Offshore to the Azores - 2006-06-01
Pico in the sun |
We have been busy making Chao Lay ready for her first ocean passage, all systems are now go and we are excited to be off. Vilamoura has been an interesting base!! With some difficulty finding un chilled food and provisioning for the trip. Mary arrives tomorrow and we have some pleasant summer weather forecast for the passage. No updates now for the next week.
We arrived in Terceira on the 8 June after some great sailing on route. The passage had everything with three days of wall-to-wall sunshine and force 3 beam winds, the last two days were fast and furious with 30 knots+ with Chao Lay flying on at 8 to 9 knots under a scrap of headsail. Today we are drying out and looking forward to exploring this beautiful island.
Terceira is alive with festival from bull running to processions and high spirits, all greatly enjoyed. The walking and coastal scenery is breath taking.
Graciosa remained timeless with a profusion of animal and plant life, the rural scene being totally charming. The Caldera has an eco system all of its own and a trip into the heart of the Volcano reveals boiling mud and sulphurs odours. The harbour has the beginnings of a marina that will make this stop a secure base.
Sao George and Velas provided the setting for street fiesta and a lunchtime of local stew, meats and vino tinto, along with an invitation to go whale boat racing, an afternoon siesta was essential to continue the fun. The snorkelling was magnificent with the feel of swimming in an aquarium. We left this island with some sadness and looking forward to next years visit.
Faial, the cruisers capital of the islands lived up to its reputation with a harbour full of migrating yachts escaping the fast approaching hurricane season in the Caribbean. The island had a major eruption in 1958 and the aftermath is still obvious. The caldera here was visited but its beauty and views were shrouded in a white out of mist and drizzle, something to look forward to on another visit. We sailed on to Sao Miguel in light winds and had the pleasure of seeing the sunset behind Pico at a distance of 65 miles, The Caldeira at Furness was a interesting, with its steaming springs and boiling mud. The evening celebration at Sao Jao was the climax of our fiesta season in the Azores, 3 hours of bands and dancing troups,followed by live music - so much colour.
We are now back in Terceira and sail tomorrow on route for the UK, no news for 10 days.
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