for a calm sail on Arpex. Since I didn't find the time and a helping hand to climb the mast, I couldn't change the damaged sheave-block at the top. Therefore we sailed per jib alone. That was ok, though. We relaxed and enjoyed the view. Mrs. Arpex approved the time spent on her boat.

Arpex at rest

After a day in which I managed to execute a number of jobs on the boat, except sailing, I was blessed to watch the end of the day from the Urca shore, with sore muscles.

When the boat went into the water, a year ago, I have warned readers of this blog, that the construction was actually not finished yet. Many things on the boat still need to be worked out, and built, in some cases. The is a long to do list. And the equation is simple; it is a matter of manhours. Since the free and available time is very limited, a decision must be made every weekend, regarding the time spent, either building, maintaining, cleaning, yes, and sailing. I am not too concerned at the maximisation of sailing time. Because some things need to be worked out, and that is what I am doing. Some of these jobs might influence the safety of the boat and crew. Like the sheave-block that I need tho change at the top of the mast. As it is, it is a source of problems and further damage. I should not sail the mainsail without replacing the equipment. At least I have received the delivery of the parts I had to order. With them I also bouth telltales to install on the mainsails leech.

Bieker Proa Training - Great video

Kalapuna Proa

What to do on a rainy weekend

Sailing and Art, are two of my passions. And in both I look after a specific aestetic, and sense of equilibrium. Which is why I have  special linking for the gentle and kinetic form of sculptures, the mobiles. For me, both, sailing and mobiles are very much related. And in that sense I very much approached the construction project of Arpex as an art project. Many spin off projects have resulted from it. But in general, my focus on an own art production has been dormant during construction.

Now that Arpex is in the water and operational, I have more time and muse to dedicate to my own art production. The mobile above is one of these. My objective is to keep it flowing and coming. Hopefully I can build many more of these weightless objects, and can find good places for them.

All right...

As you can see, I enjoy these panoramic sweeping pictures. Click on them for a full  view. They can give a good glimpse of the glorious and vast view from the deck, when Arpex is on the the mooring. At the same time, the format also manages to capture the limited realms of my favorite place to spend time. 

While sitting there, and enjoying, yesterday, I started pondering about the change of setting for my hobby, when compared to where things were a year and a half ago. And I found a funny thought in a hidden crevice of my brain. Secretly, I had some concern during the time that launching was coming closer. After spending 7 years enjoying the construction process, the trips to Ramos, the chatting with the folks at the club, the physical effort during the construction, the problem solving. And all that in a reasonably protected and controlled environment. I would miss that. 

After launch I would be out there. The boat would start to cope with sea, wind, sun, salt... would I enjoy that new chapter as much as I was enjoying construction? Maybe after so much time more a constructor than a sailor, I would be somehow dissapointed? Or maybe shy?

I can say now, and you can trust me on that one, that I am utterly enjoying this new chapter. Sometimes I think of the good times in Ramos. And, for sure, my heart bleeds, when I think that now critters are trying to eat Arpex'es hull, that other boats and tenders are bumping into it, that the sun is burning the crap out of wood and varnish. That the boat is exposed to wind and weather for 24 hours a day, and that water and humidity are looking for new opportunities to make it all rot and fail.

But that is what the boat was built for, and it is good to see that Arpex is doing what it was supposed to. So, for now, the transition to the new chapter, and the new setting, has been splendid. In a way I am still in a controlled environment. I have friends around to chat with, and I still have physical effort, and lots of problem solving. Additionally, I have wind on may face, sun on my skin, and a splendid view. 

Thus, the transition from boatbuilding to boat using has been successful. The meaning of "priceless" grew into a different prespective.

And, nevermind, I still have lots of tasks that involve "boatbuilding". 

Working

Problems to solve

If you have watched the latest sailing video, you might have noticed, that the mainsail is not really optimally set. Specially on the way back, after we dropped the sail, for swimming, and then got it up again. 

The reason for it, is that a double block, which recieves the main and gaff halyard is not working properly. When hoisting the sail, somehow the halyard gets stuck, an the sail wont go further up. And it does need stron encouragement to come down again too, for that matter. If you click on the picture, and look at the center, you'll be able to see the jammed halyard...

I'll have to go up the mast again tosort this out. Means; I'll have to change the double sheave for two singles.

Windy day

The afternoon was stormy, with some viscious gusts. Somehow I got worried about my mooring lines, and decided to go check after work. Nothing like standing on a windy deck to blow your worries away. Even if you're hanging on a mooring. 

Arpex velejando no final do ano 2015

A great day sailing Arpex out of the Bay of Guanabara for the first time. We went to Cotunduba Island, to find clear water, and to go for a little dip in the Ocean.

It is a 30 minute video. I had a hard time editing down to 30 minutes, out of 65 minutes I had of video material.... Sorry I could make it shorter.

Happy 2016 to y'all!!!

From Mrs. Arpex and myself, all the best for 2016!!!

Last day of the year, sailing

Today we were luck enough to go sailing on Arpex, my broher and I. It was a pleasant sail. We sailed outside of the Bay, to a small, somewhat protected area, where we dropped the anchor to take a refreshing dip in the Ocean.

 I have lng video, which I need to edit.

Sailing - Christopher Cross

This song has come with me from back in 1979 and 1980, when it was launched, and when I was just 9 to 10 years old. From then I have heard it many times, indeed. And I love it. But I had never, until today, seen the face of Christopher Cross. My mental image of him was that of a flamingo. Look at the cover of his album, if you don't know why. I was happy to see a more recent video of an act, seemingly performed in 2013. After finding this video, I was happy to find also videos from the eighties, with his various hits.

Brief time out

These days I managed to spend some time on the boat. It would have been a shame not to tak it out a little, so I went, despite there was no wind, and despite a certain concern, which was credited to the fact that the water was not inviting for a swim, and therefore I did not clean the bottom and mostly important, the rudder blade. 

 I soon found out, that my oncern was valid, and the responsiveness of the boat to the rudder command was not amusing. Sure, I could still steer the boat. But at low speeds, in the feeble breeze and only with the jib, I was unable to do more than a reach. Add to that, my limited automomy with the electric engine, specially if steering into a slight breeze, I did not feel all too comfortable. I quicly decided, that I should better return to my mooring.  Which I did,

Back to my safe haven, I decided, that the best option is to have someone scrap the bottom of the boat, every Friday. As simple as that. Imust say, that I even enjoy the occasional scrapping work myself. however, if the water is not in a condition, or if time is short, the necessity to clean the bottom might become a damn nuisance. And I cann tell you; the growth rate of these marine creatures it very surprising! After two weeks of scrapping, a significant amount of fouling, about 1cm thick, is to be found. It has been 4 weeks since I last scrapped. So no wonder the boat was not a pleasure to sail. 

Unfortunately I will have to take the boat of painting pretty soon. Large patches of my protective coppercoating have delaminated. I suspect the primer did not find a good grip on the red paint, which was applied on top of it. The coppercoat went on top of the red. But the delamination seems to reveal the white hull. I will have to haul the boat out and paint it all again. Not something I look forward to. But there seems to be little alternative.

Mom, look!

Star Wars

December came in interstelar speed this year. At least if I think about it now, looking backwards. ... The end of the year is a time to look at what has been moved and achieved. But also time to see a new Star Wars movie!

I can say that I am thrilled, and look very much forward to it. This is a movie that has marked a great deal of my youth, and fired my imagination in a fabulous way. However, the concept for Arpex was not inspired a starship from the Star Wars movie. But it is not unfair to say that the subconscious might have been at work, when I was sculpturing the cabin layout and shape for the coachroof. The association with the X-Wing fighter came later. Specially in the first weeks and months, when I was putting the cabin together, people commented that it looked like a spaceship. And I had to agree. specially when I stayed at the yard until later, when it got dark, and the cabin was illuminated from within.