[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Eu-Hj2O2wFo/VGSj0BL_qpI/AAAAAAAAins/XHLhrvRTe4k/s144-c-o/IMG_0592.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage20Brazil3SaoLuisToNatal#6081165510924282514″ caption=”Flavia, Director of the Yacht Club in Fortaleza. Thanks for helping me!” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0592.JPG” ]

Highlights: Reached civilization again!
Lowlights: Stressful high wind paddle
Launch: Low rolling surf and some reef break
Landing: Sheltered beach at Yacht Club
Pos: here
Loc: Fortaleza
Acc: Polyana’s house
Dist: 55,6 km
Start: 4:50 End: 13:55

The only disadvantage of this camp between the fishing boats was the bit of a slope downhill, besides that, all quiet and safe. I was up with the first fishermen also launching, into quite some wind all day, maybe 18-20 knots, plus the according high sea. As I didn’t find many yummy things to eat anymore in my bag, and my appetite is low due to the heat anyway, I felt a bit dizzy in the ups and down water, had to wet my head a couple of times to stay awake and alert. You are getting quite sick of huge walls of water piling up behind your right shoulder,although breakers was rare today and if they did it was not too bad. But who knows if it catches you wrong? You have to be constantly on the watch, and the rushing water noise here and there wrecks your nerves.

The rounding of Fortaleza’s headland seemed to be endless with two long jutting out sea walls to paddle around before eventually the water got calm, but the wind was in my face the last section. Two tug boats were just approaching a large ship on a jetty to move it out to sea again which I paddled past quite close, thank goodness they were not ready yet.

I tried to make out the yacht club where I wanted to land, the position I had was slightly off into the working boats area. But this inviting small beach and hotel-looking like building must be the place? Not much anchoring yachts to see though, just three smaller sailing boats. The rest I eventually spotted on land, according to theft on the floating objects the owners have to take them into some kind of double-story garage after every time they used them. Well…

I was greeted and welcomed by Pericles, an adventure racer friend of Christian Fuchs, and Flavia, the Director of the Yacht Club. Nice to be expected! Thanks for letting me use your facilities, to invite me on a yummy lunch and to look after my kayak once I am staying in town! Pericles would have been happy to host me also, but as he had to leave town in two days, we opted for my other contact Polyana, the wife of the German paddler Oliver Schwan, being back to her home in Brazil for some studies. Polyana speaks German and English very well, and is living with her big family in a large house with five dogs. Thanks for looking after me!

My laptop screen decided to work again tonight, but I still will have to check it up tomorrow. I wouldn’t like the same amount of issues I had once with the old one…