The Bald Rigger

Por Cristian Graña. Conocí a Budi un Domingo cualquiera en el año 1996. Estaba tomando una pizza con mi primo y entró un chico a las haciendo "eses" al local. Desde el primer momento me llamó la atención su sonrisa, sus bromas.. la luz que irradiaban sus ojos denotaban a un chico feliz y extrovertido.  A veces, sin saber uno por qué, te das cuenta en un segundo que una persona ha llegado a tu vida para quedarse. Fueron pasando los años y un día, decidió dejar los muebles, las tarimas y el cepillo, para embarcarse en la mayor aventura de su vida, el trabajo embarcado y en en las plataformas petrolíferas. Pasaron los años, el mar lo cautivó; como hablaba de su oficio y la pasión con la que narraba las historias de alta mar me hicieron comprender que realmente no era su oficio. Más bien era su pasión. Durante este periodo en alta mar, Cris tuvo tiempo para enamorarse de una joven Ribeiriense. Formó una preciosa familia dando vida a dos preciosas niñas, Alma y Candela. Con el sud...

Little Big Revolution May no one ever dare Set your goals, May you know how to observe And not see those you shouldn’t. Even if I am far away, May you feel me near. The distance between our doors Has always been so ridiculous, So small, As long as we both follow The same stars. March 2017, Pioneering Spirit, Allseas. I approach my boss at that time, a powerful Englishman from Liverpool with enormous hands named Carl Lawton, with whom I’ve always had a good relationship, and I say from afar, "Carl, I’m not asking for permission, I’m affirming to you that by mid-June, no matter what happens, I’ll be home." He watches me, smiles, and says, "This can only mean one thing, and I congratulate you, papi Cris." My wife and I welcomed the news with great excitement months ago. And there hasn’t been anything in my life that has made me as excited as the arrival of our first daughter. Months later, and against all odds, with just 15 days to go before her due date, my wife recei...

O Captain! my Captain! Our fearful trip is done, The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won,  The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, Walt Whitman. When I was little, I remember waking up in the mornings and going to my father's bed. There, he would always warn me about how dangerous the sea was and that I should never even think about embarking. Like any good son, I didn’t follow his advice and decided to try my luck on the high seas.  A year after my first voyage, my father passed away. Unfortunately, I couldn’t say goodbye to him, and that’s something that has stayed with me all these years. Something similar, though on a different scale, is that I haven’t said goodbye to my other self, the one before I met Mr. Park. My father was and still is to me what Maradona is to Argentinians, D10S. The admiration and devotion I felt for him is beyond words. There are many nights when I dream of him, and although it feels so real, I quickly w...

Today giving a lot of head and several friend requests, it's time to announce that The Bald Rigger will have 3 products available. They will be a cup, a shirt and a bottle. The Cup: A cup with an exclusive design called "The Bald Rigger", perfect for enjoying your favorite drinks. It is an ideal product to give away or for personal use, with an attractive design that combines functionality and solidarity. The bottle: Make your hydration an act of solidarity with this 750 ml aluminum water bottle, which in addition to being functional and elegant, helps a good cause. Its minimalist design with The Bald Rigger logo and its compact size make it the perfect accessory for your daily routine, keeping your drinks cool for longer. T-shirt The Bald Rigger technical t-shirt is a sports garment designed for lovers of style and functionality. It is white, which makes it light and versatile. In terms of design, it has the The Bald Rigger logo printed on the front, along with a series...

If there’s one thing that stands out about the smaller vessels, it’s how easily they create a small but great family. When I introduced my friend Mr. Park, I haven’t stopped receiving messages of encouragement from those colleagues.  In mid-July 2020, after 4 months at home due to the lockdown, I got a call from my company at that time (Allseas) to join the  Fortitude , one of the smallest ships in the fleet. I won’t lie, I loved the idea since I had just spent 6 years working on the big  Pioneering Spirit . Without a doubt, alongside the  Normand Cutter , it was where I had the most fun working. Where a superintendent would sit down with you at the table to talk about football, family, and future projects. Unlike other ships where we had to put the "red carpet" where it passed and make the military gesture. The seriousness of the work during those 12-hour shifts mixed with the fun in the other 12 hours.                  ...

This photo is one of my favorites from these years of working on it. I don't quite remember who took it.  In it, we are seen talking about how to rig the slings onto a spool (so you understand, it's a tube with a weird shape). This tube is located on a barge, which at the right moment, we will dock next to the ship. Then, with the crane and the help of the ROV or divers, it will be installed on the seabed to connect the pipeline to the platform (at least in the projects I've been involved in). From my point of view, working with barges is one of the most dangerous yet interesting jobs. Many factors can influence its danger. Weather conditions, swell, tension in the mooring lines, and the distribution of cargo on the barge itself... These barges can carry all kinds of materials. For me, the most interesting part is when the platform modules come in for installation. I've experienced many dangerous moments, but I've also had a great time during the long shifts I'v...

You’ll agree with me that the hardest part of working offshore is those last two days at home before leaving.  My mind was already on the vessel, thinking about packed everything in my suitcase, if I had all the documents in my carry-on bag, and wondering how long the campaign would feel.  On the last day, I particularly didn’t feel like seeing anyone. I preferred to stay at home, dealing with my nerves, my anxiety, the lack of appetite, occasional vomiting, and the tears I shed in secret as I watched my daughters go off to school or daycare, knowing it would be a couple of months before I’d see them again. All of that disappeared as soon as I got into the taxi on my way to the airport. It was like a weight lifted off my shoulders. Once on the ship, there was no trace of those nerves, and though it took me a few days to adjust to the routine, the days soon started flying by.  Suddenly, that last week arrivedthe toughest of them all, with endless shifts. My mind was alread...

Happy Birthday: Usually, the topic I write about comes to me spontaneously. However, today's is special it has always been marked on the calendar. Today is the birthday of the person who gave me life on July 10, 1980, around 9 p.m. I am the youngest of three, and to keep things simple, my sister and brother looked at the calendar and chose my name because it was Saint Christopher’s Day. I was a normal child or at least, that’s how I see myself. From an early age, my mother and I had our little battles, typical between a mother and her son. She, always strong and steadfast, managed the household while my father, a fishing captain, was often away for work. Until I was 14, my school qualifications were decent. But when I started high school and met the friends I still have today, things began to get complicated. Except for gymnastics, English, and geography, my qualifications started to slip. At 15, partying on weekends became a big part of my life. It was then that arguments with my ...

And finally... Today is a special day. After spending a lot of time thinking it over, I’ve decided to embark on a small yet meaningful project. Very soon, I’ll be launching my two exclusive products:  The Bald Rigger mug and t-shirt . As a special gesture,  the first 6 units will be personalized  as a tribute to 5 amazing friends who have inspired and supported me throughout this journey:  Carlos, Garri, Naxete, Novo, Roman and Tinaka . Feel lucky, this is just for you! 😊 Both products will be available individually or as part of the  Mug + T-shirt Pack . Beyond being a personal project, I also want it to make a difference. That’s why  1€ from every sale will be donated to the Spanish Parkinson's Federation , a cause I deeply connect with and one that needs our collective support to advance research and provide aid to those affected. You’ll be able to place your order soon via: 🌐  thebaldrigger.yupopstore.com 📱 WhatsApp:  +34 667 259 493 💻 Or ...

Someone told me once: "A smile is much cheaper than electricity and gives much more light." I've always loved pictures. Since the first time I boarded a ship in Luanda (Angola), a camera or a mobile phone has been my constant company on every journey. I’ve never been overly concerned with the quality of the images, but rather with what they represent. Every photo is tied to a memory. Boat ashore, camera with me. Dolphin in the water, camera in my pocket, ready to shoot. Sunset? "Sun, wait for me while I grab the camera." Moments like these have happened countless times. Believe me, I have a collection of very silly photos. From time to time, I revisit those photos, sometimes because I feel like it, and sometimes because my mobile’s app decides to remind me. But lately, I’ve found myself not enjoying them as much, especially the ones where I’m in the frame. From a year back, my photos would show me clowning around or smiling—a true reflection of my personality. N...

Has it ever happened to you that someone asks you this question:  "Why do you complain about your job if you earn a lot of money?"  And it’s true, the pay allows for a comfortable life. The problem is the moments you miss. Those important days: a doctor’s appointment when your wife is pregnant, your children’s birthdays, your friend’s wedding, the first day at daycare, the first tooth your child loses, your mother’s routine surgery, or even the chance to say goodbye to your father the day he passed away because you were in the middle of the ocean. None of that has a price. No amount of money in the world can make up for it. But never, ever question the job of someone who works at sea, no matter the sector. Think about what that person has given up. That person misses their children and family more than anyone could imagine. That person, no matter how tough they seem, cries in secret the day they leave for the ship. That person cries in secret when they’re at sea and there’s a...

The Colossus It was September 2015. After four months of staying at home and making little effort to find a job, my friend Naxete encouraged me to try my luck with the renowned company Allseas. A few days later, they contacted me, offering a position on the  Pioneering Spirit , one of the largest ships in the world. Upon my arrival, I joined the TLS (Tandem Lifting System) team—if I recall correctly. Our primary task was to complete the assembly of the beams that would later be used to lift platforms and either place them onto or remove them from their jackets. Adjusting to the work environment wasn’t easy, as I was joining a team that had been working together for years. However, over time, I gained confidence in myself and my abilities. That year spent assembling the TLS was likely the period in which I gained the most experience and fluency in my work. It was also one of the most dangerous environments I have ever worked in. Conflicting activities, heavy machinery, and equipment...