Brazil (Rio) to Trinidad: Notes for possible delivery-Ver_2

[sailandoar]

UPDATED - Jan 11th Ver 2.0

Comments appreciated .....

***************************
George Ray
version - 1.0 - Jan,09, 2011
************
version - 2.0 - Jan,11, 2011
(a) Correct broken links
(b) Added: light list NGA Pub#110_East Coast NA & SA
(c) Corrected: name on NGA Planning guide #140
(d) Removed: duplicate entry Pilot Chart sections by G.Ray
***************************

Pilot Chart excerpts: (N & E coast Brazil Feb-Mar-Apr)
http://picasaweb.google.com/georgelewisray/SouthAtlantic#

***************************

World Cruising Routes: Jimmy Cornell
(from Fifth ed 2002 // most recent edition is 6th_2008)

AT21 Brazil to Lesser Antilles
Northbound passages from ports in Southern Brazil are hampered by the strong NE winds and SW current, which occur between October and February. Passages during during this time from ports south of Recife are best avoided. If the passage cannot be undertaken at a better time, the only solution is to stand well offshore until the the SE trades are found and then make northing with their help. Boats coming from south of Rio de Janeiro will find better conditions between March and September when the prevailing winds are from the SE. If an inshore passage from southern ports is preferred, care must be taken when passing between the Abrolhos Islands and the Mainland as the charts are inaccurate and the reefs are more extensive then charted. If the islands are passed offshore, caution must be exercised as the reefs extend about 35 miles offshore. From ports north of Recife (Pernambuco), the passage to the West Indies can be made at any time of the year. although arriving there during hurricane season should be avoided. Winds along the north coast of Brazil are always favorable, and the current sets strongly to the northwest. The Guyana current runs between 70 to 100 miles off the Brazilian coat and will give a boost of at least 1knot to boats heading NW from the Amazon Delta. Winds are E or NE and become more steady as one moves north. Local fishing boats with out lights at night are a hazard that needs to be taken into account. The waters along this coast of Brazil are often very muddy from the Amazon, and as depths are shallow a good distance offshore must be kept as the color of water gives no indication of depth. The extent of the doldrums varies with the time of year being wider during the northern summer. An area of variable winds, calms, and squalls normally extends from the equator in longitude 30deg_W to about latitude 3deg-5deg_N in longitude 38deg_W.


***********************
GUIDES:

=> Cruising the Coast of Brazil,    Marcal Ceccon (Aug_2008 w/ web update page)
   http://www.veleiro.net/rapunzel/index.htm
   https://www.bluewaterweb.com/CruisingGuides/Guide.asp?GeoID=1486&SKU=8590123715

=> Brazil Cruising Guide,   Michael Balette (March_2010)
   http://www.amazon.com/Brazil-Cruising-Guide-Michael-Balette/dp/1846232015

(2) Pilot charts in PDF format at NGA.mil
   http://msi.nga.mil/NGAPortal/MSI.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=msi_portal_page_62&pubCode=0003

(3) Sailing Directions #124, East coast of South America ( 11th ed 2010 )
   http://msi.nga.mil/MSISiteContent/StaticFiles/NAV_PUBS/SD/Pub124/Pub124bk.pdf

(4) Sailing Directions #148, Caribbean Vol II ( 12th ed 2010 )
   Trinidad and N. Coast of SA
   http://msi.nga.mil/MSISiteContent/StaticFiles/NAV_PUBS/SD/Pub148/Pub148bk.pdf

(5) Sailing Directions #147, Caribbean Vol I ( 12th ed 2010 )
   Islands: Bermuda and Caribbean except Trinidad
   http://msi.nga.mil/MSISiteContent/StaticFiles/NAV_PUBS/SD/Pub147/Pub147bk.pdf

(6) Planning Guide #160 South Atlantic and Indian Ocean ( 8th ed 2010 )
   http://msi.nga.mil/MSISiteContent/StaticFiles/NAV_PUBS/SD/Pub160/Pub160bk.pdf

(7) Planning Guide #140 North Atlantic, Baltic, North Sea ( 9th ed 2010 )
   http://msi.nga.mil/MSISiteContent/StaticFiles/NAV_PUBS/SD/Pub140/Pub140bk.pdf

(8) Light List for East Coast of North & South America NGA Pub#110 (2010)
   http://msi.nga.mil/MSISiteContent/StaticFiles/NAV_PUBS/NIMA_LOL/Pub110/Pub110bk.pdf

(9) Brazilian Navy Publications, portuguese only: ( List from Cruising the coat of Brazil)
   - Roteiro, Costa Norte/ Leste/ Sul/ Rios (DH-1) -> coast and river pilot
   - Lista de Farois -> light list
   - Cartas Piloto (DNH - 14,200) -> SA pilot charts
   - Tabua de Mares -> Tide table for all Brazilian ports

Weather

(1) - From Cruising the Coast of Brazil:

(a) East Coast: ( 05deg_S Recife to 23deg_S Rio )
Summer Dec 21st to March 19th
Fall Mar 20th to June 20th
Predominance of trade winds NE/E/SE in all north and east coast, averaging 10 to 12 knots. The NE winds are predominant on summer and SE predominant on winter being constant with rare calms.
Around latitude of 23deg_S, (Cabo Frio) the coast bends westwards and for about 250 miles there is a big "pocket" of very light winds. This area reaches roughly from east of Rip de Janeiro through south of Santos near Sao Palo. Throughout the Brazilian coast it is noticeable the sea breeze phenomenon. On the trade wind zone however, it only enhances the dominant circulation and the land breeze is too weak to be noticed. Around Rio de janeiro however, the influence of the sea breeze is dominant. The S/SE breeze starts before noon, calms down at sunset and restarts from N/NW around 20:00Hs lasting for 10 to 12 hours.


(b) Wx Notes
Brazil Wx reporting areas:
Bravo:       Cabo de Santa Marta to Cabo Frio (Offshore)
Charlie:   Cabo de Santa Marta to Cabo Frio (Coastal)
Delta:   Cabo Frio - Caravelas
Echo:   Caravelas - Salvador
Foxtrot:   Salvador - Natal
Golf:           Natal - Sao Luiz
Hotel:   Sao Luz - Cabo Orange
November - Offshore North (West of 20deg_W, from 07deg_N to 15deg_S )
Sierra    - Offshore South (West of 20deg_W, from 15deg_S to 36deg_S )


Radio Wx Reports:
RTTY: Time: 07:50/18:45 UTC _ Freq: 12709/16974 kHz _ baud: 75 _ Port & English
Fax: Time: 07:45/16:30 UTC _ Freq: 12665/12709/16978 kHz _ scan: 120/576
VHF:   Time: at request _ Ch: 16 _ Port/English _ through Mobile Marine Service net


Internet Sources:

Main hydrographic index:
http://www.mar.mil.br/dhn/dhn/index.html

Notice to Mariners: ( some English notes and references )
?AVISOS AOS NAVEGANTES? (**)
http://www.mar.mil.br/dhn/chm/avgantes/english/pdfing.htm

Radio Nav Warnings and SAR Warnings: ( English )
AVISOS-R?DIO N?UTICOS E AVISOS SAR
http://www.mar.mil.br/dhn/chm/avgantes/avradioing.htm

Index to much Wx data ( index in English and much data is in english)
METEOROMARINHA
http://www.mar.mil.br/dhn/chm/meteo/indexing.htm



Navigation:

(1) Bouyage:

IALA system "B" , red on right returning
Isolated danger is painted in horizontal stripes black and red. When lighted shows groups of white flares. Day mark consists of two black spheres placed on top of each other.


(2) Brazil Information:

Jimmy Cornell website:
(a) http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Brazil

Cruiser Wiki:
(b) http://www.cruiserswiki.org/wiki/Brazil

CIA
(c) https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/br.html

WHO_World Health Org.
(d) http://www.who.int/countries/bra/en/


(3) Charts:

I have paper charts: Uruguay to Trinidad (2009)


Brazil Hydrographic Office Charts online:
Go to link below and click 'Cartas Nauticas' in left side list //
On new page click 'Cartas Digitals' on top of page //
Select 'Cartas Raster Disponivels' at bottom of left column 'raster' //
RNC (raster) can be downloaded one at a time --
https://www.mar.mil.br/dhn/dhn/index.html


GeoGarage: ( easy to view Brazil charts in a web browser )
Online Brazil chart viewing and Apple IOS mobile chart viewer.
http://marine.geogarage.com/routes



**************** end *****************