Building model boats :
an invention to be proud of

Interview with Mr. Takis Barakos, Mailing Pouch and Inventory Section of the U.N. Office in Geneva

Your experience in the United Nations - How did you get into the UN?

I was about 23 years old and I was going to a night school for architectural drafting in New York, where I met someone who was working for the UN. We became friends with this person and I told her that I was going to night school and working different jobs just to support myself. She suggested that I should apply to the UN - I did and it worked. After I finished my studies and working in the UN at the same time, in the document section, with my diploma in architectural drafting, I was hired by the Building Management Service. I was working on the 22 floor in New York, and my work consisted of repairing all architectural drawings of the organization and different other projects. I have been with the UN ever since. I am doing a different job right now, in Geneva, working for the messenger service.

How long have you been serving the UN ?

Since 1974. 30 years - my first and last job with the UN and I am getting ready for my retirement.

What are your experiences of working for the UN in New York and now in Geneva ?

Well, they were two different worlds I guess. In New York, we were concentrated in one big building and rather crowded. But the UN office in Geneva is more relaxed and less stressful than New York. I like it here very much, the people are very nice and my work pleases me very much as I work with very nice people. Why are you interested in doing model boats? Being a Greek national, and brought up in the environment of the Mediterranean Sea, has any of your family been involved in boat sailing?

Oh yes!. Many of my relatives were sailorsone of them was a Captain and for me it was my hobby since school days. I guess you do as much as you can to sail and the time comes to stop. I started building boats that are the miniature of the real ones of course on scale px. Like my tugboat, that is about 1.50 long 40 cm large and at mast height 1.00m. and weights about 20 kilos. She sails beautifully. Also my sailing boats are about 2 meters high and one meter long and are also radio-controlled. They are sailing like the real thing.

How long have you been doing this ?

As I said, I started when I was very young and at that time I was sailing. But in my spare time, I use to build model boats and the time came when I stopped real sailing. Like they say when an old captain stops sailing with real boats, he builds model ones just to remind him of his past love of sailing on the sea.

Have you been trained on how to do model boats ?

No it was just from seeing pictures of real boats and building the same boat as close as possible. And it was a lot of fun, but a lot of work and concentration. At the end it worked.

Is this just a hobby or do you have a bigger future plan ?

This is my hobby and it keeps me busy as working on those boats is like working on the real boat. They do perform like real boats.

What kind of a boat do your models represent - Racing, Electric, Motor, Yachts, etc. ?

My tugboat is actually a model of the real one that exists. It was a steam power tugboat from Holland. In my actual model, I am using electric power and a variety of other electronics. Also the lights of the boats are realistic to the last detail. It took me 16 months to build and it is exactly like the real thing. As for the sailboats, it is not much trouble to build them, you can buy the kits, but you still need to put them together. They also perform like the real thing. They are a pleasure to watch when they sail in the water. I had a lot of people coming to me and admiring them and taking pictures. I was really proud. It was fun.

Why do you want other staff members to know about your inventions?

Because I wish that, if there are people in the UN who have the same hobby, maybe we could get together and sail together - and why not have a club at the UN.

If such a club were established, where would you like it to be ?

In Geneva. I am staying here and there are lots of places on the lake that you can sail and have fun.

Who is invited to be a member ?

Anybody who likes to build boats and to sail them. But I would like to make one thing clear and that is, it is not a game and that it is as serious as sailing or driving a real boat. In many naval schools, people learn to drive or sail boats this way.

I wish you success in your future plan.

For any further information or details, please contact Mr. T. Barakos at: (+41-22) 917-18 98, e-mail: barakos_t@hotmail.com .

Interview by Seble Demeke, UNOG.

Building model boats : an invention to be proud of

Building model boats :
an invention to be proud of