Brazil : Profile

Facts

• Brazilian culture is a rich mixture of European, African and Latin American, all of which can be seen in its world-famous Carnival. It is this Carnival which brings many sailors to Brazil, those who arrive from the north sailing for Salvador in Bahia, while those coming from the south have the opportunity to see the greatest show of them all in Rio de Janeiro.

• In between these two cities, to the north as well as to the south, stretches a long coastline of varied scenery and just as varied climate and weather conditions. There are interesting places to explore all along the coast, but perhaps the best cruising ground is the area between São Sebastiao Island and Rio de Janeiro, which has many protected anchorages and attractive scenery, slightly marred by the increasing number of oil rigs.

• The River Amazon also has an appeal for some cruising sailors and it can be navigated for well over one thousand miles giving the opportunity to see some of the interior of this huge country.

• For many sailors the first taste of Brazil lies 250 miles offshore on the island of Fernando de Noronha, while another Brazilian outpost in the Atlantic is better avoided, the St Peter and St Paul rocks near the equator, where landing is only possible in the calmest of weathers.

• Yacht clubs are usually welcoming to foreign visitors, with the exception of the Rio Yacht Club, where visitors are not at all welcome. Clubs with a large fleet of yachts, often motor yachts, have good repair facilities or access to them.

Weather

Brazil's climate varies greatly. Most of the northern part of the Brazilian coast is under the influence of NE winds which are strongest in the summer between December and February. The rest is in the SE trade wind belt, which predominates from March to August. During the austral winter months the SE trades have a lot of south in them, and sailing down the coast can be difficult. An eye must be kept on the weather, as the winds can change direction suddenly putting a boat on to a dangerous lee shore.

Main Ports

Fernando de Noronha *

Northern coast:  Belem * , Fortaleza/Mucuripe * , Sao Luis *

Eastern coast (north of Rio de Janeiro):  Macae * , Abrolhos Reefs , Buzios , Cabedelo * , Cabo Frio , Caravelas , Guarapari , Ilha de Itaparica , Ilheus/Malhado * , Maceio * , Marau , Morro do Sao Paolo , Natal * , Niteroi , Recife * , Rio de Janeiro * , Salvador * , Vitoria *

Southern Brazil:  Sao Francisco do Sul * , Angra dos Reis * , Baia da Ilha Grande , Cananeia , Florianopolis , Itacuruca , Paranagua * , Rio Grande * , Santos * , Sao Sebastiao *

*Indicates a port of entry.

Related Reports

Cruisers Reports from Jacare, Cabedelo (29 Jul 2010)

Fortaleza - Latest Info. (21 Jul 2010)

Natal Update (28 Jun 2010)

Shipping Spares to Brazil (28 Jun 2010)

Health Controls for Leisure Boats that Enter Brazil (10 Jun 2010)

Itaparica Marina, Brazil (06 May 2010)

Fernando de Noronha - April 2010 (02 May 2010)

Salvador - Our stay during Carnival (10 Mar 2010)

Brazil - Clearing In When Entering from the South (14 Feb 2010)

Procedure to Request an Extension of Visa in Brazil (06 Jan 2010)

Cruising Brazil to Argentina (06 Jan 2010)

Itaparica / Salvador Brazil (26 Nov 2009)

P.I.C., Recife, Brazil - Update (22 Oct 2009)

Customs in Vitoria, Brazil (09 Jun 2009)

The Amazon - Cruising Information Wanted (22 Apr 2009)

Take Care in Salvador (08 Feb 2009)

Brazil, Belem - Armed Robbery  (21 Jan 2009)

NE Brazil, Sao Luis - Yacht Attacked  (21 Jan 2009)

Wanting Information on Hauling Out in Belem, Brazil (09 Dec 2008)

Cruising the Coast of Brazil (09 Dec 2008)

Caribbean, St. Martin to Angra dos Reis, Brazil (27 Jun 2008)

Fernando de Noronha, Brazil - Update (26 Jun 2008)

Temporary Absence Allowance In Brazil (23 Jun 2008)

Fernando de Noronha - a Positive view! (17 Jun 2008)

Caribbean East to Southern Brazil (15 May 2008)

Brazil's outrageous customs practices (28 Jul 2007)

Cabedelo / Jacare : New East Coast Yachting Centre Announced (23 May 2007)

Brazil - Santos area - boatyard and yacht storage information (23 May 2007)

Travel report from NE-Brazil, Cabedelo/Jacaré (19 Apr 2007)

Report On The Disappearance Of Vessel Roamdeep (28 Mar 2007)

Rio Yacht Club Niteroi Recommended (06 Mar 2007)

Cruising Report On Brazil & Argentina (12 Dec 2006)

Brazil Finally Allows Extended Stay For Yachts (24 Nov 2006)

Report on Brazil from Italian yacht "Jancris" (05 Jun 2006)

Fortaleza: wreck outside Marina Park Hotel (09 May 2006)

Havens and Anchorages: A companion to the South Atlantic Circuit for the South American coast (10 Feb 2006)

South Atlantic Circuit (10 Feb 2006)

Brazil Cruising Update (03 Feb 2006)

Catch 22 Brazilian Style (27 Jun 2005)

Cruising Rally Along The Coast Of Brazil August 2004 (13 Jul 2004)

Costa Verde Cruising Ground (17 May 2004)

Venezuelan Rescue & Maritime Safety Organisation (01 Mar 2004)

Salvador de Bahia (15 Oct 2002)

Ilheus, Bahia  (12 Oct 2002)

Cruising Notes on Rio de Janeiro 2: Clearance & Places to go (08 Jun 2002)

Cruising Notes on Rio de Janeiro 1: Approach & Docking (08 Jun 2002)

Cruising Angra dos Reis (07 Jun 2002)

Related News

Brazil, Pirates Strike on the Amazon (30 Jul 2009)

French sailing yacht "Marie Galante" sinks 300 NM from Natal, Brazil (20 Jan 2009)

World ARC Circumnavigators head into the South Atlantic (04 Jan 2009)

Around the Americas - Sailing Expedition and Awareness Campaign (24 Oct 2008)

South Africa Departure Point for Several New Races (11 Nov 2004)

South Atlantic Race & Rally To Start Early 2006 (15 Aug 2004)

First Ever Hurricane In South Atlantic Hits Brazil (29 Mar 2004)