Sailing in memory of Wilfrid, father of Kiko and Guy.

Wilfrid was the father my good friend Kiko, and his brother Guy. He succumbed to Covid, and found his piece. His sons spread his ashes in the park looking over the bay, and towards the Sugar Loaf. We continued to cherish his memory and think of the good times together, while having a few beers, sailing Arpex on a wonderful, beautiful afternoon. A good way to let the breeze take the sadness away.

Rush! Love this album. Rembemer well when I bought it in 1991

Cabin Fever

Sailing with my nephews, Mathias and Leonardo.

Lenine in concert - Wonderful music

Last weekend's sailing day to Arpoador Rock

Master and Commander - Wonderful Documentary

As big as this

People often say, "ah,... so this is a large tacking outrigger"? I find that funny, because I don't think Arpex is a large boat. Yes, at 30 ft. Apex has some length, and deck space is lovely and enormous. But the cabin is small, ....and cosy. I like it, but there is nothing large to it. But for its minimal size, it offers great benefits. I mean,... from inside or outside, just look at that place, in this postcard location. I prefer to be sailing, of course. But, if I can't, even a few hours cleaning, scraping, or maintaining the boat in any way, will give me a good time.

They probably more often than not, refer to the fact that tacking outriggers are usually smaller in size. Usually a size range where crew weight has more influence on trimming. On Arpex it does matter where the crew is positioned, sure, and sometimes I ask crew to shift, for a maneuver. But I can sail the boat, regardless of where the crew is... usually. that is what I was used from monohulls, and that is what I find more convenient.

Trimaran Sailing with James Burwick, Somira Sao and family on Thunderbird

I had the privilege and pleasure to sail with James Burwick, his wife Somira Sao, and lovely family, on the 49ft. trimaran Thunderbird. This capable cruising sailboat is a "Gaviota 49", by Bosgraaf Yacht Design. Dutch built, it sports a simple yet efficient rig, and the boat is regularly sailed by James alone, or with the support of his 12 year old daughter, Tormentita, and his younger sons.

We just cruised leisurely across the bay, enjoying each others company, and the magic carpet ride on Thunderbird. We had very light winds, but still sailed handsomely around 9 knots of speed. She tacked without problems.

Somira Sao is a talented photographer and journalist, having many articles published in magazines. She took some pictures during our ride.

More from Jam da Silva - One of my favorites

Jardim Secreto do amigo Jam da Silva

Family sailing

Sailing with my sister and in-law last week was a treat. We went off on a mission to pick up two optimists, in a club across the bay. Easy thing for Arpex. Specially now, with the installed net. It carried one of the boats comfortably, while the other came to sit nicely on the deck.

 

When sailing is not up, there is always something to do...

I have tried to go sailing this weekend, but it didn't work out, as planned. The bottom was dirty, due to two week's no scrubbing. So I did that early, on Saturday. But then the crew bailed out. Happens. And then the engine wouldn't work. As usual... I need my electric engine to go as I please. 

So I got time to tick off a few pending tasks. Not many,.... but the thing is not to let things slip out of sight, and of mind. As long as you keep doing things, and keeping the boat in good shape, it is all good. It's not like the list is ever going to end... It won't. Only when the boat is gone. And we don't want that,do we?

 

Engine Maintenance and Sailing again

My electric outboard is in maintenance. Thus, a borrowed 5hp Mercury two-stroke engine is doing the pushing job, in case the wind fails. However, we first had to get the engine started. With our bundled expertise we disassembled and cleaned the carburetor three times, until we had it running. And once it was, we had to keep it running. Thus, we let go the mooring lines, and went for a short spin on the bay. We also got the sails up. But conditions were very feeble, and so we only drifted along slowly, against the tide.  

I really enjoyed and appreciated the hands-on introduction to outboard maintenance. My friend Ashton generously offered tools for the job, and ended staying to do the job with me. Later Marcilio joined us, with adding some more experience with engines, since he has an own fishing boat. But it took Rogerio to disassemble the whole lot again, and then finally making it run.

As all others I was grateful for the wide open, and stable, deck-space for working on the engine. It really made a difference to have even space to move around.

Maintenance 2021

To-Do Lists for boats are never ending. It is a ongoing exercise. I often ask myself whether I should leave the done tasks inside. I like to see some green boxes. It does give some satisfaction. However, in case they are not recurrent tasks, they should be removed after a while.   

Forestay changed and improved

A task which had a long time standing on the maintenance and improvement list can now, finally, be checkmarked. I have changed the forestay. the previous forestay was too short, having the friction ring to give the rig tension and adjustment, was at 150cm height. Of course hindering the hank-on foresail to go down to the deck. Now the lenght is adjusted and the friction ring is on deck level.

 

Billy Idol

Still not sailing

Yes, yes... everybody is getting tired of seeing Arpex sitting on it's mooring. Including myself. However, I took Arpex out of the water end of last year for a refurbishing, and I deliberately took it back to the mooring knowing that the job list of things that needed to be done had not been completed. ... As if it ever will be. ... I decided to finish some tasks while the boat is on the mooring, knowing that it would possibly take a bit longer that way. First because it would be me doing it, with limited available time, and second because somethings are more difficult to do while on the water, without access to shore power, for example. Well, I don't mind. Time spent on the boat, on the water is always a good time. Be it sailing or working on the boat. Now I still need to exchange the front stay, and the fixing and tensioning of shrouds. I also plan to check the sails, give them some maintenance. The engine also needs some maintenance. And for that it needs to be sent to Sao Paulo... With the pandemic going on, not such an easy task. But I will do it eventually.