Heavy duty splicing wires

I’m sure that if you need to splice wires on a boat it’s good to do it in a heavy duty way. Check out if NASA standards are good enough for you:

http://blog.makezine.com/2012/02/28/how-to-splice-wire-to-nasa-standards/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+makezineonline+%28MAKE%29&utm_content=FaceBook

My Job!

This is a montage of pictures and videos of my job in San Blas Islands aboard Andiamo.

Sailing a Cayuco in Kuna Yala

I took three hours of my free time to fulfill a desire I had since I arrived for the very first moment in Kuna Yala. Everyday early in the morning you can see the shapes of the cayucos setting the sails and heading for the fishing destinations. This image always inspired me a deep sense of freedom and satisfaction and an intense desire to sail one.

The Sailing Cayuco

That wish came true when I asked Dino if there was any choice to rent one for a couple of hours. Finally many days after my first request he found one of his relatives that agreed with the deal so in a bright but fuzzy S/SW winderly day we set the sails from Cartì Yandup heading from saome coral reefs on the north. The first impact is strange. The main sail is rolled around the wooden mast and to set it you need two poles: one that run on the foot of the sail and another one that cross oblique and keep the sail open. The main has a sheet that goes back to stern and tied.

Cayuco Mainsail

Mainsail foot

The helmsman here is a paddleman and to tack you need to paddle to force the boat into the wind. It took me a while to understand how to steer with a wooden paddle and the fuzzy wind of the afernoon was not helping, but nothing too complicated.

Steering the cayuco

We didn’t catch any fish… but the day was intense and funny and that cayuco pointed the wind! Sure i’m going to do it again, this time i will try one with a bigger sail, just to have more speed sensation and capsizing risks!!

 

Surfing the unconscious

For the first time a couple of days ago I tried to surf. I mean surfing on waves (in Hawaiian he’e nalu, “gliding on water”), what you see in many American movies from 50 years onwards, with the Beach Boys as the soundtrack and Baywatch’s  towers in the distance.
I took some lessons and I found myself very capable, with great personal satisfaction. For this discipline are necessary strength in upper limbs (you row a lot to catch the wave at the right time) and of course balance.
The technique involves several steps to surf a wave. We must reach an area where you stand for “get” the wave (line up). It coincides with the point at which a wave begins to break, making a steep surfable wall. In order to begin to ride the wave the surfer swim with their bellies lying on the table, perpendicular to the wave towards the beach and when the board starts to slide independently the surfer stands up by pressing the table with both hands and pulling with a single movement (take off).
In the case of particularly large wave that is the most dangerous moment, and if dropped can incur serious consequences, especially in the presence of rocky bottoms or coral. The instructor who followed me warned me about the disruptive force of the wave and its dangers. In the event of a fall in the belly of the wave she told me to let go and not fight with the wave and curl up in fetal position, protecting the head. The wave is stronger than any swimmer, and the falling water strikes you with a chaotic incontestable force. But the wave will pass, ending its effect and in that time you can re-emerge. Even paddling into the wave, when you went to place the new line-up requires care. The maneuvers to overcome the power of waves are two: Duck Dive going under the waves by dipping the tip of the board (only with short boards);  Turtle roll is made grabbing the board on side, turning upside down 180 degrees and let the wave pass.
This long digression on techniques is to highlight that it is highly inadvisable to contend with such as powerful event. But if you take off and you can begin to ride the wave then you can be transported, make flips, surf away from breaks.
After this first experience I began to think about waves in terms of unconscious. Maybe its because of the aquatic metaphor, the power and uncontrollability, the dynamics of wave generation so tied to the sea movements in general, cyclical but unpredictable, governed by complex patterns and outside the human control: a wave, think of a tsunami, you certainly can not divert, control, manipulate. A wave breaks and modifies landscapes over time, erodes the coastline, dig her groove. Then switch back and retires leaving a calm sea. But since James Cook discovered the Hawaiian natives and saw them surfing on primitive wooden tables, humans love to confront these powerful natural phenomena, having fun and trying immense joy to slip on the water. When I managed to ride the first wave I felt a euphoric sense of control and I fell in love with surfing.
But if the metaphor holds I wonder which is the surfboard that allows us to ride without having to undergo the unconscious, which techniques allow us to get up at the right time and remain on the wall , in a precarious state of balance, but without being overwhelmed by the turmoil that follows us directed to a safe place, after learning new movements? I always thought that the unconscious is a phenomenon to be exploited, which consists of uncontrollable energy but that can be surfed managing to remain afloat and upright, without hitting obstacles on the road.

Corrispondente da Panama

Ecco il podcast della trasmissione Caterpillar in onda il 30 Settembre 2011 su Radio 2 alla quale ho partecipato telefonicamente come corrispondente da Panama.

Discovering Panamà

Panamà is a small country. But for a strange reason in its 75,515 km²there are several and different interesting sites to visit and live. I took the advantage of a break in Andiamo’s schedule part of the country.

When you leave Panama City you have the impression there’s nothing out of it. Maybe it’s because I grew up in Milan, where you can’t notice many differences in landscape while driving out of the city. Italy is over constructed and over populated and Panama is (for the moment) kind of virgin land out of the capital city.

At one hour and fifteen minutes (Panamanian time) by bus you arrive in San Carlos, the capital of  omonimous district. I decided to take some surf lessons here in El Palmar, one of the last free beaches in the Area (big resorts all over) and perfect spot for beginners like me, due to reasonable dimensioned waves and for the perfect sandy bottom with no dangerous obstacles. I never been on a surf board before and always thought surf is for lazy californian teenager (or lazy young-looking adults). But if you live on the sea like me you should know how to use the resources (wind, waves & similar..) to have fun and do your workouts. Everyday there’s a lot and nothing to do at the same time.

El Palmar, San Carlos, Panamà

El Palmar, San Carlos

I booked two classes with Flor Villareal, owner of Panama Surf School that was recommended to me by Andiamo’s guest Mariano that also learned surf in El Palmar. The first day I was taught by Nino, San Carlos native instructor working with Flor for more than 5 yrs. I started with a long soft board, practicing stand ups and wave catching and helped by Nino for timing and pushing. When I kept practicing alone I was not able to catch one single wave and really exhausted. Surf is for sure funny but is also damned hard work! I had all my muscles hurting and abrasions on knees for board friction but the sensation of control when I rode my first wave was so exciting that I’m motivated to go further in this activity. Next day I was with Flor on the other side of the beach, this one with more stones but nothing dramatical. After sun salutation to warm up the body I worked with her on timing and paddling. I did some progresses and started to think about turning as well. In the afternoon I practiced alone and rode three waves and that gave me lots of satisfaction.

El Valle de Antòn, Panamà

Friday was really bad for waves so I decided to take a bus to El Valle de Antòn, a town that sits in the crater of a dormant volcano. Before going I knew that was a good site for hiking and thermal baths and also a very fertile land. Once I was on the road to the village I started noticing some characteristics: wood and flowers, green all around, water.

La India Dormida, El Valle de Antòn, Panamà

And water on ground and from the sky,  heavy rain all over me while visiting the surroundings, climbing small mountains, visiting waterfalls, slipping from muddy rocks. I rented a bicycle just to go faster in between sites and to run in the middle of the lovely village now sadly littered only with rich people mansions while the locals moved up in the mountains due to the increasing cost of land. I visited la India Dormida Mountain (with the profile of a lying  indian woman), bathed in thermal waters an climbed up to a mirador (but really poor visibility).

Pozos Termales @ El Valle de Antòn, Panamà

Pizza @ La Casa de Juan

Exhausted after cycling and hiking when I get back to La Casa de Juan (cheap and warm hostel) I was involved in the pizza baking for dinner. All the guests of the house gave a strong hand for the preparation, a nice way to know each other and enjoy good food under the sight of Juan (hostel director) who promoted the event with genuine generosity.

Back to the city next day I was surpised how fast I got back to the apartment  (2hrs and a half in total, with 2 buses change and 1 taxi). I’m sure this combo is perfect for weekends and days off, quick and effective, and two destinations  to see for any travellers in Panamà.

Toad Waterfall

Pueblo El Valle from top

San Blas pictures

Kuna Dugout Canoa, San Blas

Santa Isabel, Kuna Yala

Kuanidup, San Blas

Cartì Islands, San Blas

Panama City

La sala d’aspetto di recente costruzione

Piove fuori dalla sala d’aspetto di recente costruzione in quello che sembra il pontile per l’attracco di un traghetto che probabilmente non esiste. Non so bene come funzioni la marea sulla costa del Pacifico ma il mare sembra davvero troppo basso per qualsiasi attracco. Piove che Dio la manda. C’è altra gente nella sala d’aspetto di recente costruzione. Famiglie, venditori di torte, uomini in tuta da lavoro. Forse aspettano davvero una barca. Il vento entra forte dalle ringhiere rosse che circondano la sala d’aspetto di recente costruzione e le esplosioni elettrostatiche del temporale e il rimbombo ritardatario sono maledettamente vicini, scuotono la cassa toracica e fanno sussultare tutti. Ci sono delle scale che scendono giù verso il mare fangoso, forse è lì giù che attraccano le imbarcazioni. O forse sono tutti qui nella sala d’aspetto di recente costruzione per ripararsi dalla pioggia. Piove e aspetto. Aspetto perchè non ho un ombrello, o più precisamente non ho impegni salvo un ipotetico appuntamento tra un’ora con Maria e un ben più lontano al Casco Viejo con  Mitzy e i turisti del prossimo gruppo. Il vento del sud spinge con forza l’acqua attraverso le ringhiere rosse che circondano la sala d’aspetto di recente costruzione. Adesso piove davvero tantissimo e i rimbombi non scuotono soltanto gli animi ma anche il tetto spiovente. Adesso c’è più gente e c’è puzza di fogna che sale dal mare e di pesce che viene dal mercato del pesce. C’è un ragazzo con un tesserino appeso al collo che gira e controlla , o almeno sembra. Si è seduto proprio dietro di me e forse lavora qui per la sala d’aspetto di recente costruzione che sotto il tetto spiovente ha anche dei rombi colorati, rossi, gialli e blu. E’ insomma molto colorata, con il blu intenso che richiama quello degli stand del mercato del pesce che mandano la puzza fino a qui. Ora piove meno e non tuona più tanto forte e il vento non soffia più tra attraverso le ringhiere rosse che circondano la sala d’aspetto di recente costruzione ma la gente continua a trattenersi e ne arriva di nuova, ci sono bambini e uomini che guardano giù dalle ringhiere rosse che circondano la sala d’aspetto di recente costruzione. Io aspetto che Maria chiami e gli uccelli che sembrano avvoltoi non so bene cosa aspettino ma si sono dati appuntamento sul tetto piatto di un edificio appena qui di fronte. Il venditore di torte fa affari d’oro tutti vogliono una fetta mentre il sole inizia a spuntare sul Pacifico e i tuoni borbottano lontano dalla sala di aspetto di recente costruzione. Pioviggina soltanto ma la gente continua a rimanere seduta, i bambini giocano senza allontanarsi troppo dalle madri e gli uomini continuano a guardare giù il mare o eventuali barche o semplicemente perdono il loro sguardo nel Pacifico e gli uccelli che sembrano avvoltoi assembrati sul tetto tengono aperte le ali perchè asciughino e non c’è più molto odore di pesce. Mi viene voglia di chiedere a quelli che sono qui nella sala d’aspetto di recente costruzione che cosa stanno aspettano e molto probabilmente temo che mi prendano per un’idiota per la domanda. Forse ho solo paura che non sappiano darmi una risposta o che tutti, dietro le ringhiere rosse che circondano la sala d’aspetto di recente costruzione, stiano aspettando quella cosa che tutti stiamo aspettando ma della quale non è bene parlare. Ha smesso di piovere fuori dalle ringhiere rosse della sala d’aspetto di recente costruzione.

New possibilities in San Blas Islands

How to describe San Blas? I’ve been spending aproximately 2 weeks in my new adventure aboard SV Andiamo and I’m still without words. I noticed one sure fact: visitors going crazy about their sailing experience here.

front of Cartì Yundup

First I have to explain where we are. It’s Panamà, the fastest growing economy in Central America. It’s Panama City  with new buildings appearing everyday, traffic and good restaurants, malls and signs that invite you to come and invest or retire here. The skyline is amazing, something I’m not used to as I’m from Europe and that’s the reason why Casco Viejo, the old colonial zone is more familiar to me.

But San Blas has nothing to do with Panama City, we’re at the antipodes. The separation is provided by a wide stripe of virgin forest still unexplored in some of its parts. After the forest the coast and and the islands, more than 370, sometimes just few centimeters of sand with  palm trees. We are in the home of Kunas, the indigenous that own and administrate this region, with their own laws and traditions. Paddling or sailing on their dugout they move from and to the coast carrying water, food, people.approaching the boat to sell lobsters, crabs or fish, or the Molas, traditional and really artistics handicrafts made by Kuna women.

And that’s the other world, the world of wise Kunas, ancient traditions and deep respect for natural environment that gives us a wonderful scenario to sail and relax. It’s more than a postcard, it’s life!

Central Cayos Holandeses