Brazil’s Iconic VIBE – Volta de Ilhabela Draws 550 Athletes for a Landmark Edition

On December 5 and 6, the 9th edition of VIBE, the Volta de Ilhabela 90K will bring together hundreds of paddlers for one of Brazil’s most iconic ocean challenges. Created in 2016 by Marcos Möller, VIBE has grown from a local passion project into one of the country’s most anticipated endurance races, attracting athletes from across Brazil and beyond. The 90-kilometre circumnavigation of Ilhabela—Brazil’s most athletic island—is completed entirely in relay format and has already seen thousands of competitors over eight editions. This year sets a new record, bringing together 550 athletes across 51 teams and a full spectrum of crafts: V6/OC6, V3, surfski singles and doubles, plus OC1 and V1. I will also be taking part in the OC6 category with a men’s team from Fortaleza, bringing a firsthand perspective to the experience. Throughout the weekend, you’ll be able to follow the challenge on Instagram and Facebook with live interviews, behind-the-scenes insights, and real-time updates. In this interview, founder Marcos Möller reflects on the origins, spirit, and unique demands that have made VIBE a standout event in the ocean paddling world.

Marcos, can you tell us about your personal background and your role within the organization of the VIBE – Volta de Ilhabela?

Oi Mathieu! My background is deeply rooted in the ocean and the nautical world. I spent five years sailing around the globe, an experience that shaped my understanding of endurance, adventure, and ocean culture. Back in Brazil, I dedicated myself to Marina Porto Ilhabela, the marina owned by my family and one of the island’s most traditional nautical landmarks.

I am also the founder of VIBE – Volta de Ilhabela, and the race is proudly hosted inside Marina Porto. Within the marina, we also run Paddle Club Ilhabela, our own paddling club, which strengthens the local paddling community and contributes to the sport’s development on the island. Since the early editions of the event, Gustavo Nogueira has joined as a partner. Gustavo is a highly experienced and respected sports event manager, and his contribution has been essential for the professionalization, structuring, and expansion of VIBE. His expertise elevated the race to a new level of quality and operational excellence.

For me, creating VIBE was the natural extension of everything that shaped my life: the sea, the marina, the paddling culture, and the environment in which I grew up. Today, alongside Gustavo, I help refine the event’s concept and ensure that its spirit — a blend of challenge, aloha vibe, friendship, and community — remains at the heart of the experience.

For those who don’t know the event yet, how would you describe the concept behind VIBE – Volta de Ilhabela and what makes it unique in the paddling world?

VIBE is an endurance relay race that circles the entire island of Ilhabela on a 90 km course, completing the full circumference of the island — a route that is as breathtakingly beautiful as it is physically demanding.

Ilhabela is the largest oceanic island in Brazil, and an impressive 88% of its territory is preserved as untouched Atlantic Forest, offering the race a rare and spectacular natural backdrop. Along those 90 km, teams experience an extraordinary variety of landscapes and ocean conditions, including protected waters in the channel, wild open-ocean stretches, downwind sections, surf, rainforest-covered cliffs, remote beaches, and a fully preserved tropical coastline.

What makes VIBE truly unique is the combination of a long, tough, high-intensity relay format, one of the most beautiful and preserved coastlines in the country, and a strong aloha vibe where competition and camaraderie blend naturally. Although the course is demanding, VIBE is also about paddling among friends, sharing positive energy, and enjoying the privilege of circumnavigating an island that remains largely untouched. Teams push their limits all day, embrace the challenges, and celebrate the beauty that surrounds them.

When the race ends, the VIBE continues with a big celebration at the marina, complete with live music, a band, dancing, and a large gathering of paddlers. It’s a moment where athletes from all teams interact, celebrate, laugh, and connect — hard racing on the water, and pure joy on land.

What is the origin story of the race? How did it begin, and how has VIBE evolved over the years?

The race was born in 2016 from a combination of personal history, ocean culture, and family inspiration. A key influence was my sister, Andrea Möller, a Brazilian paddler who lives in Hawaii and is a highly accomplished athlete with multiple titles. Seeing her dedication and experiencing Hawaiian paddling culture inspired us to create something in Brazil that carried the same spirit of endurance, respect for the ocean, and ohana. We wanted a race that showcased Ilhabela’s coastline in all its raw beauty while pushing athletes to their limits.

Over the years, VIBE has grown in professionalism, logistics, and visibility, but it has always preserved its essence: a challenging circumnavigation in a setting that celebrates nature, friendship, and ocean life.

Volta de Ilhabela is a relay-only event. Why choose an all-relay format, and what sporting values does it highlight?

The relay format was a deliberate choice. Circumnavigating the island is long and demanding, and relay racing allows teams to maintain intensity, manage fatigue, and push harder collectively. This format highlights key sporting values such as teamwork and trust, coordination and timing, strategy, shared resilience, and collective commitment. No one wins VIBE alone. The team succeeds through harmony, efficiency, strategy, and the ability to push — and recover — together. It naturally reinforces the true spirit of outrigger paddling.

Ilhabela is often described as a paradise for ocean sports. What makes the island such a special location for hosting a race like VIBE?

Ilhabela offers a rare combination of raw, preserved nature and varied ocean conditions. Along the circumnavigation route, paddlers encounter flat, protected water, exposed open-ocean stretches, downwind opportunities, surf zones, technical side chop, cliffs covered in dense rainforest, remote beaches, and constantly shifting wind patterns. The island’s natural diversity, preserved ecosystems, and dramatic coastline create an unparalleled stage for an ocean endurance race.

What types of wind and sea conditions can paddlers typically expect in Ilhabela, and what is forecast for race day?

As an island, Ilhabela presents very dynamic conditions. The channel side is usually more protected, while the open-ocean side brings wind, swell, and technical paddling. Winds commonly come from the northeast, east, or southeast, and conditions can shift rapidly throughout the day. Forecasts only become reliable a few days before the race, but athletes know they must be ready for everything — and that unpredictability is part of what makes the race so exciting.

Ilhabela is also known as a strong paddling hub in Brazil. Why do so many top athletes, coaches, and clubs come from the island?

A large part of this strength comes from the geography and natural conditions of Ilhabela. The island functions like a natural training laboratory, offering flat waters, open ocean, surf, downwind conditions, strong currents, and rapidly changing winds and sea states. This variety produces highly adaptable, technically refined, and resilient paddlers. My sister, Andrea Möller, is the greatest example. She grew up paddling here before becoming one of the most accomplished outrigger athletes in Hawaii and internationally. Ilhabela naturally shapes complete ocean athletes.

Is VIBE open to international teams? And how accessible is canoe rental or equipment sourcing on the island?

Yes — VIBE is absolutely open to international teams, and interest grows every year. Ilhabela is safe, welcoming, and offers the perfect blend of challenge and natural beauty for visiting paddlers. Equipment is readily accessible. The outrigger community between São Paulo and Rio is strong, and many canoes are available for rental.

The organization, together with Marina Porto Ilhabela, assists foreign crews with canoe rentals, logistics support, travel guidance, accommodation recommendations, and general assistance throughout their stay. Our goal is to ensure that international paddlers feel at home and experience the best of Brazil’s ocean paddling culture.

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For more information on VIBE:
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Youtube @vibe90km
Facebook: www.facebook.com/vibeilhabela