Ilhabela sailing (vela) guide: the São Sebastião Channel
Ilhabela is Brazil's Capital Nacional da Vela, a title it owes to the winds and currents of the São Sebastião Channel. Its big sailing week is in July, and our sources give no December to February wind figures.
Ilhabela is a known sailing venue, but our sources do not show it as a December to February wind spot. It is Brazil’s Capital Nacional da Vela, a title it owes to the winds and currents of the São Sebastião Channel, and its main regatta is in July. If you are in São Paulo state in summer, Ilhabela sailing is worth a look; check a local forecast before you plan a trip around the wind.
Facts as of November 2026, from the sources listed at the end of this page.
Why is Ilhabela the capital of vela in Brazil?
A federal law in 2011 gave Ilhabela the title Capital Nacional da Vela, the national sailing capital. Correio Braziliense says the reason is the São Sebastião Channel, the stretch of water between the island and the mainland, and its winds and currents.
Where do you sail at Ilhabela?
In the São Sebastião Channel, between Ilhabela and the mainland. This is the water behind the national sailing title. Wikipedia notes that the island’s ocean-facing beaches have stronger waves, so expect rougher water if you sail round to the open side. The sailing page covers what Waterspeed records on a race or a cruise.
When is Ilhabela Sailing Week?
The Semana Internacional de Vela de Ilhabela, Ilhabela’s international sailing week, has been held every July since 1973. That is outside the December to February window, so a summer visit will not coincide with it.
Is Ilhabela windy from December to February?
We could not find wind figures for those months. None of the sources for this page gives a season, a wind speed or a direction for December to February. Treat the channel as a sailing area whose winds and currents are well known, not as a spot with a proven summer wind season, and look at a forecast for the channel before you go.
How do you get there?
Ilhabela is reachable only by ferry from São Sebastião. The crossing takes about 15 minutes, but Correio Braziliense reports ferry queues of more than four hours in peak season, so travel early or outside weekends if you can. Ilhabela is about 205 to 210 km from São Paulo.
If you want a summer spot with sourced wind, Florianópolis has a flat lagoon with sailing, kitesurf and SUP, and an afternoon thermal from October to March. Waterspeed tracks speed, distance and course for sailing wherever you go out.
How windy is Ilhabela from December to February?
Share of days with at least three consecutive daylight hours at 11 knots (4 Beaufort) or more, over the last 10 southern summers (2015/16 to 2024/25).
| December | January | February | Mean daylight wind | Most common direction | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ilhabela | 29% | 18% | 16% | 7.6 kn | E |
Our calculation from NASA POWER hourly wind at 10 m (MERRA-2 model), 09:00 to 18:00 local solar time. The model grid is about 50 km wide, so it smooths out local sea breezes and gusts: use these figures to compare spots and months, and check a local forecast before you go.
Where do people ride at Ilhabela right now?
Explore+ in the Waterspeed web app shows recent sessions on a map, with sport and top speed, so you can see which spots are working before you go. Open Explore+. To record your own sessions, Waterspeed runs on iPhone, Android, Apple Watch and Wear OS, and syncs Garmin, COROS and Suunto.
FAQ
Why is Ilhabela called the sailing capital of Brazil?
A 2011 federal law named it Capital Nacional da Vela, citing the winds and currents of the São Sebastião Channel.
When is Ilhabela Sailing Week?
The Semana Internacional de Vela de Ilhabela takes place every July, and has done since 1973.
How do you get to Ilhabela?
Only by ferry from São Sebastião, a 15-minute crossing. Ilhabela is about 205 to 210 km from São Paulo.
