And now, having reached the heart of the winter 2009-2010, a update on the latest adventures of Nicolandra and its crew (2 and 4 feet).
In early December (the small Minni entrusted to the care of grandparents), after traveling for 23 hours (!) Between the airports of Verona - frankfurt - caracas - Willemstad we finally joints (with Leon and Igor) on the island of Curacao (Netherlands Antilles) where we left off last spring Nicolandra . On site to greet the new owners: Carlos , Venezuelan former windsurfing champion and Albert, an Italo-Venezuelan former mechanic.
The atmosphere is friendly and they all scramble to help put Nicolandra in water.
problems course there is but only when I have left in your hand holding the handle of a sea that starts the fun! No panic : unscrew the valve (with ap 
posite keys bought for the occasion), but also loosens the hull ! OK, PANIC! Quiet, dismantle everything and now we just have to buy a new valve and fit, too bad there is not the valve with the European thread (boat Italian), but only American. We go everywhere but nothing to do, then the only solution is to mount a valve "plastic" suitable , hopefully good!
posite keys bought for the occasion), but also loosens the hull ! OK, PANIC! Quiet, dismantle everything and now we just have to buy a new valve and fit, too bad there is not the valve with the European thread (boat Italian), but only American. We go everywhere but nothing to do, then the only solution is to mount a valve "plastic" suitable , hopefully good! 
Perfect, Now antifouling red brick (yes, you could see, is precisely that of vessels and cargo freight) and go into the water, but not without worries (see photo!) .
After a change of batteries and the usual preparation test the engine, wrong, purge the circuit with low fuel pressure, we should not, bleed the high pressure circuit, it should be! Small leak from a tubes that are from the pump to the primers, result: diesel fired at 180 atmospheres for the entire engine room ..... we suspect that the departure will be delayed for a few days.
After several consultations with all the "experts" of the place, fixing the piece is impossible, you have to order it via internet and have it shipped to the manufacturer, whereas that in a week we should be in the Dominican Republic What is not considered, calling into dry the boat and go by plane? Even this seems a good idea ...... At this point enters' the eliminator , "he to whom it is addressed only if everyone else has failed: Luis ! A 
geezer dry a few words and few teeth that does not discuss either, take the piece and goes leaving the dock rather dazed and confused. Back after three hours with the tube cut and welded with a lead that probably recovered from the engine of an old truck, and go down in the engine room to try it I think: "never will go well!" I try, I try again, but it is perfect! The engine sings as ever and not a drop of oil, incredible, and cerveza party for everyone!
geezer dry a few words and few teeth that does not discuss either, take the piece and goes leaving the dock rather dazed and confused. Back after three hours with the tube cut and welded with a lead that probably recovered from the engine of an old truck, and go down in the engine room to try it I think: "never will go well!" I try, I try again, but it is perfect! The engine sings as ever and not a drop of oil, incredible, and cerveza party for everyone! The next day Finally we sail destination dominican republic, just 400 miles north, in practice it crosses the Caribbean Sea . The wind is stronger than it had hoped but forecasts say it will calm ... The cats are waiting to see what happens ... we leave piskadera Baai and we are greeted by a wave that made us change course, rather than going east to exit from the southern tip of the island will go to the north-west to round the northern point, little bad, walk along the coast of Curacao with only the jib in 8 knots, we dance a little , cats begin to show signs of impatience have realized that bad throws, we still no ... Before the end of the island dubbed shake a little , we reduce the jib and reefed the mizzen issiamo (the teacher let the well-packed ), leaving the shelter of the coast we are stretched by a howling wind and slapped by trains of waves with breakers, cat vomiting white foam, you say, we go back? We decide for you! after a couple of hours we anchored in a beautiful bay (S. Cruz ) to enjoy a well earned rest and the first dive of the season!
the evening a meeting of all members of the decrees that the cat is not a marine animal and shoot At this point, the plan B: Monica, Leon and Igor will take the plane and I'll take the boat to the destination at Casa de Campo ( Rep . Dominicana).
This was after two days, December 24, landed family, Nicolandra sail for the second time, but this time the conditions are more benign, isso fact staple full mainsail
teacher with two hands and mizzen with 1 hand, Peter rig (the steering winds) and the boat goes alone. The first day there is still water, the great pitching plus an unpredictable roll that makes virtually impossible to normal life on board, but I know it will calm down ... In darkness falls early shifts, sleeping in the cockpit and wakes up every 20 minutes. When you first wake up I say "who want us to be in this endless sea?" I pull up, I look back, nothing, look to the left, none,
Look to the right, porc! A ship?! First intersection, step aft of the cargo without having to modify the my course. The rest of the night passed without further meetings in the morning the sea has calmed down a bit and keeps the wind at 18 knots, celebrate Christmas by removing the reefs in the mainsail and mizzen sail, hauled large, 5-6 nodes.
on for another 2 days, 2 more intersections, one night we give a pass to a frigate that sits near Peter and latch a ride at dawn takes flight.
This was after two days, December 24, landed family, Nicolandra sail for the second time, but this time the conditions are more benign, isso fact staple full mainsail
teacher with two hands and mizzen with 1 hand, Peter rig (the steering winds) and the boat goes alone. The first day there is still water, the great pitching plus an unpredictable roll that makes virtually impossible to normal life on board, but I know it will calm down ... In darkness falls early shifts, sleeping in the cockpit and wakes up every 20 minutes. When you first wake up I say "who want us to be in this endless sea?" I pull up, I look back, nothing, look to the left, none, Look to the right, porc! A ship?! First intersection, step aft of the cargo without having to modify the my course. The rest of the night passed without further meetings in the morning the sea has calmed down a bit and keeps the wind at 18 knots, celebrate Christmas by removing the reefs in the mainsail and mizzen sail, hauled large, 5-6 nodes.
on for another 2 days, 2 more intersections, one night we give a pass to a frigate that sits near Peter and latch a ride at dawn takes flight.
After 72 hours accurate and countless alarm clocks 20 minutes later in the marina at Casa de Campo, Monica with his family will arrive the same evening (after a nightmare flight with a bunch of drunks Dominicans). All calculated!
Now we are in the dock, water, electricity, awnings, in short, a house, the cats have adapted magnificently and explore Nicolandra (moored in vain distance to avoid jumping to the ground, because sometimes we have to recover from some night visits to motorboats neighbors).
was windy and the sun even at night it is freschino (also 22 °), I work in " Escuela de vela "and Monica goes jogging and low
Keep in touch !
