Ressaca - Big Swells in Urca 12.08.2017

It's the WEEKEND!!! Just kidding it's Wednesday :) Sailing Vessel Delo...

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Get Together

Today,

There is a celebration. 

Putting Arpex back together

Last weekend Arpex came back together, with the good help from my friend Frank, and Rodrigo. It means that the rudder, which had been removed for repair and maintenance, was put back onto its rightful position. 

As it was a day with fresh temperatures, in and outside of the water, I was happy to recruit Rodrigo for the wet parts of the job. 

AVU Meeting

This weekend we called for an extraordinary meeting, in order to inform the sailor association's members about the current situation regarding registratoon of moorings. It was pretty crowded, and considered a success. 

AVU - Associação dos Velejadores da Urca: Update

The registration of moorings in the area of Urca Beach is going forward. Today we have managed a great success. As the President of the AVU - Associação dos Velejadores da Urca (Urca Sailors Association), I have been contacted by the Port Authority and asked for a meeting. This is the result of my proactive contact two weeks ago, when I went to the Port authority in order to present the AVU, and put myself available for contacts. At the occasion I also left the presentation of our organisation. You can see the presentation in the video below.

Unfortunately I was out of town and could not attend the meeting. However, we were able to mobilize Pascoal and Douglas, from the Board of Directors, who had a very positive meeting. As a result, the orderly registration of our moorings seems closer than ever. And the best was to hear from the official that he welcomes our organisation and wants to work in partnership to keep the area safe and organized. This weekend we will have an event to discuss the next steps, and to celebrate the step forward.

Here is Part 2 of a lovely sailing day on Arpex

This video was taken almost a year ago. It is part two of a a video sequence. Part one was posted two days ago.

Getting my mooring registered at the port authority

I had hoped to install the rudder on Arpex, and go sailing. But that didn't materialize. Rainy days during the week halted the work on my sisters boat, and thus the painting of the hull - and therefore also my rudder. Since I am taking a hitch, I will resort to getting my boat ready and running again next week. 

I used the free time to start the process of registering my mooring with the authorities. My intention was to do that a long time ago. However, they said the port captain was not accepting registration requests. This seems to have changed. So, I am taking the chance to get my mooring legal. If you want to find it, this is the location. You can see a picture of Arpex on Google Earth too!

However, the picture on Google Earth must be about 2 years old. It was taken before the relocation of my mooring. 

GREG ALLMAN MIDNIGHT RIDER

Memory from a year ago... A lovely day sailing Arpex

It is not a year ago that I last sailed Arpex, but it sure feel like it. Despite what I had hoped for, the rudder has not yet been painted. Therefore, I won't be able to go sailing this weekend. But I am hoping for the next. ... Meanwhile I go through all my video files. I found this one, which I had eddited, but not posted. Well... now here it goes. You guys might find it boring and just too long. Well, I apologise - But I just like it.

Dear Lord! I miss sailing my boat!

Mall I need is the rudder been painted, in order to get back sailing on Arpex again. And the next weekend is the target date for that. The rudder shall be painted on Thursday. 

Yesterday I gave the boat a little TLC, by scrubbing the decks, and cleaning the interior. 

Roger sail his new Melanesia canoe - Alamoana

Yesterday my friend Rogerio watered his newly built canoe Alamoana. She is a smashing beauty. Roger did a great job. The black hull and wooden decks, cockpit and outrigger look wonderful. And she sails like a song. 

The bamboo rig comes from my Arara canoe. I am proud to see it on such a fine canoe. And it fits her wonderfully. After more than 12 years the bamboo spars look like new. 

Pablo goes Sailing

Today I went for a sail with Pablo, a Spaniard, who decided to sail from Rio to the Caribean, on a 18ft. sailboat. 

Pablo has spent the last 4 year on his bicycle, riding first from Europe to Thailand, together with his girl. From there they took a flight to Alaska, and finding it pretty cold there, they made their way down North America, all the way to Central America. Finding it pretty hot and humid in that place, they stretched their legs, and, after a while, they found themselves in Patagonia. Guess what, despite a favorable time of the year,it was pretty cold. Looking for warmer pastures, they change course for due North, and finally landed in Rio. It seems that continuing with the bike was not a favoured option. They wanted to reach the Caribbean. Going by boat seemed a good idea. His girl found a job as crew, and parted. Pablo will follow. He bought a 18ft. sailboat, which he will sail to the up the coast of Brazil, to Antigua. 

Not an easy task. And the first step is to learn how to sail! Turns out, that Pablos sailing experience is... well, its none, really. So, his adventure is a daring one. Specially, considering that his boat is less than suitable for the task. But, ... Hell! Who am I to tell someone who just spent the last 4 year reeling off 60.000 kilometers by bike, that he can't so something? I did tell him that he is crazy, and that he will he must take great care for his boat and his crew (himself). But else, I try to make my contribution so that he can make it, and meet his girl in Antigua. 

One of my greatest concerns, is that he does not have any means for self steering. No autopilot, no windvane... So, today I offered to go out, and see, together, how his boat could be made to sail itself for a while. We tried bungees on the tiller, and ... well... basic sail adjustments, to make his boat sail itself for a while on a given course. ... not much to my surprise, it turns out his short keeled boat is not really good in this... but, after a while we managed. Interestingly, we found it a lot easier with the mainsail reefed. Actually, it was a good thing we did reef. Actually, I teached him how this reefing thing goes... Considering his fragile rig, and the much better balance of the boat, I recommended this as his main sail configuration.

All in all, Pablo and I had a great day on the water. Strangely, I am confident this biker will be able to make it. He has the strength and the resolve to do it. And the courage. With a bit of luck,... But, he needs to hurry up. The weather window for winds and currents will not be open for much longer, I guess before the 15th of May he needs to go. And he is burning to do so.

Light in Urca

Time to go sailing again

It has been a long time since Arpex has been sailing. Not once this year! First some regatta activities on other boats, then the rudder damage. The rudder is now almost fit again. Unfortunately I am stuck to land these days. Hope to get to finish the job quite soon.

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