eFoil regulations & spots in Brazil

Brazil regulates eFoils under the Marinha do Brasil through the Diretoria de Portos e Costas (DPC). There is no eFoil-specific norm; powered watercraft fall under NORMAM-212/DPC (motos aquáticas / motonáutica, updated 2024) for personal watercraft and NORMAM-301/DPC (formerly NORMAM-03) for recreational amador navigation. Conductors must hold a Carteira de Habilitação de Amador, typically the Motonauta (MTA) category, with a minimum age of 18, medical certificate, and a 3-hour nautical training course. Powered craft must be registered with the local Capitania dos Portos within 15 days of purchase. A DPC-approved life jacket (Class II, III or V) is mandatory for the conductor and any passenger, the safety lanyard must be attached to the wrist, and operation under the influence of alcohol is forbidden.

Navigation with motos aquáticas (and by extension powered foilboards) is permitted only beyond 200 metres from the shoreline (faixa de praia), measured from the surf line in marine, lacustrine, or fluvial waters. Approach and departure must be perpendicular to shore at a maximum of 3 knots (~5 km/h). Operation is prohibited within 200 m of military installations, 500 m of oil/gas platforms, and near port access channels, anchorages, hydroelectric, thermoelectric, and nuclear facilities. Children under 7 may not be carried; ages 7–12 only with guardian authorization and reduced speed.

The amateur licence is valid 10 years (5 years for conductors 65+). Localized rules issued by the Capitanias dos Portos (CPRJ-Rio, CPSP-São Paulo/Santos, CPSC-Santa Catarina, CPBA-Bahia, CPPE-Pernambuco) may further restrict zones, hours, and seasonal access (Operação Verão). Marine Protected Areas including Fernando de Noronha (ICMBio) and Parque Nacional Marinho dos Abrolhos heavily restrict or prohibit motorized watercraft. eFoils are not named explicitly in current Brazilian statutes; SEMAR and Capitanías generally treat them analogously to motos acuáticas / embarcaciones menores recreativas.

Violations may result in fines, 120-day suspension of the amador licence (e.g., for operation under influence), licence cancellation for repeat offenses, and apprehension of the watercraft by the Capitania dos Portos. Domestic eFoil manufacturers such as Rise operate within this framework. Operators should always confirm rules with the local Capitania dos Portos before launch, as Operação Verão (summer operation) frequently introduces additional restrictions in Rio, São Paulo and Santa Catarina.