Natal
90nm North of Cabadelo
We have been studying the weather forecasts on all available internet sites for a week. The Brazilian weather forecast predicted rain and swell, but all others showed that the weather will start to change by Thursday, by Friday no rain and less swell. We decided to leave early morning on Friday the 30th July. It will be a lot easier if we go out with the tide. Our original plans where to go straight to Ilha dos Lencois, 6-7 day sail. Once outside the breakwater we realized that only the Brazilian forecast was correct! We had confused swell with strong wind and rain gusts. Our boat was once again in chaos. We decided to head for Natal to wait this weather out and I needed to see a Dr. for my ear problems. We sailed only with the inner jib and still moved at record speed. We arrived at Natal at 1h00, but just as we approached a rain squall came over the city. We did not have enough visibility to approach and turned around to head to the open sea and wait the rain out. We tried once more to approach, but the same happened. The shackle of the inner jib sail broke and the sail came down out off the groove of the roller fuller. Jaco tied the sail down, but we could not use the jib until we replace the shackle. By 3h00 we decided to hove-to, go to sleep and try to approach at daybreak. We had to use the big front Jib reefed and drifted about 5miles out. By 7h00 the wind and rain became stronger and stronger. We had to motor against current, wind and waves to the approach. The visibility was better, but we moved at snail pace . During the 3 hours of battle against the elements the engine started to cut out due to dirt in the diesel. (Some where we bought dirty diesel!) Jaco cleaned the diesel pipes in seconds every time this happened. The final approach to the breakwater was the most nerve wrecking experience I had in months! There is a very narrow canal with reefs on both sides, a pumping wind that is forcing us to the starboard reefs and beach and an engine full of dirty diesel... Well we made it and enjoyed a huge whisky for our weak legs on arrival at Natal yacht club.
The yacht club offers 3 days free anchorage then 35R / day. This is too expensive for us, but there is no other choice of anchorage. We used the 3 free days, paid one day and then stayed on the boat & not used their facilities until Saturday, 7 August when we left for Galinhos. The club restaurant is more expensive than other yacht clubs in Brazil. They had a variety show every evening from sunset to about 8pm.
We met Helios and Mara, Brazilian sailors, whom gave us waypoints of other anchorages on the way to Lencois. We now decided to break the trip up in shorter distances and visit some of the recommended anchorages.
We have been studying the weather forecasts on all available internet sites for a week. The Brazilian weather forecast predicted rain and swell, but all others showed that the weather will start to change by Thursday, by Friday no rain and less swell. We decided to leave early morning on Friday the 30th July. It will be a lot easier if we go out with the tide. Our original plans where to go straight to Ilha dos Lencois, 6-7 day sail. Once outside the breakwater we realized that only the Brazilian forecast was correct! We had confused swell with strong wind and rain gusts. Our boat was once again in chaos. We decided to head for Natal to wait this weather out and I needed to see a Dr. for my ear problems. We sailed only with the inner jib and still moved at record speed. We arrived at Natal at 1h00, but just as we approached a rain squall came over the city. We did not have enough visibility to approach and turned around to head to the open sea and wait the rain out. We tried once more to approach, but the same happened. The shackle of the inner jib sail broke and the sail came down out off the groove of the roller fuller. Jaco tied the sail down, but we could not use the jib until we replace the shackle. By 3h00 we decided to hove-to, go to sleep and try to approach at daybreak. We had to use the big front Jib reefed and drifted about 5miles out. By 7h00 the wind and rain became stronger and stronger. We had to motor against current, wind and waves to the approach. The visibility was better, but we moved at snail pace . During the 3 hours of battle against the elements the engine started to cut out due to dirt in the diesel. (Some where we bought dirty diesel!) Jaco cleaned the diesel pipes in seconds every time this happened. The final approach to the breakwater was the most nerve wrecking experience I had in months! There is a very narrow canal with reefs on both sides, a pumping wind that is forcing us to the starboard reefs and beach and an engine full of dirty diesel... Well we made it and enjoyed a huge whisky for our weak legs on arrival at Natal yacht club.
The yacht club offers 3 days free anchorage then 35R / day. This is too expensive for us, but there is no other choice of anchorage. We used the 3 free days, paid one day and then stayed on the boat & not used their facilities until Saturday, 7 August when we left for Galinhos. The club restaurant is more expensive than other yacht clubs in Brazil. They had a variety show every evening from sunset to about 8pm.
We met Helios and Mara, Brazilian sailors, whom gave us waypoints of other anchorages on the way to Lencois. We now decided to break the trip up in shorter distances and visit some of the recommended anchorages.
