Barbarian!

Caramor - sailing around the world
Franco Ferrero / Kath Mcnulty
Sun 8 Nov 2015 16:07
Under normal circumstances I would say "all is going swimmingly!" but since I am soundly chocked up on dry land and still feeling a little land sick even after seven weeks (though I am not missing the green fringe I grew while in Brazil), I thought I would use the Uruguayan word "Barbaro"! This translates as 'Barbarian' and, believe it or not, means 'Excellent'. Franco and Kath have just found this out and it is "barbaro this" and "barbaro that" all the time now.

The thing is, if "barbarian" means excellent, what do they say when things are bad?

I've made quite a few friends over the weeks. First there was Santa Maria Australis, now that's a boat with experience! Then there was Casa, a little steel boat who has gone south, so I might see her again. Then The Hooker who has sailed to La Paloma to be sold, I hope she finds some nice new owners. More recently I have met Outer Rim and Kalibu, two German boats with families but more about Outer Rim in a moment. Endurance of Antartica has arrived, she's the boat that showed me the way in when I was in Punta del Este, and finally, my closest neighbour, Galileo. Poor Galileo has got osmosis which sounds terribly serious but Franco assures me it isn't catching.

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Galileo, my closest friend

So yes, here in Uruguay, I'm looking good. Better in fact than when I left Wales, which is quite something. I have a new Superwind 350 wind generator fitted to my starboard stern, it is at the top of a very shiny stainless steel post. I love chrome, me. Franco calls it bling. Anyway this new shiny pole really showed up the the satellite dish support on my port side which was rough and ready to say the least. I talked Franco into polishing it and Diego's team has done a grand job.

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Diego's team: (from left to right) Cristofer, Diego and Roberto

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My new Superwind 350. Isn't the pole pretty?

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Port side pole to match!

The gearbox and propeller arrived on Thursday and the gearbox has been painted and fitted. On Monday, they will check everything to make sure nothing vibrates. The propeller is very pretty indeed. Kath said it was too nice to put under the water and fancied it as a pendant. She looked frankly ridiculous with a 17" propeller dangling from her neck. Luckily she got grease all over herself and promptly gave it back. I'll get them to take a photo once it's installed. I can't wait to show Yao.

Bling-wise I thought I was doing rather well until Outer Rim showed me her anchor. A stainless steel hollow shaft object of great beauty that sits right at the front on her bows. Franco is being really mean and says I cannot have one. We'll see, by the time we get to New Zealand I might have talked him into it! (Franco: "No chance.")

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A stainless steel anchor - ooooh how I want one!

I must say they have both worked hard, I've even had a nose job and a chin tuck. Inside, all my draws have been made secure, my floor has been varnished, my mast no longer leaks and I no longer have bad breath as my sink plumbing has been straitened. There is only one big job left, 'the bubble'. This will be a canvas curtain with windows which will go from the top of the hood to the middle of the cockpit and will prevent water entering into the companionway if waves break over the stern. It will also provide shelter to whoever is on watch. It needs strong zips and Kath ordered some from the UK in September but they haven't arrived yet. She's on the case though, the poor people at the post office are working over time responding to her emails.

So rudder-shaft crossed, sometime next week I'll be back in the water for my sea trials.

Love,

Caramor