Getting Comfortable

For the first time I tried the new gas stove, for preparation of a hot tea, and a hot meal. A wonderful treat before a quiet night on Arpex. It worked wonderfully. The arrangement is convenient also because it does not heat the cabin due to generous ventilation. And the stove's ceramic fire plate efficiently radiates the heat, while producing a very wind resistant flame.

Inside Arpex

A short clip from last weekend's wonderful sailing. Arpex was sailing at 3-4 knots in maybe 4-6 knots of wind, going upwind. Note how the boat is happily sailing itself, on a steady course. The scenery of the Rio de Janeiro Bay is just amazing. 

Heavy Swell at Urca

This weekend heavy swell has entered the Guanabara Bay. It has also affected our mooring site at Urca Beach, where several boat have been ripped of from their moorings by breaking waves. In my opinion it should lead to a risk assessment of those who placed their moorings in high risk areas. In regular intervals winter storms can bring these swells in again.

At the Boat-Wash

 Yesterday it was a good day for a good washing of the boat. THe deck was properly soaped and washed with sweet water from a pressure hose. This helped the ant-skid to a bright new, clean look.

Planned Range

Arpex is well sailed by now. Some aspects of the fit-out have slowly evolved over the last four years. Like the addition of the "bowsprit", with anchor holder and cleats, additional cleats and cam-cleats on the deck, the bimini shelter, the rear net between the hulls, the kitchen table, the burner stove... many little things, that make the sailing better, and improve the capabilities for an overnight trip.

What I still need to do,is to solve the electrical issues, and put the navigation lights to work again. That is the most important. I do not like to sail Arpex in the dark without lights. Also relevant is the finishing of my forward trampolin, which will improve safety and comfort on the bow. I am well advanced with that. I am also looking at the possibility to install an inside "toilet". A gravity feed installation, that will be totally smell free, and trouble free. Just need the courage to cut the hull side. I have already cut the wood for that. 

The trip to Paquetá should be a weekend trip, with overnight at the Paquetá Boat Club. The Club traditionally welcomes visitors.

Sailing out

Arpex Sailing Range - until now 2019

Arpex hasn't yet stretched its legs very much. Since the usual sailing day is short for me, I also do not get very far from my evening shelter, at the mooring. I think the average sailing time is between 2 to 3 hours. Maybe 4, at maximum.... So I don't get to sail many miles more than about 20 in a day. Since the wind is usually between 5-8 knots, therefore boatspeed is usually between 4-8 knots.

I'd love to extend this range. For that I want to install the forward trampolin, But in fact anytime I could go sailing to Ilha Paquetá for an overnight stay. One day to go there, and the other to come back. A weekend would do.

Arpex sailing past Cotunduba Bay

Arpex on the Guanabara Bay

Arpex Sailing Mai 2019

Due to a forecast of strong winds, and uncertain weather, I had planned for a maintenance morning, Which I managed to do, despite a brilliant sunshine weather, and an inviting light breeze. But at 3, with two good hours of sunlight, I decided to go for a quick sail across the bay. With a freshly scrubbed hull bottom, Arpex sailed nicely in the light breeze of 4-8 knots, making up to 7,8 knots at in a gust. But usually cruising at 4-6 knots, and tacking reliably, even in the slow conditions.

Winter Maintenance Jobs

 After a year of fussing around and waiting, I could finally install the rear netting, which protects the stern deck area. Having stuff falling on deck, and from there into the drink, was a constant worry on Arpex. Well, not a WORRY,... but a concern. Specially sheets and halyards, which could jam the propeller, if the engine was to be used. It happened once. At least in the rear this is more difficult now. Next step is to get that for the front part.

 Adjusting the net was quite a challenge, and mounting it took a while too. The gap between the two parts of the net, is there to accommodate the Torqueedo engine. The hook, dangling within the gap, is used to secure the propeller and shaft of the engine in a high and dry position. And dragg free.

I also managed to lower the boom a little bit, by opening the mainsail sleeve. 

Many maintenance jobs still need to be tended to. Most urgent is to get the boat out of the water, to paint the bottom. The constant concern with crapping the hull is tiresome, and it wears on the hull. However, getting the boat out is not so simple. There is no ramp close by, to do such a job.

A Proa is Good!

That is a lovely video. Good job. Russ'es work, specially JZerro, inspired me so much. ... I wish I had such design and boat construction skills. Such advanced workmanship. I didn't achieve anything comparable. But I tried.

Change - Associação dos Velejadores da Urca

After 3 years ahead of the Associação dos Velejadores da Urca, I have not put myself available re-election this year. I need to focus on other things. I was a good time. I can only hope that my successors continue the work, and strengthen the bond between members.

Arpex

Arpex hasn't seen much action lately. Work has again gotten the better part of me, leaving no time on weekends. Also, frankly, summer is just too hot to stay out in the sun. Only rare visits to check the boat have been possible lately.

Design Brief

 The sketches have been produced around 2010 or 2011, during the construction of Arpex. The objective was to get an image of how the boat would look, once equipped with its decks and cabin. Since I didn't have detailed construction plans, I used these sketches to move forward with some design decisions. The images were produced based on actual construction site photos, which I amended with PowerPoint... :-)

I liked to produce the more artistic view, instead of precise drawings. The whole boat construction had an artistic approach, and I viewed the boat itself as an object much like the mobiles which I like to build. And in fact, there are many similarities in the sense of balance, structure, and movement.

Ala Moana on Dry Dock

The other day we pulled Rogerio's new Tiki 21, Ala Moana, out of the water, and onto a floating dock.

I have been planning to do this with Arpex. Therefore, I welcomed this execrcise, and recommended it to Rogerio. It went easy like a piece of pie. For Arpex, it will be more difficult. Arpex is longer and heavier.

10 Years Challenge

Browsing the trough the blogs archives, I got curious,  and looked for a picture of myself, 10 years ago. I found this one, from December 2008. I had a long way to go still.

Maintenance Tasks

In between the Christmas  and New Year Holidays, I managed to execute some overdue maintenance tasks on Arpex. 

The main task was to repair the edge of the hull on the cabin entrance. It had suffered, and the wood was exposed. Before it started to deteriorate, it was better to provide solid repair. This was provided in form of sanding, fairing, glueing and laminating with glass-epoxi. And then painted. 

To be quite honest, I admit that I did a more than sloppy job, in terms of finishing. Mainly the painting was not at all up to standard. The sanding and laminating was done in two layers of bi-directional 300g fiberglass, and well saturated in epoxi, which achieved a thorough cure, and no blisters. Seemingly a healthy bond to the wood. But the alleged automotive epoxi white paint was horrible to apply with my brush, and it left an unsatisfying finish. Of course I did also not have tape available on the boat to make a proper making. ... At least, I did find it at that moment. I am afraid I will have to sand it down again, and do a new cover. Wile working the area, I also sanded and epoxied the entrance hatch cover. Also there, the repair came in good time, to preserve the material in good shape.

I also gave the "bow-sprit" a bit of love from the sander, and a coat of epoxi and then white paint. Since the paint showed to be fairly rugged, however weak in finishing, I decided to give the dingy bottom a new white cover. Since when the dingy is on deck, it becomes part of the cockpit, being additional seating area, it makes sense to keep it white and clean. The bottom suffers a lot, when it gets dragged over the beach. So cuts and bruises a are regular occurrence. Therefore, before the paint, I also made repairs with epoxi and glass.

Other smaller points of bruise, were epoxied and painted. On the mast for example, where the boom meets the mast, and on cabin edges, where ropes might friction. I was happy to have done this the keep Arpex in good shape.