more Ilha Grande
Mystic of Holyhead (successor to Lynn Rival)
Rachel and Paul Chandler
Mon 12 Aug 2013 01:02
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To cut a long story short we ended up doing a
clockwise circumnavigation of Ilha Grande. The winds were light
so we mostly motored, occasionally using the genoa, and had a look
at some of the many anchorages on the way. The sky was often hazy
or overcast, not so good for photography (sorry), but we managed
to take a few. After Sitio Forte our next overnight stop was at Abraao. We anchored among a few other sailing boats to the east of the village. Soon after we arrived in the afternoon the wind picked up, gusting over 30 knots for some hours. The bottom is silty mud so we had to lay out plenty of chain for good holding.  Abraao - a quiet capital where the police use a dune buggy, the only powered vehicle on the island We waited until the next day before rowing ashore and walking into town. There are no roads on Ilha Grande so the coast path is at best a rough track. The village has a few shops but is mostly pousadas (small hotels) and restaurants, strung along the beach. Even in the depth of winter it is a popular place for both walkers and sun-worshippers. The sun was shining so after shopping for fresh provisions we treated ourselves to lunch at a beachside restaurant and watched the world go by.  On our way around Ilha Grande  A lighthouse befitting the south eastrern end of the island - next stop South Africa The south side of Ilha Grande is open to the Atlantic swell and can be uncomfortable for cruising but with a drop in the swell forecast we decided to head there next. It was still choppy in places, but the scenery is lovely and the birdlife on the little island of Jorge Greco is spectacular. We spent a night at Praia Pernaioca, a beautiful isolated beach with just a few fisherman's huts ashore.  The islet of Jorge Greco; a few miles off the main island and a haven for birds . . .  . . . some of which came to inspect the intruder  Baia de Parnaoica, where the marine wardens of the biological reserve share the long beach with a few fishermen Our circumnavigation complete we then headed northwest to the little island of Sandri, a good place for snorkelling. The next day we returned to Marina Bracuhy to get ready for an inland expedition to the city of Sao Paulo.  Ilha de Sandri; there's a beach around the corner  Perhaps this one, for sale, should be called Ilha Pristina  A change in the weather looks likely |