Sailing to Cape Horn on board HIR 3 – video…
…and a very short trailer…
Sailin’ on the Edge
Video trailers for our little round the world sailing adventure…
Category: fun
Photo Gallery 2017
2017 HIR3 Photography
Some of the best photos taken on board HIR 3 in 2017…
Top 10 Sailor’s Drinks
Everything you need in a ship’s bar…
It’s important to drink on board to stay hydrated, but to drink well is good for the morale of the crew;)… so here is my Top 10 list of the best sailor’s drinks…
10. Twinings Tea
Tea (with, or without the rum;) is a great boat drink, it goes well at any time of day and it’s perfect for keeping your hands warm during long and cold night watches…
9. Nescafe Cap Colombie
Coffee is a great way to wake up and it keeps you alert during night watches. Nescafe Cap Colombie is easy to make on the boat and it tastes great with 100% Arabica beans from the finest regions in South America and roast them lightly to achieve a medium bodied coffee taste with a wonderful honey finish…. and if you can install a machine on the galley, you can also enjoy a good Nespresso, like Emirates Team New Zealand:)
8. Red Wine
Nearly all scientific researches show the positive medical benefits of red wine consumption… and it is common knowledge that wine tastes better on the boat:)
7. Grey Goose
Grey Goose was named the best-tasting vodka in the world by the Beverage Testing Institute. As advertised, it goes great ‘on the rocks’ after sailing with oysters in the cockpit…
6. Johhnie Walker Blue Label
Johnnie Walker Blue Label is blended to recreate the character and taste of some of the earliest whisky blends created in the 19th century. If it’s good enough for Jude Law and Giancarlo Giannini on a Baglietto Sailing Yacht, it’s certainly good enough for me:)
5. Heineken
Beer is great to drink to have while sailing, to celebrate a safe landfall, or when partying on shore and Heineken is the world’s most international premium beer that sponsors a popular St Maarten Heineken Regatta…
4. Chivas Regal
Chivas Regal is the flagship Scotch whisky brand with a perfect motto: ‘Live with Chivalry!’ which is encouraging us to live life with honor, loyalty and gallantry. It is stronger than simply an act. It is about staying true to your word and leading by example, standing up for what you believe in no matter what.
3. Captain Morgan
World-famous dark rum named after Captain Henry Morgan, the famous Welsh swashbuckler who became the governor of Jamaica with the best slogan: ‘To Life, Love and Loot’.
2. Beck’s
Beer is always a popular drink on board… and what better brand to have than the one that sponsors a greet tall ship Alexander von Humboldt with green sails!
Jameson – blended Irish whiskey doesn’t need ice, so it’s not only a perfect ingredient for Irish Coffee, but a great drink for celebrating that perfect moments on board;)
Drink responsibly!
Top 10 Sailing Songs
Sound of Sailing… Top 10!
My list of Top 10 Sailing Songs…
1. Sailing – Rod Stewart
2. Sail Away – David Gray
3. Sail Away – The Rasmus
4. Sailing – Christopher Cross
5. Van Morrison – Into The Mystic
6. Sail On – The Commodores
7. Sail Away – Deep Purple
8. All At Sea – Jamie Cullum
9. Ship of Fools – Robert Plant
10. Oceans – Coldplay
Sailor’s Tattoos
Nautical tattoos have been reinvented by many artists, in many styles…
Sea is one of the most dangerous and unstable environments for men, and a good metaphor of life. It is not surprising then that sailors were among the first to be tattooed, to ward off fate and express their experiences. Most of the nautical tattoos were originally talismans for good luck. Nautical tattoos were first old-school, but now they have been reinvented by many artists, in many styles.
An anchor is a symbol of safety and stability. It was inked by those who have successfully crossed the Atlantic. If it is teamed with a banner, the name or words on it would give the reason to stay grounded (a family member, lover or philosophy).
A rope tattoo on the wrist was indicative of a deckhand.
Nautical star tattoo is a representative of the North Star which is used for navigation on water. It is meant to guide you back to safety.
A fully rigged ship is supposed to denote that the sailor has sailed around Cape Horn.
Crossed anchors tattoo. When done between the index finger and thumb is supposed to denote a Boatswain mate. On the left hand it meant a sailor who sailed all oceans and on the right hand it indicated a sailor who had been on the Seven seas.
Pin-ups are of course iconic sailor tattoos. With sailor hats or clothes, they symbolize the girl waiting at home. As mermaids, they mean the dangerous beauty of sea (and life).
Rooster and pig tattoo is supposed to denote the surviving of a sailor from a shipwreck.
A swallow tattoo (migratory birds who can always find the way home). Sailors like the symbolism of being always being able to make it to the shore and thereby to home and back to the company of the loved ones. On the other hand, swallows are known to carry the souls of dead people off to heaven.
A dragon tattoo – was used to denote that the sailor had been to China or had served in a China station.
A golden dragon denoted the crossing of the International date line.
Sound of Music
Kigonki Tank Drum handmade specially for HIR3 by Mladen…
‘Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.’
My friend Mladen made a Kigonki Tank Drum for HIR3. It is a great instrument that can be played by anyone, even me! It will be good for the morale of the crew a great toy for everyone on the boat;)
Kigonki Tank Drums come in pentatonic scales. The word “pentatonic” comes from the Greek word pent meaning five and tonic meaning tone. It is a musical scale that consists of five notes within one octave. Because of their arrangement, pentatonic scales are often used to introduce beginners to music. There are no wrong notes. You can play any note in any order and the drum will sound great!
Kigonki Tank Drum has been used with much success by licensed music therapists and their patients in many different ways. With no wrong notes to play and a soothing vibrational tone it is easy to interact with and enjoy. Smooth sides and a compact size make it easy to transport. Using mallets or hands one can work on motor skills, memory, communication and mood alteration.
Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. Music therapy interventions have been designed to promote wellness, manage stress, alleviate pain, express feelings, enhance memory, improve communication, promote physical rehabilitation…
Mladen can make a Kigonki like Tank Drum for you too… just drop him a line: vjetarvoda@gmail.com
Murphy was a sailor!
Edward A. Murphy must have been a sailor… Only a person who owns a boat could have come up with that. Who else could have written these laws!? :)…
Edward A. Murphy must have been a sailor…
Edward Aloysius Murphy Jr. (January 11, 1918 – July 17, 1990) was an American aerospace engineer who worked on safety-critical systems. If anything can go wrong, it will.
Only a person who owns a boat could have come up with that. Who else could have written these laws!? :)…
- If anything can go wrong, it will.
- If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the one to go wrong.
- If anything just cannot go wrong, it will anyway.
- Smile . . . tomorrow will be worse.
- Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse.
- If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.
- Everything takes longer than you think.
- Every solution breeds new problems.
- A falling object will always land where it can do the most damage.
Only a boat owner can truly relate to his laws… because unfortunately, they are all true! Now, after more than two years of working on a refit of HIR 3, I can really relate to all of them… but all it takes is sailing in a favorable breeze on a sunny day and it’s all worth it!
She
In English and many other languages, a ship is called a ’SHE’, but even in countries where this is not the case, boats usually carry women’s names… She (a boat) needs constant care and attention and in return, occasionally you can experience great pleasures with her:)
In English and many other languages, a ship is called a ’SHE’, but even in countries where this is not the case, boats usually carry women’s names… She (a boat) needs constant care and attention and in return, occasionally you can experience great pleasures with her:)
One prosaic explanation is that the gender of the Latin word for “ship” — Navis — is feminine. But people generally agree on the more romantic notion of the ‘ship as a she’ phenomenon: that it stems from the tradition of boat-owners, typically and historically male, naming their vessels after significant women in their lives — wives, sweethearts, mothers. Similarly, and more broadly, ships were once dedicated to goddesses, and later also to mortal women of national or historic significance, thereby bestowing a benevolent feminine spirit on the vessels that would carry seafarers across treacherous oceans. Figureheads on the prows of ships were often depictions of such female namesakes, denoting the name of the ship for a largely illiterate maritime population. (Source: Glossophilia)
It is often asked why a ship is called a “she”.
The answer is simple:
there is usually a gang of men about her;
it takes an experienced man to handle her correctly, and a lot of paint to keep her look good;
and without a man at the helm, she is absolutely uncontrollable.
She shows her topsides, hiders her bottom and, when coming into port, always heads for the buoys. it is not the initial expense that breaks you, it is the upkeep.
Yacht design, as carried on at present, is rather like making love to a woman. The approach is completely empirical. At the end, the male, even though he might be successful, usually had no idea of just how and why he had succeeded. – PROF. E.J.RICHARDS
A ship is always referred to as “she” because it costs so much to keep her in paint and powder. – ADM. CHESTER NIMITZ
Boats, like whiskey, are all good. – R.D.(PETE) CULLER
The fact that one refers to a boat as “she” shows that since time began men have loved their boats. – FRANCIS KINNEY
New Designs…
It is really difficult to create a simple logo that looks good… but I think that the designer this time did a great job! New HIR 3 logo is unique and cool.
It is really difficult to create a simple logo that looks good… but I think that the designer this time did a great job! New HIR 3 logo is unique and cool. Don’t you think:)?
And now we have another look at the project, this time it’s ‘Retro Style’…
Thanks SASA S. for organizing all this!!
Top 15 gifts for a sailor this Christmas
All I really want for Christmas this year is to set sail with my crew… but on the more practical side, here is a list of Top 10 Christmas gifts for a sailor this year…
I have been working on the boat for a year and a half now and it seems that finally the day when we will be able to set sail is getting close, so I guess that all I want for Christmas this year is to set sail with my crew… but on the more practical side, here is my list of Top 15 gifts for Christmas this year…
Keeping your feet dry and warm in bad weather is important. Unfortunately, I only have simple rubber boots that are ok, but not great, so I would really love to have the proper Dubarry boots.
I’ve had a few multitools so far, but all of them have a tendency to jump overboard, so it would really be nice to have a proper Leatherman again.
Warm hat is a must for me in cold weather, so a good, nice and warm and windstopper hat would be great.
During the summer, it’s impossible for me to spend a day on a boat without a hat. I’ve had a few so far, but being constantly exposed to the sun, these wear off quickly, so I’d like a new Musto hat.
iPhone is a nice and useful toy on board for checking the weather forecast, navigation software, e-mails… but they don’t mix well with water, so a good waterproof case would be nice to have.
I would like to start preparing and planning for crossing oceans and for that I need proper nautical charts for passage planning.
7. Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum
A bottle of fine rum is a must on every boat. My favorite is Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum.
There are so many beautiful moments that I would like to capture on camera. The one i have on my iPhone is ok, but a proper DSLR Nikon Camera would really make a difference between good and great photos.
Probably the coolest thing to put your boat documents in is a carbon fiber legal portfolio by RAGGEDedge Gear.
A good headlamp is a must for night sailing. The best one on the market is Navisafe Headlamp with a red light to preserve night vision, a white floodlight to light the whole sail, and an ultra-powerful distance light shining up to 70 m plus tilt function for exact and comfortable beam positioning.
11. Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual
This manual takes both novice and experienced boatowner through minor to major repairs of electrical systems, engines, electronics, steering systems, generators, pumps, cookers, spars and rigging. Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual deserves to come standard with every boat.
12. Handheld GPS Garmin Montana 600
A handheld GPS is a must for a sailor these days. Great to use as a backup, or even as a primary navigation aid. Garmin Montana 600 is at the moment the best model. It has big 4′ touchscreen, waterproof and supports multiple mapping options.
13. Spinlock Deckwest 5D 170N Pro Sensor Safety Harness
Safety first! A mandatory equipment for every sailor on offshore passages. Spinlock Deckwest 5D 170N Pro Sensor Safety Harness is very light, comfortable design for use over long periods.
On board, Wichard ProLine Safety Harnesses are an essential element in safety. ORC compliant with quick release snap shackles.
PLB McMurdo Fast Find 220 is a lifesaving beacon with buoyancy pouch included designed for marine enthusiasts and adventurers.
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LET’S SET SAIL!!! 🙂
Voilier 'HIR 3' 