Rio de Janeiro
Howard [ Just Imagine ] 31-Dec-1969
Suriname (Marina)
Marina Waterland Suriname
Suriname is opening it's first marina in August 2012 on the banks of the Suriname River, close to Domburg. A floating jetty offering 12 berths for yachts up to 75 foot, providing electricity and water. Waterland also offers 7 lodges and a restaurant. GPS: 5⁰39′30.31″N 55⁰3′49.79″W
Myrrheam [ Waterland ] 03-Aug-2012
Bahia de Isla Grande
When we sailed in here on Mbamba from Uraguay in 1979, I thought I had died and gone to cruising heaven.
Beautiful bays with lovely, palm fringed beaches backed by cliffs and waterfalls cascading into magnificent natural pools. Monkeys and exotic flora, fishermen in sarongs paddling out in dugout canoes to trade their catch for teeshirts or whatever we had.
The friendly locals took us to bathe in the waterfalls and taught us how to cook breadfruit, which is delicious and much more like potato than bread. I could see why Captain Bligh wanted to take it back to Europe to feed the masses.
Parati is one of the oldest European cities in the western hemisphere and has a wonderful charm, no vehicular traffic, and being a few hours drive from Rio, makes it a sort after tourist destination.
Howard [ Just Imagine ] 31-Dec-1979
Recife
I am a little embarrassed to say that we came in here in the dark, using only a hand drawn chart that I had recreated from the description in the pilot books.
We could either stay out all night or ease our way in very carefully watching depth and lights.
The pilot book described a reef (for example)so many cables SSE by 1/4 E from the light, which I then drew on my paper chart.
I was horrified the next morning, looking down at the port from a skyscraper in the city, to see the huge breakwater that had been built on the reef at the entrance to the harbour. We had been completely unaware of this during our entry the night before.
Well, we were young, foolish and very lucky.
Howard [ Just Imagine ] 01-Mar-1979
Belem
French Guiana
Punta del Este
Punta del Este is the Riviera of Uruguay, Argentina and Brasil. The town bussles with tourists all summer long.
Businesses and restaurants all maintain party hours in Punta. Breakfast is at noon, lunch about 5pm, dinner at about 10 or 11 pm and then you go out for the evening, until sunrise or so.
I sailed here in the 1979 Cape Town to Uruguay, South Atlantic race. We had a wonderful time in Punta with marvelous hospitality.
Howard [ Just Imagine ] 30-Jan-1979
Salvador de Bahia
Vitoria
Fortaleza