nabargandup bipi (set 1) - boat taxi 2010/2011
In this album are the photos about restoring a lancha for the community of Nabargandup Bipi. In Cartagena I met Maureen and Uli with their boat Pandora. The were on the remote island Nabargandup Bipi in Kuna Yala. The community (700 people) had saved to buy a second hand lancha which should make transport to the coast and Porvenir possible. The lancha looked in a deteriorated shape and Maureen and Uli decided they could help the community and paint the boat again. But discovered that the boat was also in a bad technical shape. The community had definitely bought a lemon which was a disaster. Their savings of two years were at stake. Repairing this boat went out of the knowledge of Maureen and Uli, not to speak about the Kuna.
With Pandora back in Cartagena (200NM away from San Blas) Maureen and Uli asked me if I could help. I did build 2 sailing boats before so I had enough knowledge and experience. And all the needed equipment was on board.
The series starts when we arrive at Nabargandup Bipi. It was clear for me that this would be a major repair job. We worked 8 hours a day for two weeks to do the technical job. The Kuna were not capable to help. They live and work in nature and their houses had no metal-work in them. This type of work is unnatural for them. After this job was finished I left to visit the Netherlands after 3 years sailing. Maureen and Uli stayed to do their intended job, painting the boat.
