Around Cape Horn on a RIB

Arek Pawelek · 17 November 2007, 17:01

I'm finishing preparations to Cape Horn circumnavigation, from Punta Arenas on Atlantic, cape Horn, Chilean Channels, Magellan Strait and back to Punta Arenas. Beginning of AKUNA HORN EXPEDITION expedition - January 2008.
The boat: Halmatic PACIFIC 22 with ford mermaid turbodiesel, 140 HP.
The boat it is ex Deemen, and on 3-rd of December will be rebaptised with the name ONYX - brand of Akuna, the main sponsor of the Expedition.
Now the boat is undergoing minor repairs and is going to have fitted the purpose built autopilot, made by Explona. The autopilot is essential for me, as I will be sailing on my own. The boat has fitted already by Jon&Dave Henshaw from National A1 Marine the selfrighting bag (and new A-frame needed for the device). That was ordered by me when I was buying the boat from Dave.
Soon I will post some new pictures.

For now are pictures when the boat had name Deemen, courtesy of Dave Henshaw.

Andre · 18 November 2007, 21:05

Hi Arek

we have not heard from you for a long time. This is an interesting venture and of course not your first one in a rib

.

Look forward to seeing more pictures and hearing more of your plans

MarkM · 19 November 2007, 05:43

Fantastic plans. I can't wait to see more of it.
Are there pictures/stories to see/read on the other voyage? If so please give us a link.

Arek Pawelek · 19 November 2007, 06:10

Hi!
I was out of the water for some time

Changed the place to live and occupation. But I never stopped to dream about Horn and now dreams become true

Pictures are on the site: http://picasaweb.google.pl/arekpawel...MPRZEZATLANTYK
and
http://picasaweb.google.pl/arekpawelek/CenaStrachu and http://picasaweb.google.pl/arekpawel...HORNEXPEDITION

Andre · 19 November 2007, 09:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkM

Fantastic plans. I can't wait to see more of it.
Are there pictures/stories to see/read on the other voyage? If so please give us a link.

There was a good story with photos in Rib International magazine, can't remember which issue

Chris · 20 November 2007, 15:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arek Pawelek

But I never stopped to dream about Horn and now dreams become true

Apparently Garf always dreams about Horn

Arek Pawelek · 04 December 2007, 10:31

Yesterday evening my RIB was baptised with the new name ONYX. After weeks of preparation the boat looks refreshed. I'm awaiting for a parcel with hypalon paint to refresh collars and to paint the deck with anti-slip paint and the boat will be ready :-) I have mounted custom made autopilot.
Next week the boat is going to be loaded into container and beginning her voyage to South America.

Arek Pawelek · 04 December 2007, 10:51

The RIB has been baptised with the name ONYX, which is new drink from main sponsoring company AKUNA.

Arek Pawelek · 04 December 2007, 10:56

And last few pictures :-)

Pete7 · 04 December 2007, 11:38

Nice boat, good luck

Pete

Andre · 04 December 2007, 12:01

Arek, Best of luck and keep us posted on your progress. send lots of photos.

Powodzenia

Biga · 20 December 2007, 20:06

Arek is enough crazy to help him ! explona must be also crazy to
make this support to him, but it looks it is simply so.

Last preparations were done in extreme bad conditions but every one was
happy and smiling. Especially Arek and the ballast team

With me included.

http://www.explona.com/Foto/odpalamy.jpg
http://www.explona.com/Foto/Pc080397.jpg
http://www.explona.com/Foto/Pc080424.jpg

Andre · 20 December 2007, 20:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biga

Arek is enough crazy to help him ! explona must be also crazy to
make this support to him, but it looks it is simply so.

Last preparations were done in extreme bad conditions but every one was
happy and smiling. Especially Arek and the ballast team

With me included.

http://www.explona.com/Foto/odpalamy.jpg
http://www.explona.com/Foto/Pc080397.jpg
http://www.explona.com/Foto/Pc080424.jpg

What are the dates for this voyage? What is the plan?

jwalker · 20 December 2007, 21:09

Wishing you the very best of luck, Arek. It's quite an undertaking!

Arek Pawelek · 21 December 2007, 15:08

I at least packed ONYX into container. It wasn't easy, as I get information, that container is 2,30 m high. So I cut the mast on the back (A-frame) and prepared to put it back and checked if the boat will fit into the container. But nobody says, that the entrance is 10 cm less... It takes a lot of effort and I had to deflate tyres to fit the boat inside.
Today container went by ship to Punta Arena, where supposed to be in 35 days. I'm leaving on 22 of January. Flight back I have booked for 22 of February.

Arek Pawelek · 21 December 2007, 15:16

You may note, that the colour of the hypalon tubes is chnged. No, the collar wasn't chnged - cost too much :-) Instead I painted it with flexithane paint by Polymarine. Effect is quite good, what You can see on pictures

Andre · 22 December 2007, 19:05

Arek

Many thanks for info. Hope all goes well and you get back safe having had another great adventure

.

pozdrawiam
Andre

Biga · 29 December 2007, 16:49

Hi Arek, I hope you solved the problem with registration of safety system.

We must install a lot of cables on polish Dakar drivers and first today we are ready. I hope you are done all what we explained to you.

Please do not forget to fasten firmly the GPS antena to "auto-pilot".

Good Luck !!

Alan Priddy · 01 January 2008, 11:22

Hi Arek

Good to hear from you and of your plans. I will be sailing in the Southern Ocean in a couple of days but if we "Bump" into one another than one of us has got our navigation very wrong! I am heading along the coast of Australia towards Perth then turning North to come back through Asia. Will be back in the UK on the 5th July.
Keep safe (and warm)
Regards

Alan P
www.livelylady.net

Arek Pawelek · 18 January 2008, 12:32

On Tuesday, 22nd of January I'm leaving Poland to Punta Arenas. Expedition begins. The boat should arrive a few days later, and after assembling everything and preparing and putting fuel on I should be leaving Punta Arenas.