Posted on behalf of POR Omar 'Wetdoc' Sanchez


South access to Ilhabela, the true sailing capital in Brazil.
Medical note: It is however also the Capital of Borrachudo (Black fly family Simuliidae), so OFF spray or insect repellent is mandatory all day. Do not underestimate the wisdom of long pants with socks and long sleeves. The feared Borrachudo is mostly diurnal, it does not make a noise when flying and generates an annoying bite that should not be scratched. Scratching only reactivates the itch: applying ice with a fabric or nylon insulator gives the best results to calm the itching.
Aids to navigation:
Although access is more picturesque in the south and inside the channel, the clubs are in the north of the island and, depending on wind and wave conditions, can be accessed outside the island. To the south of the channel, San Sebastián (SS) is the anchoring area for ​​freighters, to which we must give respect since their swings are unpredictable due to the wind pipe and the channel current. Through the port of San Sebastian, in the channel of the same name, ferries pass at all times during a 24 hour cycle, and are free for pedestrians.
The best mooring option is the Yacht Club of Ilhabela (www.yci.com.br), with Pinda Late Clube (www.pindaiateclube.org.br) as an option a little further south.
Glossary: ​​to understand the radial language you have to go over some tips of everyday language. When you talk about channel 68/69 you do not talk about channel six oito / six nove, but about meia oito / meia nove, the average (6) is for half a dozen.
Call prefixes: YCI Delta 24 on channel 68 of VHF, and Pinda responds to Delta 56 on channel 68 of VHF. It is common that they move to channel 69 (meia nove).
The YCI has buoys with a gauze (roupe) on its top, but this is not for taking moorings, it is for hoisting the hawser that is half-full and that comes up full of sharp mussels. Gloves are recommended. Some buoys, like the 88, have two hawsers and these are reserved for boats of more than 20 tons.
Safety: every 6 hours, regardless of the weather, the sailors check all the moorings, modify them or call the captain, according to need. It is remarkable to see their boat in the evening and in the middle of the storm reviewing and noting the mooring status.
A visitor can use the facilities ashore as these are top quality; the wifi has moved to the computer room that is now a splendid gym. The showers are generous but I recommend turning on the ceiling fans as the roof is the Borrachudos aircraft carrier! The first 5 days on the buoys are free, and you can extend one more day due to bad weather. The remaining days have an accessible rate. Visitors can access the marinas with their boat but only for two hours, for services, washing and making water. They have only two drinking water hoses.
The club has started a strong management campaign in favor of ecology and taking care of garbage. They do not want to repeat the errors of other latitudes (Sau de Ceu) that have caused irreparable damage to the waters.
The fuel station can be accessed inside or outside the club, closes at 6 pm, accepts cards. Most importantly, it has Verana diesel, the Petrobras special, which is superior and free of contaminants and water! The station offers fuels, some filters and spare parts, a small shop, has containers to discard liquid fuels and containers for solids. Drinking water is charged for, a few Reais ( local money) for every 10 minutes but with a hose of excellent pressure.
If you arrive during commercial hours it is better to take a mooring at the station, take on fuel, and water and discards, and from there request a buoy for anchoring. A dinghy will indicate the buoy and eventually help with the maneuver. You can also call in navigation, about 15 minutes before arrival.
The YCI has a wharf dock on the south side, but offers a very efficient disembarkation service by means of club boats. When disembarking, all the ship papers, prefecture, customs and passports or ID of the crew must be presented. This admission office requests a photocopy of everything, which can be done at the club's headquarters, but it is less complicated to arrive with all the photocopies and thus be released without pain. Each crew member is given a magnetic card that allows access to different sectors of the club and re-entry from abroad. The card must be returned on the last day of stay.
Within a few blocks there are sailmakers, a rigging service, mechanics, nautical businesses, etc. Also the bus to the shopping center and ferry station. Near the station there is a large North Sails loft.
In the vicinity of the Pinda Club there is an area delimited by yellow buoys. This is a prohibited for anchoring zone, as the high voltage cables that feed the island lie on the bottom.
A few blocks away is the historic center, with various souvenir shops and a supermarket. When the tourists off the mega cruise ships leave, posters miraculously appear: 50% off !!
The exchange house gives an always unfavorable rate. There are many ATMs. The laundry is very expensive.
Restaurant recommended: MaxPaladar, you have to walk away or take the bus, but it is worth visiting this "food per kilo" restaurant, which only opens at noon. Near the clubs there are a wide variety of restaurants for all tastes and budgets.
Bureaucracy: in case you have to do the paperwork, you have to take the bus or taxi to the ferry station. UBER gives an error on the island. The delegation of the federal police of San Sebastian downtown does not come any more to the boats, it is necessary to go to the NEPON inside the commercial port about 200 meters on the ferry station side of SS. Only the captain can enter, with all the papers and documents, but in case of problems with the language they allow a second crewmember to enter. Within the port you have to walk about 400 meters, so you have to take precautions on rainy days or intense sun. Go from there to the Captaincy (Prefecture) which has a large building overlooking the Ferry station.
Download the tracks for Garmin (gdb), GPS, MapSource and nRoute,
See the visual track.
Alert: About 30 nm south of Ilhabela respect should be given to the Ilha de Alcatrazes and the area that is forbidden to navigate.
Approximate position Ilha de Alcatrazes S24 05 W45 40.
Although there was some relaxation and opening in the last year, visits are limited to tourist boats who are duly registered for the activity.
Photogallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/15309279@N06/sets/72157701778264552


Omar Wetdoc

Bill Balme