30-Jan-2006 -- Today noon we left Rio de Janeiro, and now we are bound for Santos, another major Brazilian port. On my many voyages between Rio de Janeiro and Santos, so far I could never manage to cross 24S 45W during plain daylight. This evening at 19:45, however, it was just sufficient light to take some pictures.

The point is located 24 km WSW of Ponta (Cape) do Boi on Ilha de São Sebastião. This island is the closest land to the Confluence, and can be seen in direction WNW. São Sebastião is separated from the mainland by a very narrow channel (Canal de São Sebastião). On this channel lies a terminal port for ocean tankers, which call to transship part of her cargo in order to reduce draught sufficiently to enter the port of Santos, about 90 km West. The island is mountainous and completely covered with dense forest, rising steeply from the sea.

Visibility close to São Sebastião is not often very good. This suggests streams of cold water in this locality, deriving from a north extension of the cold Falkland current with some upwelling of colder water. Freshets off the adjacent mountains also reduce inshore water temperatures and increase the likelihood of sea fog.

Visibility to Northwest and North is fairly better.

There are several small islands and islets in the area, of which Ilha dos Búzios and Ilha da Vitória are the largest ones. Ilha da Vitória has two distinctive hills, the taller being 233 metres high.

In the ocean, but with a view of land.