Likely Story: Joao Passoa, Cabedelo, Jacare Info

When we first heard about this place we couldn't find much information on it besides the French marina. I'm not sure if many other sailors read this blog but it might be handy if they do. We searched for Joao Passoa which is the city nearby Cabedelo which is the town and main port at the river entrance and Jacare is the fishermans village 5 miles upstream were the yachts hang out.

The Navionics charts we use were pretty acurate all the way and the channel is well marked into the entrance of main harbour although one starboard maker (second in) was missing a light, once inside at night I think best maybe to anchor in designated quarantine anchorage area marked on the chart and head up the river at daylight although like I say our charts were acurate and the tide range is over 2m.

The anchorage (7*2.148's 34*51.547'w) at Jacare village is very nice, quiet (except from 5-7pm with tourist boats and music!) and most importantly very safe. Everyone super friendly. If you choose to go into marina there are a few options. Jacare Marina is run by a French guy named Nicholas email contact@marina-jacare-village.com. Its pretty good and very French. It has wifi, power, water laundry, restaurant ect and you can also dry your boat out alongside poles on wharf to do repairs although you will be knee deep in mud. You pick up a stern line and go bow in so do have to climb over your bow to get onto the jetty which isn't that great for older people. They quoted us on emails a lot more than when we arrived and heard what other people were paying which was strange but maybe a mistake??I think the price is about US100$ a week?? They have room for about 50 boats I would say with over 3 metres of water like the rest of the place and anchorage. You can also anchor and use there facilities and pay US$35 a week.

Then there is another Marina next door owned by a very friendly German fella Peter, he has a very nice pontoon with room for at least a dozen or more boats. He has small finger jetties to get on and off and also has wifi, he quoted us a 1000 $Brazilian a month if we left it there for a couple of months.

Then there is the yacht club were we are. They don't normally have foreign boats on their jetty but was just Julie's good looks and our circumstances and also helped that she speaks Portuguese! They are all really super friendly and I'm sure if you ask management first they will let you use there jetty to leave your dinghy when going ashore.

Accross the other side there is a very nice young Brazilian couple called Luciano and Concita email ribeiraadventureclub@hotmail.com They have set up a little marina. They are very isolated which if you like that it's fine but it is about a 10 minute boat ride here to town. A great place to leave the boat though for inland travel. He quoted us $200US a month. Very basic pontoons that holds about 6 boats but I would be happy to leave Sunflower there no worries.

Like I say though the anchorage is great and you get the breeze and no mosquitoes! We left Sunflower alone for 3 days and I think a little longer would also be fine. Jacare Marina also have a few swing moorings but not sure how much they are. Best to come and drop your anchor and see for yourself the place before booking anything in advace I reckon.

There is also a Fella there called Brian, he arrived on a yacht flat broke from the UK 40 odd years ago and has set up a boat yard. He has pretty well retired now but still has a few guys working for him and hauls a few smaller yachts out on a jinker trailer and does or can organise repairs and help you out with most things you could need, he is a real gentleman. You will see his yard just past the yacht club.

Checking in is very casual, you could probably wait a week and they won't bother you at all. First go online to www.edbv.receita.fazenda.gov.br and fill in the forms for customs. Then you can walk for half an hour or catch a taxi to the immigration which is actually called Policia Federal. It's up the road, accross the train tracks to the main highway turn left and the first proper turn on the right you will see a sign for it and it's just there. Get there by 10am if possible. Customs and Port Captain close at 1pm but don't take that long so if you have time go if not wait till the next day. On the highway there are heaps of buses heading north to Cabedelo so just wave one down and get off when the bus stops and actually shuts down and that's the last stop and the Customs are just there through a security check point gate, it's called Receita Federal and the Port captain just accross the road, you will see it once you are there. It is all free and they speak reasonable English. Easy;)

The Yacht club is trying to organise for the Immigration and Customs to come Tuesdays and Thursdays to the club and do formalities which would be great so maybe in the near future that might be happening so might pay to ask around first.

The highway you walk to from the anchorage you will find 3 supermarkets, pharmacy, bakery, fuel station ect and an alright beach for swimming.

Hope this helps :)