Ariane

Ariane Home

2011-12-12T01:01:00.008Z

Ariane Cruises Douro River - Portugal

Famous for its vineyards made in stone steps
A Cyclops work made by God and man over the centuries
Making Port Wine "Sun in a bottle"

At the pier near home

Arriving Home

Farm and Vineyards

Douro Waterway and Gates

Barca d'Alva

2011-12-08T00:22:00.000Z

Up Douro

From Vesuvio to Spain (Barca d'alva)

80 nm (150km) - 3 days

10 - 2010 - Bjorn in Portugal

2011-04-28T12:32:00.000+01:00

Bjorn and Mandy visit to Portugal

The Douro adventure began in earnest after leaving the hotel in Mirandella. Torturous roads took us climbing to apparently some 3000ft above sea level before we dropped down a tarmaced donkey path to the river. Hard to believe there would be navigable waters here! Jose told us he once took Arianne on this road… never again. The temperature rose 5 deg by the time we’d completed the 20min descent.

The rest of the afternoon was spent putting the mast back together and rigging her up, together with the loading of enough supplies for a good few days.

By the time we were done it was hinting of dusk. A couple of the floating hotels had steamed past kicking up the only disturbance to the waters as Jose explained the best procedures for mooring on the river.

Free mooring

Jose then took us upstream at a healthy pace in the failing light to show us our first overnight stop. It was located under a railway bridge in a small creek. However, upon entering it opened up and suddenly revealed a whole array of shiny new finger pontoons completely hidden from the river. Dropping off the skipper and returning later in the dark was our first bit of macboating since last season. It really brings home the personality of boat owners as I reached in the familiar places for my mooring lines to find nothing to hand, and elsewhere odd lengths of warps with spliced loops and integral snubbers in seemingly random places. The air and water were so calm that one could have simply left the boat ‘adrift’ as a leisurly parking procedure was worked out. That done, a light snack and we bedded down for the night.

Steam engine workshop n turntable

Doggy old bridge

The next morning we got up and had a leisurely check of our neighbors and environ.

No health n safety measures here...

Big Locks

Huge

Out

Races

Narrow point

Hotel Boat

Mast down for passing Ferradosa Bridge

Jose harbor at dusk

Quiet nights...

Stolen and Recovered

2010-11-26T12:57:00.000Z

Jose Harbor

2010-10-19T15:58:00.002+01:00

Our Base in the Douro Valley

Ariane is based in a small private Marina with water, electricity, fuel, toilets, restaurant, bar, swimming pool...

Viagem - Miguel Torga

2010-09-01T12:26:00.000+01:00

Aparelhei o barco da ilusão
E reforcei a fé de marinheiro.
Era longe o meu sonho, e traiçoeiro
O mar...
(Só nos é concedida
Esta vida
Que temos;
E é nela que é preciso
Procurar
O velho paraíso
Que perdemos).
Prestes, larguei a vela
E disse adeus ao cais, à paz tolhida.
Desmedida,
A revolta imensidão
Transforma dia a dia a embarcação
Numa errante e alada sepultura...
Mas corto as ondas sem desanimar.
Em qualquer aventura,
O que importa é partir, não é chegar.

Modifications

2010-07-19T17:24:00.009+01:00

Modifications

(14 Years of work)

Cockpit

Interior

Riging

Lines Led Aft

Sails and Canvas

Electronics

Trailer

Hull

Croatia

2010-06-21T16:39:00.005+01:00

Cruising Croatia June 2010

Poole

2010-02-19T13:01:00.000Z

Trip to Poole - Dorset UK

Meeting the Restless Crew: Bjorn and Mandy was a really nice surprise

It was a wonderful, crew swith experience

They have a nice web site about their work, Mandy is a designer and Bjorn a really good artist

Windermere

2010-02-19T11:21:00.001Z

Trip to England to visit mi friends Mike and Bobbie

It was a nice crew switch experience,we went to Lake Windermere
(on the beautiful Lake District)
Participated in the Rally organized bi the UK MOA (Mike is the Commodore)
Acted as crew of Hera (Mike's Mac X)

Will be waiting their visit this spring or summer.

Rigging Hera

Rocky Raccon

Sail or Motor

Carpe Dien

Motoring away

A blue one...

Me doing nothing...

Hera CJ Marine "Tent"

Hera CJ Marine Lazy Bag

Lots of sails on the lake

Tourist

Hera CJ MarineLazy Bag

Mini steam boat (A small work of art)

Hera and Carpe Dien

Lunch

All boats at

Moly, Rocky Racoon, Hera and Carpe Dien

Fine tuuning Mike new jib

Mooring meeting at Lake Side

Side by side all the models that I wanted to see

Relax moment

Old Cruising boats

Ariane (The Poem)

2009-10-01T01:30:00.002+01:00

This Poem by Miguel Torga is the origin of the Boat Name

Ariane is a ship.
She as masts, sails and a flag in the bow,
And she came on a white, cold day,
On the river Tagus in Lisbon.

Filled with dreams, she anchored

Inside of the clarity of these bars…

A Swan of all ships, which was gone but has returned

Only to the eyes of one who is homesick.

There were two frigates that came to see

One such miracle as this: it was a ship

That floated there, waiting for me

Among the gulls that live on the river.

But I could not, even with my feet

Leave this imprisoned body,

And raise anchor, and fall into the arms

Of Ariane, the ship.

Written in 1940 by the Portuguese Poet Miguel Torga, while arrested by Salazar dictator in the Aljube Prison in Lisbon.

MIGUEL TORGA

Aljube Jail - Lisbon, 1 Jan 1940

Instrument access cover

2008 August - Alqueva Lake

2009-07-01T19:33:00.005+01:00

The largest artificial lake in Europe
South East Portugal - Alentejo
15 day cruise

2009 06 Pocinho Lake

2009-06-30T17:41:00.006+01:00

Mi Boat your Boat

2009-06-30T12:55:00.014+01:00

This is an idea that came up with a German friend who has a Mac 26X in Lake Leman (known in the UK as Lake Geneva). I have a 26X, called Ariane which I keep on the River Douro in Portugal, pictured above. Both these destinations are very interesting but are a very long way to drag a trailer.

The idea is simple: Instead of trailering our boats long distances, slow, expensive and risky, why not share our boats with others?

By limiting this idea to other Mac owners, we feel that others using our boats will have the same level of care and competence that we have.

Here are some ways that I envisage that it could be organised.

1 Crew switch

This is no different to welcoming someone as crew on your boat, except that it is long distance, the whole point being to sail in an area so far away you probably wouldn’t want to trail your boat there. For example, I, in Portugal, might welcome a guest from the UK. And,
this idea is reciprocal. I would then be a guest on board my guest’s boat in the UK. This makes best sense for just one or two guests.

2 Boat switch

In this case, the visitors travel to the host and simply borrow the boat. This makes better sense when a whole family want to sail in a distant region. In this case, you would be received by the owner of the boat who will show the navigation area and will give you all local information. Once again, the arrangement is reciprocal, and the host’s family would become the visitors.

3. Friendly charter

Suppose you don't have a boat or that if you do, you can’t lend your boat (it’s in your garden?) but would like to use someone's boat. Suppose you have your boat in water close to home in a fantastic site, and that you have more requests for visits than time to travel. These scenarios can be catered for by boats being offered at a much lower fee than for normal charter.

I would like to start the ball rolling by offering both crew switch and friendly charter. Also, my boat, Ariane, is offered at a low fee. The price is €450 per week (7days) or 300 € per weekend (3 days), to include insurance, mooring, gates, marinas, charts, GPS, etc. I hope that the pictures above of the River Douro will tempt you.

Published at

MacGregor Sailor Magazine
ISSUE NUMBER 65 August 2009
of the UK MacGregor Owner's Association

Traveler

2009-06-19T14:37:00.002+01:00

2009 June Valeira

2009-06-18T12:53:00.008+01:00

From the gates to Foz do Sabor

Regua

2009-06-17T18:19:00.007+01:00

From Regua to Tua

Mooring at Pinhão

With refueling "on flight"

Trailer

2009-05-21T14:37:00.008+01:00

Mod to adapt the Mac Trailer to European regulations.

Registration for 2 ton.

Plus a few mods to improve it

New tongle for 2200 Kg

Replacement wheel support

New elevator arm and winch

Bow roller

Side supports / guides / lights

Structural reinforcement

2 Axis

Articulated suspension

Rear lights higher and longer to the propeller limit
(And side poles higher for difficult ramps)

Long Vehicle sign and propeller reflector

"Train" ready to go

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Garden Shipyard

1 - I move the tongue down
2 - Insert the support bar at the rear of the boat
3 - With the longer Jack I "lift" the bow up
4 - Insert the second support bar in front of the trailer bow V
5 - Lower the trailer down
6 - Remove the trailer
7 - Paint the hull.

The garden shipyard is composed of
- 4 granite cubes (3ft)
- 2 metallic bars larger than the trailer. (3mt)
- each bar as similar shape to the trailer bars.

Sails and Canvas

2009-05-19T13:08:00.004+01:00

Main and Genoa

Genaker
(More Pictures)

Canvas
(More Pictures)

Canvas

2009-05-19T13:01:00.003+01:00

Canvas for Sails and Teak

Forrest Green Canvas from UK Sails.

Hull Modifications

2009-05-11T03:20:00.004+01:00

Centerboard pin repair.

Centerboard Pin

2009-05-08T14:22:00.005+01:00

After a damage in a bad beaching, the factory pin was destroyed.

This is the solution for the new reinforced pin hole.

The diameter of the hole is a little bit larger than the pin to maintain the characteristics of the original design.

Epoxy (white parts) was used to repair the GRP

Mi Grandfather

2009-05-06T14:44:00.007+01:00

My passion for boats and sails came from my grandfather

Artur Guimaraes

He was a painter and a sailor

All my life I was surrounded by is paintings...

Crash

2009-04-24T18:01:00.004+01:00

A nice sandy beach perfect for a litlle "art of beaching"
Light sand meaning tide going up...

Set ariane bi the bow and drop the kids
In a few minutes I see the tide going down fast

Arround the boat I start to see rocks coming up...

And finally what did seem to me a line of kelp is in fact a long rock.

Now I am in the way of a big centerboar repair...

Sails

2009-04-16T19:15:00.004+01:00

New Sails

UK SAILS - Genaker

Setubal Bay

2009-03-30T22:31:00.007+01:00

Setubal Bay (South West Portugal)

Sado Estuary Natural Reserve
Arrabida Sierra Natural Park
Saldanha Marine Park

Google Maps

Cockpit Modifications

2009-03-24T12:23:00.009Z

Cockpit Teak Modifications

Replacement of the companionway door
And new table and covers

Companionway Door (More pictures)

Pedestal (More pictures)

Cockpit Table (More pictures)

Helm Seat (More pictures)

Swim Platform (More pictures)

Gas Tank Covers (More pictures)

Interior Modifications

2009-03-24T11:28:00.009Z

Modifications done to the interior furniture

Replacement of factory plastics with high quality teak work

Teak galley with sea drawers (More pictures)

Head door, sink, pressure water and ventilaion (More picture)

Dinette Table with maps shelf (More pictures)

Dinette Seats (More pictures)

Gas Tank Covers

2009-03-20T17:22:00.002Z

Gas tank teak covers

Head

2009-03-20T16:27:00.003Z

Head teak set

Head door

Teak set

Head door (interior)

Mirror, lock and holder

Ventilation

Sink wath manual and electric pump
Soap pump and storage door

Dinette Seats Back

2009-03-20T16:10:00.005Z

Dinette Seats Back
Made in teak with SST supports

And small book shelf

Pestal covers, controls and Edson wheel

2009-03-20T15:51:00.004Z

Pedestal teak side covers
Edson wheel
Hydraulic engine steering
New engine control
Side gear bags

Cockpit Kit

Edson Wheel with leather cover and hydraulic steering

New engine control

Side Gear Bags

Helm Seat

2009-03-20T15:42:00.005Z

Helm Seat made in teak over a SST structure

The original seat was removed leaving a large open space

Open...

Down

Swim Platform

2009-03-20T15:01:00.002Z

Teak Swim Platform
Made in one single piece covering the engine and rudder controls

Stern View with the platform

Platform upper view

Design detail

Engine connector and rudders control

Fishing

2009-03-18T18:09:00.003Z

Cockpit Table

2009-03-18T10:35:00.004Z

Cockpit table made in 3 teak parts.

The design was inspired on a classic boat.

Assembled table

Assembled table up side

Central part as small table

Center table in down position

One of 2 side parts with the SST holders

Side parts storage place under the dinette table

Dinette Teak Table

2009-03-13T18:23:00.004Z

Dinette Teak Table

Table with side supports installed

Table without side supports

Map Shelf

SST Support and shelf

Teak Companionway Door

2009-03-13T16:20:00.005Z

Teak Companionway Door

This Companionway Door was made in teak bi a traditional carpenter in Macau under Portuguese design.

It is made in three parts and in the upper part we installed a Vetus hatch and a Yale lock.

The hatch can be opened from inside and the lock can be operated from inside as well.

The set is very light and can be stored under the dinette table in a special support.

The top of the cabin hatch was also covered in teak.

Inside

Outside

Lock and Vetus Hatch outside

Lock and Vetus Hatch inside

3 Teak parts

Teak Galley with shelfs

2009-03-03T11:03:00.004Z

Teak galley with sea drawers and shelf

Watercolor Painting

2009-02-27T17:12:00.006Z

Water Color by Raphael Kail

A friend enjoyed so much this picture. So he made a nice painting

Alqueva Lake

2009-02-23T14:11:00.001Z

Douro Valley

2009-02-20T02:19:00.003Z

Cruise up the Douro Valley

4 days - 100 NM

Drawings

2009-02-20T02:12:00.001Z

Drawings

Electronics

2000-01-09T15:51:00.001Z

Electronics

GPS plotter and sounder

Compass and clinometer

Solar vent

Nexus computer control center and GPS

Engine battery, main switch, VHF, CD radio

Navigation lights, manual pump, compass

Main panel, 2ªbattery switch, auto bilge pump, bilge water alarm and 220V inverter

Lines Led Aft.

2000-01-05T13:00:00.004Z

This is the solution implemented.

Symetric instalation

Total of 8 lines led aft...

Starbord:
3 halyards: Main, Genoa and Genaker
1 Furler(+ Centerboard Line)

Port:
2 Reef lines
1 Genaker Tack line.(+ Genaker Bag control

Harken block's in the mast base.

Harken organizers on deck

Spinlock cleats

Cockpit halyard organisers

Riging

2000-01-04T13:01:00.000Z

The option was HARKEN

The result was this...

Main sheet double speed block

Boom jack, Cunningham, Spi pole...

Harken Lazy Jack Kit and Backstay

Harken furller and anchor roller

Furller Control Cable

Blocks...

The Cockpit

2000-01-03T00:00:00.001Z

The Cockpit Teak Kit

Teak Helm Seat

Edson Whell

New engine control and 12V out

Teak Pedestal covers and bag's

Swim Platform

Gas Tank Covers

The stern set

The Boat Interior

2000-01-02T13:00:00.003Z

The boat interior was refurbished near Hong Kong by a local carpenter using Portuguese design and traditional Chinese wood work (without nails or bolts) and the high quality teak utilized gave the boat comfort and beauty...

Teak table and navigation tools

The galley with teak sea drawer's

Shelf for small gear...

3 piece solid companionway door

Solid head door and other small teak items

New carpets and cushions