Novembre 2010 Salvador Bahia / Mar del Plata
On our journey towards the south we will make the most of the Brazilian current which moves at the speed of 1 or 2 knots South West, as well as the winds which come mainly from the North East. Further south and closer to the coast we will have to take into account the Faulklands current which moves Northwards. This is the reason why, when travelling large distances to the south, it is better to navigate a long distance away from the Coast.
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The infrastructure in the ports improves the further south we go. The best ports are between Rio de Janeiro and Santos. The port of Sao Sebastián is also there and is one of the stops for the participants of the Volvo Ocean Race.
On the coast of Brasil, from Rio de Janeiro to Rio de la Plata, the winds are variable according to the season. From October to April it often blows from the NE.
In the South Atlantic there are very few navigational routes and hardly any boats in sight. Very few ships sail south towards Patagonia, Tierra de Fuego and the Antarctic due to the cold, ice and the risk of heavy storms.
Once at Rio de la Plata, between the months of September and March, the wind often blows from the East. If it comes into contact with wind from the North the weather is usually good but we have to take into account that the wind from the north carries warm air and as a consequence it can turn into a very strong wind called Pampero.
Pampero is the passage of a cold front (cold wind with blasts) and it comes from the Antarctic which blows from the south to the southeast from the Argentinian Pampas and Uruguay. Generally it is produced by the passing of a cold front, often it is accompanied by storm fronts and a sudden drop in temperature. It is referred to as “Humid Pampero” when it produces rain, “Dirty Pampero” when it is accompanied by dust storms and there has been no rain and finally “Clean Pampero” when the rain cleanses the wind of dust. Three phases can describe the Pampero wind:
1. Stage prior to the Pampero:
The Northern wind begins to blow for hours or days, warm, the temperature and humidity increase steadily. We can call this Pre Pampero.
2. Approach and Passing of Pampero.
The temperatures and levels of humidity are reaching maximum, the North wind changes and now comes from the SW or S.
3. Post Pampero stage:
The Pampero wind blows with varying intensity.
Further south, it is more than likely that we will be able to see horizontal banks of storm clouds. These storms from the SW are very strong but do not last longer than 10 hours. They are more frequent between the months of September and December and are accompanied by high pressure and cold air.
The really dangerous wind is the Sudestada which is produced by a sudden change in direction towards the SE, saturating the polar air masses with ocean humidity thus creating heavy rainfall as well as dangerous waves in coastal areas.
It blows with a windspeed of 40 to 50 knots and usually lasts 3 to 7 days. The Sudestada is common between the months of June and October in the area of Rio de la Plata and on the coast between the latitudes of 31ºS and 40ºS and goes out to open sea at 48ºW.
After these strong winds, the calm arrives and immediately after the wind usually tends to blow again from the S.E.
Everything in the world flows, without delay.
You will not enter the same river twice. Here in love´s hands, you go mad ¡submerging in the Magic of Now!
Heráclito de Efeso (544 adC - 484 adC)