Sailing! - After a launching, you need a cooldown period. Families has to dry their tears and batteries has to be charged. Two weeks on the run and in the meanwhile the Tocorimé was brought to the "Docas do Santarém" where she could get a free place during the finishing period. The city is gratefull for the publicity the Tocorimé gave her and they used it to put Santarém on the map (the Tocorimé brought Santarém for the first time in it´s history in the national eight 'clock newsbulletins!) and something in return is reasonable.

Time changed indeed and from that simple little beach the Tocorimé moved to a fully equiped spot with cranes, 24 hours electricity, 2 telephone lines (internet!), workshops, etc, etc; whatta luxury!!

Time changed and the building process speeded up with the possibility to participate officially in the 500 year anniversary of Brasil, 22/04/2000. But, no money was left after the launching and the last solution for capital was to get other shareholders in the project.

Time changed big time: logistics, finances, administration and on top of all: finishing in less then 10 months! You hire a little shabby old river boat, put her aside the Tocorimé and put your office there. The bachelors could also hang their hammocks there and the control on the building is optimal. The "U-boat" as you call her is the crisis-centre and made it all happen.

Parts came from Denmark, Holland, USA and even Pakistan, other parts came from São Paulo and the U-boat inclinated, vibrated and once in a while almost exploded to get everything going! You go thru all these "historical moments": decks finished, placing of masts, installing interior woodwork, finishing rigging, installing engine and electrics and finally you can hang your sails up.

Every step is one and gives you the energy for the next one untill the very last shackle is done and you take a looooong breath before you say: "let´s see how she sails"! Can you imagine we had our first sail-try-out without a rudder? A perfect day, steady wind, not too much and a little less then a knot of current. We put up the flyer & outer jib and there she went: perfectly holding course and making a bit less then two knots!! Yohoo and a bottle of casasha! Not the perfect test conditions but in our case the only way to have an impression. The real test came only just before we left Santarém and suprised everybody with her sharp sailing and smooth handling!!

The Tocorimé was built and sailed better then her example, she is strong and can sail whatever kind of ocean and just as important, the Tocorimé is alíve. Her spirit will go around the world and she will be a floating example of teamwork, persistence, love for sailing and the nature and above all, to believe in your own dreams!!