I arrived in Cabedelo, Brazil, on the morning of November 14, 2022, completing my second Atlantic crossing. Since leaving Norfolk, VA, on August 2 I’ve crossed the Atlantic twice, landed on three continents, visited 5 ports, and put 6880 nm under the keel of my boat Phywave. I’m now stern-tied in Marina Jacare Village, a small, friendly marina on the east bank of the Paraiba River. The drawback is it’s pretty isolated. The immigration and customs I had to visit are miles away north at the Port of Cabedelo while the Port Authority (navy) is in Joao Pessoa several miles to the south.

Yacht crews usually take taxis to these locations which must be visited both on arrival and departure. I rented a car to make it all easier and gave a lift to these places to a British father-son crew who arrived a day before me and will leave for Cape Town next week. The nearest ATM is a 25 minute walk from the marina, the nearest supermarket even further. Getting clean diesel also requires a trip to a nearby gas station with jerry cans. I don’t know what the rental car place will say when I return the car with a faint odor of diesel inside. With all the running around prepping the boat for the next passage I really haven’t had much chance to enjoy the place, Many of the chores are now done so I’ll have a few days to relax.

My original route plan as posted on the website map showed me stopping in Uruguay, and I also thought of sailing directly from Cabedelo to Puerto Williams, a 3500 nm passage. I’ve now decided to sail from here to Mar del Plata, Argentina, about 2400 miles and good way to break up the passage to Puerto Williams. It will leave about 1100 nm to Puerto Williams but perhaps more importantly, will be good place to jump on a fair weather window for passage along the Argentina coast which is sometimes subject to challenging wind and sea conditions. I’ve already made contact with a marina at Mar del Plata who are happy to welcome me there, and happy to email me in English since my Spanish is pretty limited.

So, that’s the plan.