Sunday, November 28, 2010

A quick tour of Switzerland

It all started when I casually mentioned that I will be going for a cousre in France and I will be side tracking to Switzerland over my old school's forum. One old scout KC Foong came over with a private email that he can arrange for a hiking trip in Switzerland if I am keen. He has a Malaysian friend staying in Switzerland who is also a keen outdoorman. So I was linked up with a fine gentlemen KB Tan from Johore. Several emails later everything was set and I was ready to go. We were scheduled to meet up at the train station at Yverdon Les Bains on Friday 25 Nov 2010 at 1700 hrs local time. I arranged my flight from Kuala Lumpur to Amsterdam with a connecting flight to Geneva. Upon arrival at Geneva I have about 6 hours to loiter around before taking a train to KB's village. The airport offers a free bus trip down to town but it is valid for only 80 min. So I took along my bike to Geneva town for some sight seeing.Geneva is a nice clean city. Everything seems so organised and neat here! But it is cold.By evening I took a train to Yerdon Les Bains where KB Tan will come and pick me up at 5 pm. From there it is another 15 min drive to KB's house which is in a village. Sorry ..no photos of his house as it was dark by the time we arrived and the next whole day we were out. BUT believe me, it is a very nice old farm house and KB Tan has done a good job renovating it.Next morning by 6 am were were already on the train to Zermatt a popular skiing resort at the base of the famous Matterrhorns.KB is a veteran traveller..always well prepared. He even stocks up sandwiches and drinks for the trip. As this is the winter sports season, there are a lot of tourist in the area. we went away from the crowd as soon as we could.This area is like KB's backyard and he knows the area well . After putting on the snow rackets we started trekking on the snow. For a beginner like me it is very tiring trekking on the snow.Except for a shepherd there was nobody on the trail. One gets a wonderful feeling of loneliness here.The temperature is minus 17 degrees for that day and we decided to head for a church where we can get some shelther so thatwe can have a hot drink.After our tea time we spent another hour coming down. It was an interesting trip for me.It is now time to catch a train to Berne , the capital of Switzerland.It started snowing by the time we arrrive Berne. This is the famous clock tower in Berne. But life goes on like normal. people here are used to snowing..it is just like a light shower but a little bit colder.Even the cheese from this outdoor market is frozen.

From Berne, we took another train to another town Basel where there is a very popular Christmas night market...some sort of pasar malam to me but cleaner and run by Mat Sallehs.

This man was selling puppets and at the same time giving a puppet show. I enjoyed the show but did not buy any puppets. I have a short video and will upload it later.
KB's wife, Melody a Swiss and is also a seasoned traveller, having stayed in India and Malaysia.


Next morning I was up early to take a TGV train to Marseille, France for some more adventure. Thank You KB Tan for hosting me and thank you KC Foong for connecting us! We will meet in Malaysia!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Building a Hull of my Gypsy Catamaran

After the 4 pieces of foam composite panels were constructed it is now time to assemble the pieces together to form one hull. First I have to find some timber to become the base of the bulkheads. Someone was demolishing a wooden house and I bought 4 pieces of 2 by 6 quite cheaply from him.

The spacings for the bulkheads are marked as per the plans. Wooden blocks are placed at the correct stations . Bulheads 4 and 5 were the first to be installed. The bulkheads are built from BS 1088 export quality Meranti marine plywood. A sprit level gauge is used to ensure that the bulkheads are perpendicular.A thread through a hole at the half width waterline of all the bulkheads are used to judge the levels/bulkhead heights. All the figures are given in the plan.I only have to use my physical strength to position the bulkheads. 2 by 1 woods are used to raise the bulkheads. Chipboard backbones are then made to provide some temporary structural strength and later to ensure the hull bottom is flat when it is offered to the hulls.These chipboards are removed when the hull is ready. A lot of "heavy" physical work is involved at thsi stage so I got hold of a local fisherman Yee to assist when he is not at sea.The backbone goes all the way to the transom.The first composite flat panel is then brought in. It need 3 person to put it in position. This is not so much of a weight problem but more of a size proble. Wooden stilts from 2 by 1 wood are used to support the panels. The panel is clammed onto the wood. Final position adjustments of the panel are made.The panel is then secured to the bulheads by screwing the panel into temporary wooden blocks.The second panel is then brought in and the same process is then repeated.
The initial use of F clamps make the job of fine adjustment of the panel position easier.The bow of the hull is then "forced" together using long clamps and twisting wires. At this stage the shape of the hull is formed. I cannot stop admiring the beautiful shape!The bow is glassed in stages so thet the wires can be removed one at a time.Next the bottom panel is positioned at the top of this inverted hull. Heavy objects like bricks and stones are used to ensure a flat bottom and not an "S" shaped bottom!The most difficult part is building the bow and getting the correct shape. A sort of stich and glue method is used. Next will be the fairing and painting of the hull before turning over '