The Semana Internacional de Vela de Ilhabela (SIVI) takes place every July and is the largest offshore sailing regatta in Latin America. The event typically runs for about ten days and draws several hundred boats from Brazil and abroad, competing in multiple classes across courses that loop around the offshore islands of Alcatrazes and Búzios. The races are run by the Yacht Club Ilhabela on the waterfront of the Vila quarter, and spectators can watch the fleet depart each morning from the shore.
Outside the race itself, the Semana turns the whole western waterfront into a festival. Sponsor pavilions, live music, and food stalls line the seafront through the evenings, and the bars and restaurants around the square stay busy well into the night. Accommodation fills up months in advance during Semana week — if you plan to visit at this time, book early and expect higher prices. For sailors looking to participate, registration usually opens several months before the event; check the official SIVI website for the current year's dates and class requirements.