Somehow we managed to stay in Joao Pessoa for over three weeks. A glimpse into how easy it is to get stuck while travelling by boat. We decided it was time to move on. After a wonderful time on the peaceful river we got the boat ready for the next leg.

The first stop was Pipa, a small beachside town just south of Natal. We spent the time relaxing on the beach drinking ice cold coconuts and beers while the boys did plenty of surfing. Pipa became a popular local surf spot in the 70's with its pristine beaches and numerous breaks. Although it has grown somewhat since then, with its bustling tourism and crowded beach bars, it is still spilling with charm. Pipa is well worth a visit if you ever happen to find yourself in the North East of Brazil and is only a two hour bus ride from Natal. Visit Pipa On Line for more info.

The relatively unprotected bay made for some more than bumpy anchoring and adventurous tender rides . So after two awesome days of taking it easy the rolling around become enough and it was time to set sail. We arrived in Fortaleza yesterday morning and we will be staying for about two days. This will be our last Brazilian stop so we'll be stocking up for a lengthy 2 week sail to Trinidad. Bring on the Caribbean!!!

Viv

First published on offtheline.co.za

Two days into our Atlantic crossing Ruf caught the first fish of the trip! We had to battle it out with a gutsy seal first though – he claimed the tuna just as Ruf started reeling it in. He was rather chuffed with “his” catch and took joy in parading it in front of us. After a lot of shouting and banging and blowing of fog horns we managed to bring it in close enough to the boat to pry our tuna out of the seal’s jaws. He was rather upset with us but it was ours first!
There is nothing quite like enjoying sashimi and tuna steaks on the braai that you caught and prepared yourself. We want to say a BIG thank you to Bernard & Hilda for their generous gift of fishing gear, as well as Bernard’s expert fishing tips.

Kate

First published on offtheline.co.za