Sailing from Brazil to Portugal
May 22, 2025 · 12 min · 2K views
What this video covers
Andre M Homem de Mello sailed from Ilhabela, Brazil, to Lisbon, Portugal, in 1999 to participate in the Brasil 500 Anos commemorative regatta.0:13 Departing on May 31, he sought to gain offshore experience for a planned solo circumnavigation.3:20 Lacking advanced meteorological knowledge, he struggled with persistent headwinds along the Brazilian coast, forcing him to tack frequently.4:45 After 11 days and a severe storm near Salvador with 35- to 40-knot winds, a failed alternator necessitated a stop in Recife for repairs.5:24 He later crossed the Intertropical Convergence Zone, experiencing calm seas punctuated by occasional squalls.6:05 While sailing 600 miles off the African coast, he encountered the Harmattan, a desert wind that coated the boat’s deck and rigging in fine sand.7:20 After 29 days at sea, he stopped in the Canary Islands for tourism and maintenance before completing the final leg to Lagos and then Lisbon.7:58 He arrived at the mouth of the Tagus River to join the tall ship Cisne Branco for the regatta.11:06
More from Andre M Homem de Mello
From Andre M Homem de Mello — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.