Location: 22° 39S, 41° 28W
Monday, 03.03.2008

The Schooner Maggie B was at 22° 39S, 41° 28W at noon on March 3rd. We have come 1453 NM from Buenos Aires, Salvador is 605 NM away and Antigua 2651. We are motoring in light or no wind, on a calm sea with only residual rollers. The sky is clear but with cumulus buildups over the land to our west. We passed Cabo Frio at dawn this morning and are heading NE, more or less straight for Salvador.

Commanders Weather (see full report on the web site) says that “we are getting in the part of the world where not much [meteorologically] goes on.”

The coast from Rio to Salvador contains dozens of lovely beach resorts and our tough job is to choose where and when to stop. We have already passes Buzios, the beach resort made famous by none other than Brigitte Bardot. Ahead lie Porto Seguro, the site of the first Portuguese landfall in the 16th Century; Ilheus, the hometown of Jorge Amado, Brazil’s best known novelist; Caravelas; Barra Grande; Itacare; Valencia; and many more wonderful stops.

Our goal now is some islands that make up the Parque Nacional Marinho de Abrolhos, Brazil’s first national marine park. It is about half way between our current position and Salvador. The name comes from the sailor’s warning “abre os olhos” (open your eyes). The five island archipelago was visited by Darwin in the HMS Beagle in 1832, and is tightly protected by the Federal Government. We should be there about noon on the 5th, and hope to have a day’s snorkeling.

About noon today we stopped for a swim in mid-ocean. Curtis was super eager and jumped in before the boat was stopped, which he quickly found to be a mistake. He was shocked how fast he was left behind and set a new World’s Record in the 100 meter freestyle.

This morning’s sunrise was heightened by having Venus and Mars rise close together just before the dawn.

We are catching fish again, and got a nice two foot Bonito first and then a lovely two foot Mahi Mahi. Dinner will be delicious!

All is well.