On the arrival to Brazil, my HF-Radio died. Stone dead. This radio is my main and only long-distance communication equipment, for weather reports, news and emergency, and is crucial to my safety. It's also a backup VHF. Luckily "#tracktor_electronics" is possible to fix, and this thing is seriously built to last. Interesting mission working on this small scale, soldering wires of 0,14mm, specially when it actually workes afterwards! #icom #icom706mk2g #hamradio #radioamatur #diysailor #sailinglife #electronics #signalink #amateurradio #winlink
ROBBED ;; yesterday evening during a short trip ashore at #cotijuba , our neighbors observed a canoe lurking around Chilli for a short while. When we came back I realized that my new life-raft was stolen. The have attempted to take the outboard engine too, but has managed to destroy the lifting system (shooting hem self a bit in the foot on that one). The case is reported, but I must say my expectations are low, even though I know some good people high up and the system is working on it.
This probably means some longer passages with the compromised safety of sailing without a rescue boat, before I have a remotely chance to pay a new one. Hopefully I find one in the Caribien.
First time in my life being robbed of anything, which is pretty impressive with three years in England, and six months in Brazil. It feels strange, being betrayed by fellow humans, it hurts. But I see this as a little window in to the reality of never feeling safe, as people here and a vast amount of people around the world is used to. Extremely destructive and crippling. The world is a hard place, and right now we really appreciate being in a police office and not a hospital. Chilli floats, and the journey goes on.
I hate to ask this, but if anyone feels the urge to help me finance another life-raft, I would be ever grateful! ( paypal.me/sailingchilli )💚
Propeller special🎂 #maxprop After 10 000 hours of service this beauty deserves some attention. This is a "self-feathering propellor", meaning that it rotates the blades in the direction of water current when sailing, creating less drag, and a higher sailing speed. This also means a lot of mechanical parts, which wears out over time. I attempted to get a service done on it on a local professional propeller workshop, but they just made it worse. I then ended up filing clearances of 0.01mm by hand for hours, but with a usable result. After three occasions of rope in the propellor during the expedition, I really wanted a propellor knife too, but as this was only available from the US or Europe I just had to design one my self. It works, I tested it my self (still bleeding.. ) #diysailor
Action in paradise; Chilli was just minutes from being potentially seriously damaged, when the main construction of the cradle-cart broke while transporting Chilli to the water. 2 minutes earlier and it could have fallen over, probably resulting in a broken mast, cracked hull; possible beyond repair. Luckily that didn't happened, and while being on the ramp tilting to the water, it was just to let it free-wheel the last meters down in the water. We where supposed to just move the boat 40cm relative to the cradle to finish the bottompaint work. #adrenaline
