I received a nice comment today from Fernando Costa, a sailor of a very classic looking boat called "Morning Star" or, in Portuguese, "Estrela d'Alva". Fernando has a very nice blog and -though I don't understand Portuguese - he seems to have a special interest in velajador solitário - I think that translates to "single-handed sailor". In fact today he did a nice post about Spartina and the single-handed trip on Chesapeake Bay. Cool.
Fernando is from Cabo Frio, RJ, Brazil. Brazil will always have a special place in my heart ever since I was invited to join the crew of the Cisne Branco, the Brazilian Navy's tall ship, on a sail from Charleston, South Carolina to Norfolk, Virginia. I did a post about that trip here. That was one fun trip. I was welcomed aboard by every member of the crew, given the ship's uniform - blue shorts and a tee shirt - and considered a member of the crew. I will never forget the kindness shown to me by every sailor on board.
I won't forget the excitement of sailing a hundred miles off of Cape Hatteras with that huge spread of canvas, the great food, the traditions carried on by the crew (the captain would often begin explanations of what was going on with the phrase "this is a tradition that dates back 400 years...") or the experience of working in my cabin with the boat heeled over so far that the porthole was underwater and hearing high pitched squealing sounds. I went topsides to see that we were surrounded by hundreds of dolphin.
So I was thrilled to receive today's comment from a small boat sailor from Brazil. That is Morning Star below, a beautiful, very classic sailing canoe. I don't know much about Brazil, or the rest of the world for that matter, but I do know that Estrela d'Alva is boat with a lot of tradition and history. I would love to sail on a boat like that.
Frenando, thanks for taking the time to read this blog. That is a beautiful boat you have. Fair winds, and please keep in touch.
steve
4 comments:
Steve,
Do you use Google translate?
http://translate.google.com/#auto|en|
It's a very useful tool. I communicate with sailors all over the world with it. It's a little weak on Portuguese, but you can translate the translation.
doryman
or just use google's chrome as a browser - it translates automatically, well more or less - like the header info which says "please comment and feed the fish"
Thanks for the advice guys. I did use a translation website (clunkier than what you both have suggested) and was able to get a pretty good drift on what Fernando was saying. I'll use your tips in the future, I think his site is worth following. steve
Hi Steve!
I wrote a message in portuguese to you and used "Alta Vista Babel Fish" to translate it. Look!
"It saves Steve
I have to agree to you. To sail the "Cisne Branco" is a privilege and an adventure. I will to write little at the moment, but I promise to you that after to read all, or great numbers of your posts I will come back to speak with you. My canoe is simple doris that I acquired of a fisherman of Cabo Frio and transformed here into Cutter Bermudiano with the aid of some friends.
Good winds
Fernando "Estrela d'Alva" Costa
P. S.: I remember now, that I have somewhere a photograph of my little "Estrela d'Alva", taked from "Cisne Branco", by a friendie. I will look for it to show you. Have a nice day. You and the beautiful and big "Spartina".
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