With Rainer having joined our adventures some weeks back it became clear quickly, that individual travel will turn into a group trip. It became obvious in many aspects and did set the right tenor in many aspects.
This was not only limited to drinking beer but also getting a hair cut done! I was long time overdue anyway, so in the spirit of group travel there was no chance for Rainer to escape. 😂
Fair winds…
Following our walk through Horta today, I am positively surprised as it offers not only a nice park but also all basic shops round it. I am tempted to extend my stay to explore further rather than rushing on.
Fair winds…
My first ride on Faial took me to the outskirts of Horta. I was positively impressed and strongly believe that Faial is a biking island. Besides remarkable scenery I got the chance to accompany some local riders. More to follow!
Fair winds…
It was the 15th May 2020 when this adventure started and I moved onto the boat, first time not having an end date. While we were stuck in the Baltic during the Covid time, our journey really took off June 2021.
We have sailed 12310nm and biked/hiked 6706km in 16 countries apart from the interesting people and cultures we encountered on our way.
I will have a silent celebration later tonight with a big toast to the lady having stood by me so far without exception.
The adventure continuous.
Fair winds…
PS: We joined Anna and Decius at their table, two locals from Faial, and learned a lot about the island and its people but also about nature and challenges. They also recommended us some places we MUST SEE. Very nice.
Besides some minor boat work, socialising is high on the agenda these days. Today SY Coya – an X46 yacht – arrived from Bermuda. We had a lot to exchange with skipper Torsten and his crew members Michael and Wolfram over a couple of pints.
Rainer and myself also said hallo to Susanne, skippering SY Nehaj and well known in the space of solo sailing the world. I had spoken to Susanne couple of days back on 14313kHz while still on passage. Very exiting to listen to her stories. Perhaps we get another chance.
The spirit in this marina is very special with all sailors just having completed a longer passage and very different to Mindelo/Cabo Verde, where all sailors were about to start a longer passage. While people in Mindelo were busy and more tensed, here in Horta the atmosphere is driven by party and relaxation as the voyage has been complete and general relief is governing the interactions.
Fair winds…
There was no doubt we will end up at Peter Café Sport on the first night after our arrival. It was not crowded early in the season, just many encounters with fellow sailors to share our stories, here and there spiced with some yarn. We had a wonderful evening with the crew of SY Lothlorien and will for sure end up in this historical pub more often.
After a final sip of BB-Rum from Dominica onboard, we appraised our lady for not letting us off at any point in time. Nothing broken, nothing to be fixed, no dramas. 🙏 you Hullu Poro!
Fair winds…
Land, ho! Land, ho! Land, ho!
30nm to go and Mt. Pico has just stuck his mountaintop (2351m) through a thick base layer of clouds hanging over the horizon with the rising sun coming up slowly making it a warm welcome through its pastell yellow colour. The air is fresh but not cold.
The Portuguese Flag is up under the starbord first spreader bar.
What a magnificant arrival back at the Azores Archipelago!
Fair winds…
The wind eased further during today’s afternoon hours as predicted and we are running under engine towards Horta. Not even worth to motor sail. There is no impact from the sails below 5kn TWS and on top of that, the wind direction is on the nose, first time since 14 days, luckily.
Once the windwaves were complete gone, the sea became very glassy, only left with some wide old swell still giving the surface a ponderous but lively patina. Some dolphins came along and plenty of Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish passing by. We did not spot any more whales unfortunatly.
The waning moon just joined me on my watch. Moon rise was at 3:42am UTC today and it provides a strong reflection on the water at 1 o’clock starboard side just above the waterline. Together with the million of stars under the cloudless sky it feels good to be embraced in a very peaceful ambience.
Traffic is increasing and clearly visible per AIS on the chart plotter. Some known names pop up like SY Northstar, a boat under US flag with a bunch of very friendly and pleasant guys from Israel. They anchored next to us in St. George/Bermuda and left a day earlier. SY Vahine with Skipper Jonas from Finnland has arrived in Horta with his 50 year old heritage SWAN 65, a S&S design as he told me over VHF about a week ago when passing by. Although we are still 45nm away, we can see his AIS signal also on the plotter, strange. We agreed at that time to have a beer together (or two) in Peters Café Sport.
I promised myself to jump into the water for a swim, if it is still glassy at sunrise and take a photo of the lady from a worm’s eye view. It will not be an easy one at water temperatures below 15°C and the temptation is firmly linked to duck pond scenery. Let’s see!?!
Time to enjoy the last few hours of this passage rather than writing more trivia.
Fair winds…
Soon we are closing the circle of our North Atlantic Adventure. The idea was born while sailing the Azores in summer last year. We explored Santa Maria, Sao Miguel and Terceira last year.
Our landfall is now planned in Horta/Faial, the most westerly island of the central group and with very good facilities for yachtsmen arriving after an Atlantic crossing. Historically, Horta specifically has not only become famous in the area of seafaring but also aviation, apart from the Chinese bringing the hydrangeas to the island in the 18th century, which is now spread across all islands but left Faial with its nick name of ‘Blue Island’. I have already very much enjoyed this intense vegetation along the roads last year on the bike.
The marina itself first opened in 1986 and has since been developed and provides nowadays excellent facilities for yachts. More than 1000 yachts per year pass by utilizing the more than 300 berth including anchorage and dedicated spots for bigger yachts and superyachts, a category, which is constantly growing. Numerous international and regioinal races start, stop or become home for a short stop-over in Horta.
We look forward to close the circle and explore Horta/Faial, an island, which I missed last year.
ETA, Saturday, 13th May 2023. What a lucky date!
Fair winds…
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