Dia de la Virgen Procesión Nautica
08/12/12 23:44
I'm not sure what the religious significance of this is but boats of just about every description dressed up and complete with friends/families/passengers paraded up and down the Rio Lujan in Tigre watched by a very large crowd many of whom waved white hankies.
It was spectacular and a bit chaotic.
Dressed Delta launches waiting for the parade.
As darkness fell two Prefectura patrol boats led the parade. Complete with an escort of Prefectura RIB's and jet skis.
Lots of launches and small craft.
Some going up river and some down river.
A small dredger.
Delta workboat with decorative trees and tables on deck for friends and family.
Crane barge, yacht and delta launch.
It all lasted for about 90 minutes and was followed by fireworks.
It was spectacular and a bit chaotic.
Dressed Delta launches waiting for the parade.
As darkness fell two Prefectura patrol boats led the parade. Complete with an escort of Prefectura RIB's and jet skis.
Lots of launches and small craft.
Some going up river and some down river.
A small dredger.
Delta workboat with decorative trees and tables on deck for friends and family.
Crane barge, yacht and delta launch.
It all lasted for about 90 minutes and was followed by fireworks.
Portable Generator
08/12/12 22:21
Last summer in Brazil there were many days without wind. This meant we had to regularly run the engine to keep the batteries charged. Not a good idea.
Our Superwind generator continues to do the job but I now need a solution when the wind drops below 12 knots. Back in 2006 I chose a wind generator over solar panels for several reasons. Limited space. Heat, cloud, obstructions and daylight hours combine to limit panel output and cost.
Reviewing this decision it seems that not a lot has changed so I looked at portable generators. The Honda EU10i seemed to fit the bill. Quiet, small, light, economical to run, reliable and with very good reviews.
I bought the Argentine 220v model. Made in Japan but with Argentina/Australia style output plug. It will be deployed when we return to the boat in January.
Our Superwind generator continues to do the job but I now need a solution when the wind drops below 12 knots. Back in 2006 I chose a wind generator over solar panels for several reasons. Limited space. Heat, cloud, obstructions and daylight hours combine to limit panel output and cost.
Reviewing this decision it seems that not a lot has changed so I looked at portable generators. The Honda EU10i seemed to fit the bill. Quiet, small, light, economical to run, reliable and with very good reviews.
I bought the Argentine 220v model. Made in Japan but with Argentina/Australia style output plug. It will be deployed when we return to the boat in January.
Tandil
02/12/12 00:59
BAHHH Run. Excellent trail. Firstly through open countryside,
and then through Tandil. One of the cleanest towns I've seen in Argentina with a lovely central plaza.
Then finishing in Parque Independencia alongside Lago Fuerte.
and then through Tandil. One of the cleanest towns I've seen in Argentina with a lovely central plaza.
Then finishing in Parque Independencia alongside Lago Fuerte.
Tandil
30/11/12 21:59
A long drive down from Buenos Aires to Tandil for a BAHHH away weekend.
Lovely spot. We stayed at Cabanas Huicha Cura.
Road conditions were pretty good and traffic was not too bad apart from frequent suicidal Argentine drivers overtaking when they shouldn't.
Lovely spot. We stayed at Cabanas Huicha Cura.
Road conditions were pretty good and traffic was not too bad apart from frequent suicidal Argentine drivers overtaking when they shouldn't.
Florianopolis to Buenos Aires
29/11/12 00:01
Some hours into Argentina our coach was stopped for inspection at a Gendarmeria checkpoint. Uniformed troops searched the coach and asked some passengers (not me) for documentation.
Passed Guayalguachu at 10:00. Abt 250 km to Buenos Aires.
Railway bridge over Rio Parana near Zarate.
Rio Parana at Zarate. This is a huge river second only to the Amazon in South America.
Bridge tower at Zarate.
We arrived at Retiro bus station just after 13:00, about two hours late.
Passed Guayalguachu at 10:00. Abt 250 km to Buenos Aires.
Railway bridge over Rio Parana near Zarate.
Rio Parana at Zarate. This is a huge river second only to the Amazon in South America.
Bridge tower at Zarate.
We arrived at Retiro bus station just after 13:00, about two hours late.
Buenos Aires to Sydney
17/07/12 17:41
Up early. We had a lot of travelling today.
Our remise was waiting downstairs at 05:30 and after a quick trip to Aeroparque we checked in with LAN for our first flight to Santiago. This flight was on a pretty new Airbus A320 with leather sets. Very comfortable with efficient and attentive crew.
LAN Airbus A320
Early morning departure from Aeroparque
Sunrise over Buenos Aires
Puerto Madero
Stunning views as we flew over the Andes.
The Chilean side of the Andes. Terraced agriculture.
Bit of a delay in Santiago waiting for shuttle buses. The airport does not have enough gates.
From Santiago we flew Qantas (Code Share with LAN).
Our 12 year old Qantas 747-438. "Lord Howe Island" VH-OJU
The seats felt a bit cramped but were a standard 31" pitch. IMHO Qantas and some other legacy airlines such as American, KLM, Air Canada and British Airways have a lot of older legacy staff as well. One is left with the feeling that the passenger is there to give the staff something to do. This contrasts with the enthusiasm and verve of staff on airlines such as LAN, GOL and TACA where the opposite applies.
Service on board was adequate but with little to warrant seeking out another Qantas flight.
Lakes and a volcano in southern Chile.
Southern great circle route close to Antarctica and south of New Zealand.
More Volcanoes
Our remise was waiting downstairs at 05:30 and after a quick trip to Aeroparque we checked in with LAN for our first flight to Santiago. This flight was on a pretty new Airbus A320 with leather sets. Very comfortable with efficient and attentive crew.
LAN Airbus A320
Early morning departure from Aeroparque
Sunrise over Buenos Aires
Puerto Madero
Stunning views as we flew over the Andes.
The Chilean side of the Andes. Terraced agriculture.
Bit of a delay in Santiago waiting for shuttle buses. The airport does not have enough gates.
From Santiago we flew Qantas (Code Share with LAN).
Our 12 year old Qantas 747-438. "Lord Howe Island" VH-OJU
The seats felt a bit cramped but were a standard 31" pitch. IMHO Qantas and some other legacy airlines such as American, KLM, Air Canada and British Airways have a lot of older legacy staff as well. One is left with the feeling that the passenger is there to give the staff something to do. This contrasts with the enthusiasm and verve of staff on airlines such as LAN, GOL and TACA where the opposite applies.
Service on board was adequate but with little to warrant seeking out another Qantas flight.
Lakes and a volcano in southern Chile.
Southern great circle route close to Antarctica and south of New Zealand.
More Volcanoes
Tigre to Florianopolis
04/07/12 21:03
Up early to take a Cacciola ferry to Carmelo from Tigre with an onward coach connection to Montevideo.
At Tigre Argentine customs initially refused to allow my sails to be loaded. They said sails were prohibited imports. I pointed out that nothing had been said when I bought them in back in April and that they had been repaired by an Argentine company and I was now exporting them. After taking me aside and making some phone calls they let me board with a warning not to do this again.
Immigration in Carmelo was pretty quick today and the Cacciola coach was on time. Their coaches are a bit tired and showing their age.
In the evening I took an EGA coach from Montevideo to Porto Alegre. I like EGA and tonight their coach was almost brand new.
This was a pretty tortuous way to get to Florinopolis but it had the advantage of a generous baggage allowance. I was carrying two sails and a spray hood plus lots of little boat bits. The Uruguayan airline Pluna which I have taken in the past has complicated pricing making it difficult to calculate the exact fare when baggage is involved.
At Tigre Argentine customs initially refused to allow my sails to be loaded. They said sails were prohibited imports. I pointed out that nothing had been said when I bought them in back in April and that they had been repaired by an Argentine company and I was now exporting them. After taking me aside and making some phone calls they let me board with a warning not to do this again.
Immigration in Carmelo was pretty quick today and the Cacciola coach was on time. Their coaches are a bit tired and showing their age.
In the evening I took an EGA coach from Montevideo to Porto Alegre. I like EGA and tonight their coach was almost brand new.
This was a pretty tortuous way to get to Florinopolis but it had the advantage of a generous baggage allowance. I was carrying two sails and a spray hood plus lots of little boat bits. The Uruguayan airline Pluna which I have taken in the past has complicated pricing making it difficult to calculate the exact fare when baggage is involved.
Lewmar Sheet Track Cars
29/05/12 21:38
At build in 1997 Kiriwina was fitted with four of these genoa cars. Two for the Yankee and two for the staysail.
They are still in excellent condition and have not had any problems.
In April 2006 I wanted to add another car to each genoa track at the aft end to ensure a clear sheet run to the winches. Otherwise on certain points of sail the sheets led around a midships stanchion.
I purchased two slightly different Lewmar genoa cars (the originals not being available).
The later cars have not performed well. By April 2007 they were rusting heavily.
Lewmar sent two replacements.
They did not do well in warmer climates.
In August 2009 one sheave broke.
Then in October 2011 a second sheave broke.
Replacement sheaves are not available. A new car costs £120 in the UK.
To replace both £240 plus shipping.
This part of the car seems quite good.
The sheave and bracket seem to be the problem.
I decided to try having some new sheaves made.
First stop was to purchase a 50cm rod of PTFE (Teflon).
The old sheaves had to be cut out.
A little engineering shop tucked away in the back of Tigre did an excellent job with the machining. Two new sheaves fitted to the brackets and four spares.
Lemar's method of securing the sheaves is a bit agricultural. We used a stainless steel allen bolts with two washers and a locking nut.
Old and new.
Costs. PTFE rod Arg$110 (Arg$20 per sheave and still enough left for another four sheaves). Two sets of bolts and washers Arg$40. Machining Arg$40 per sheave.
Not bad. Arg$80 (£11.70) per car to replace the sheave. We will see how well they work later this year.
They are still in excellent condition and have not had any problems.
In April 2006 I wanted to add another car to each genoa track at the aft end to ensure a clear sheet run to the winches. Otherwise on certain points of sail the sheets led around a midships stanchion.
I purchased two slightly different Lewmar genoa cars (the originals not being available).
The later cars have not performed well. By April 2007 they were rusting heavily.
Lewmar sent two replacements.
They did not do well in warmer climates.
In August 2009 one sheave broke.
Then in October 2011 a second sheave broke.
Replacement sheaves are not available. A new car costs £120 in the UK.
To replace both £240 plus shipping.
This part of the car seems quite good.
The sheave and bracket seem to be the problem.
I decided to try having some new sheaves made.
First stop was to purchase a 50cm rod of PTFE (Teflon).
The old sheaves had to be cut out.
A little engineering shop tucked away in the back of Tigre did an excellent job with the machining. Two new sheaves fitted to the brackets and four spares.
Lemar's method of securing the sheaves is a bit agricultural. We used a stainless steel allen bolts with two washers and a locking nut.
Old and new.
Costs. PTFE rod Arg$110 (Arg$20 per sheave and still enough left for another four sheaves). Two sets of bolts and washers Arg$40. Machining Arg$40 per sheave.
Not bad. Arg$80 (£11.70) per car to replace the sheave. We will see how well they work later this year.
Two Punctures
14/05/12 21:36
Noticed the rear nearside tyre was looking a bit flat this morning.
Off to the excellent RS4 tyre shop in San Fernando. Not one but two screws in the tyre.
The large screw was spotted at once but the second was not noticed until the tyre was back on the rim.
That makes four punctures in two years in Argentina. More, I think, than I have had in over 40 years of driving elsewhere.
Off to the excellent RS4 tyre shop in San Fernando. Not one but two screws in the tyre.
The large screw was spotted at once but the second was not noticed until the tyre was back on the rim.
That makes four punctures in two years in Argentina. More, I think, than I have had in over 40 years of driving elsewhere.
New Sheaves - Lewmar Cars
11/05/12 21:28
I'm hoping to have some new sheaves made for my sheet track cars.
Today I purchased a 50cm rod of PTFE (Teflon) and dropped it off for machining.
Fingers crossed.
Today I purchased a 50cm rod of PTFE (Teflon) and dropped it off for machining.
Fingers crossed.
