A long week in Rio was great especially since the rain cleared overnight
and stayed away for at least 6 days. We were rather uncomfortably
berthed at one of the best Iate Clube's of Rio at the foot of sugarloaf
mountain and under the watchfull eye of Jesus, who occasionally pooped
out of the clouds. Some swell managed to make it around the corner and
through the islands and rocks that mark the entrance to Guanabaran bay.
We had again a long list of jobs to do and I managed to get myself in
the mast instead of the supermarket to work on our rig. Quite a nice
change though I did miss the aircon in the supermarket and managed to
get a few nice big bruises (courtesey of the earlier mentioned swell).
The Iate club had a few good bars and restarants, 3 hangars full of
dinghies (none to be used by us :-() a swimming pool, gym, and was
guarded 24 hours a day. After work there were plenty of leisure
possibilies, most of which included caiparinha's. I went on a ladies
night (spanish german dutch initiative) had a night stroll on the beach,
drank coconut milk from the the coconut on copacabana beach. We ate the
most wonderfull steak immaginable (picana) and we even managed to do an
unforgettable team effort is Samba dancing. Caiparinha's certainly
loosen up even the most stiff joints :-) One of the highlights was going
on a corporate sail with Sir Robin Knox Johnstione and Thorben Grael on
board. The first on the coffeegrinder trimming to my command and the
latter at the helm. Needless to say we won this inshore race. This was
by the way a wonderfull opportunity to see what the bay was like since
upon arrival it was dark and cloudy. Next day we bumped into one of the
corporate gusts who liked it so much that he is now considering signing
up for the next race...
All good things sadly come to an end and the southern Atlantic was
calling. After a long week of jobs, Caiparinha's, Copacabana and Ipanema
beach great meat and fresh fruit it was time to leave. Also it started
to rain again, so no real reason to stay any longer...
