Day Sails in Rio

There are many options for day sails in Rio, in fact, we don’t really have a rigid plan for our day trips. The idea is to kick back and have a pleasant and relaxing day. What we do depends on the weather, the winds and your mood. When you arrive at the boat, we can go through the choices and decide what we are going to do for the day, or, if you have something specific in mind, just tell us and we will try our best to accommodate you.

We set sail from the Marina da Gloria located close to downtown Rio. From there we will head out of the Guanabara Bay where you get a great view of the city as well as of Sugarloaf, Corcovado and the neighboring city of Niterói. Its enjoyable to sail across the bay a few times observing the many historical and cultural attractions that can be seen along the way.

We then generally tack out towards the Cagarras Islands sailing down Copacabana and Ipanema beach before turning south towards the newly founded ecological reserve. The Cargarras archipelago is a great place to throw anchor and go for a swim. The water tends to be much clearer than at the near by beaches and its view of the city is unmatched. During the week it is still common to be one of the only boats out there and it’s a lovely place to place to pass the afternoon having lunch and soaking up some sun. If you are lucky you might even get to swim with the dolphin that are known to spend time at the islands.

There is also the option of sailing out to the ocean beaches of Niterói. Towards the end of Itaípu beach there are lots of animated fish restaurants that will bring assorted fish and shrimp dishes directly to the boat or ferry you in for lunch and a capirinha at the tables they setup in the sand. If you are looking to mix a sail, some beach and a great meal this is a good option.

If the seas are too big or you are looking for something different we can also stay inside the bay and sail north towards the island of Paquetá. The trip is definitely more urban but it is still interesting as you pass downtown Rio, underneath the Rio – Niteroi bridge and then past the many anchored tankers in that lay the middle of the bay. The attitude changes completely once you get to the island, which is very relaxed and charming with simple restaurants and only foot, horse and buggies or bicycles for means of transportation.

We offer both full day (6-7 hours) and half day sails (3-4 hours). The options of sailing to Cagarras, Itaipu or Paquetá generally take up a full day. If you are short on time or are just looking an afternoon sail around the bay while enjoying Rio’s scenic sunsets a half day sail should be sufficient.

We will take care of fueling and equipping the boat as well as stocking her with plenty of ice and water. Snacks and additional beverages are NOT INCLUDED. After many years chartering the Ancorauê we have realized that we will never be able to guess everyone’s specific tastes and needs and its just easier and more efficient for you to stop by the supermarket on your way to the boat to pick up what you will want to consume along the way. Contact us about pricing and availability.

A word about sailing in Rio. The winds in the area are quite funky…sometimes we have a great exciting sail and sometimes we simply have to motor around and try to find the wind. Usually in the mornings we have calms but generally the wind picks up in the afternoon. So, if people promise to take you “sailing” in Rio, you may very well be motoring or for the pedantic, will be sitting in the same place for hours with the sails up. Flexibility is the word of the day.

Thank You and Welcome Aboard!