A 15 day crossing south from the Cape Verdes then took us across the equator, through the squalls and thunderstorms of the doldrums to the paradise island of Fernando de Noronha, 200 miles off the NE corner of Brazil. What a wonderful place to relax beautiful lush tropical scenery, white beaches, World class diving and great restaurants and bars, at cheap Brazilian prices. One of the nicest places so far on our trip. The perfect place after the long crossings from the north, we spent a happy 10 days there, before heading to the mainland.  We then spent 5 fun months cruising down the Brazilian coast, from Natal down to Rio Grande del Sur, by the border with Uruguay. Brazil had a bit of everything big modern cities and ports, remote coral islands, 5 days of parties at the Carnaval in Salvador, jungle rivers to explore, the spectacular, dangerous attractions of Rio, Caribbeanlike islands around Angra dos Reis where Charmains parents visited us from S.Africa. Then finally 7 days of gales on the notorious south coast between Florianopolis and Rio Grande.