Anyone done the trip from Brazil up North?

johnkebab

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This is a bit of trick question (sorry). Some people are turning up here tomorrow, and are going to leave French Guiana heading South with the aim of reaching the town of Manaus on the Amazon, the only problem (in my opinion) is that they are going to do it in an 18ft open top fishing boat (Angler 180f to be precise), now the river bit(s) I'm sure will be OK, it's the sea bit that concerns me - so has anyone on here done this trip in reverse, if so, what can you tell me about the conditions you encountered, are these people nuts or what?

There are 2 of them, a couple, not lots of experience on boats, I'm going to try and find out a bit more tomorrow but my gut says it's a bit insane.....
 

ChrisE

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When we crossed the mouth of the Amazon it was almost flat calm, however if the weather follows its usual pattern off that bit of NE Brazil there will be SE trades blowing at about 10-15 knots. If they're heading into that it will be a bit bouncy. You'll be aware of the squalls that come through that neck of the woods, I'm sure.

We thought of that trip but were put off by the tales of the bore that runs up the river, I hope that your friends know about that.....
 

Roberto

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coming from Guyana, they would probably take the channels north oh Marajo island, passing in front of Macapa town: as Chris says it is worth investigating about the tidal bore called "pororoca" (a search on youtube gives a few frightening videos, just look what happens to the river banks and imagine being at anchor there), brazilian directions say it goes up the river at spring tides and only exists where depth are under 7m, which is the case in several places on the north channel

the river has currently just passed its full height and the level is slowly dropping, it leaves some time as pororoca are usually common at spring tides during october/november, when the river level is at its lowest



otherwise, leaving Marajo island to starboard while going SE , through mosqueiro, belem and then furo de breves would cut off all the pororoca area (no tidal bore risk), but it would be considerably longer



[edit] I think this may not be clear enough and possibly misleading:
the two conditions cited by the instructions are shallow waters (less than 7m) and spring tides.

obviously low depths may be found when the river is low (oct nov), or in general where charted waters are shallow, in this case the bore can happen also at spring during other months


anyway, tidal bore waves move at 10/15kt, so if your friends have a motorboat they might as well enjoy the show /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 

AndrewB

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Trust your gut.

I sailed north from the Amazon to Guyana in April-May last year. The weather is mostly reliable, but there are plenty of thunderstorms with associated line squalls which would be a serious challenge for a small open boat. It is telling that you see very few local fishermen in open water in the Cape Orange region.

Going the 'wrong' way is a real headbasher against the strong Guinea current and the easterly trade winds. I think an experienced crew might manage to get an 18' open boat around, but it would be tough. Perhaps they can keep close inshore, but its shallow with uncharted mangrove swamps all the way.

I sailed a fair way up the Amazon. Its OK but not the safest of places, very glad of the ability to lock myself in some nights. As others say the entrances have very strong tide streams and can be really rough.

Finally, this whole proposed run is in a very isolated area. If they get engine trouble (for example) they could be a 100 miles from the nearest radio-telephone, let alone finding someone to come and help.

Frankly, its foolish to take this on. Suggest they stick to the Iles du Salut, that would be a nice trip for their boat.
 
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