Velas to Angra

Hi everyone,

Yesterday we day-sailed from Velas on Sao Jorge island to Angra do Heroismo on Terceira island.  It was 51nm by the route but sadly the wind was on the nose between the islands.  Our track and log agreed on 65nm for the passage.

Zen Again and Photon Infinity in Angra
(guess who won that race!)

We departed before dawn.  Leaving the marina was an adventure since the channels between pontoons are narrow.  Three of the cruise boats were on the same pontoon and had to leave in sequence to make room for the next to get out.  Once out we had a nice sail along the south coast of Sao Jorge in the NE 12G20 breeze on a flat sea.

Here are the usual plots...

Track

Arrival

Graphs

Seas were confused as we passed the E cape - very sloppy.  We choose to stand on to the ESE, prompting several crews on other cruise boats to wonder if we were heading for Sao Miguel, the next island on our cruise after Terceira.  But doing so kept us out of the lee of Terceira which caused some of the boats to motor much of the way there.  We ended up motoring for the last 6nm only.

It was a wet passage between the islands with Zen Again burying her bow regularly.  We had to keep her 'full & by' - in footing vice pointing mode - for her to punch through the seas.  Hence the nasty tacking angles.

Sailing along the S coast of Sao Jorge

Terceira ahead, with birds

Near-sunset view of SW coast of Terceira

Approaching Angra Port

Approaching our pen, with many line handlers waiting

So we were tail-end charlie into Angra, but had only motored for two hours.  Our average speed (and SoG) was 5 knots - pretty good for us.  We suspect Photon Infinity sailed all the way averaging 7 knots - the benefit of 40 years technology advancement in racy boats.  Good effort nonetheless!

Looking forward to exploring Terceira with the OCC cruisers, assisted by OCC PO Siggi.

Sao Jorge

Hi everyone,

We spent four nights in the marina at Velas on the island of Sao Jorge.  The marina is spectacularly situated under a tall cliff, like many Azores and Canaries marinas.  Our time there was busy with the other crews on the OCC Macaronesia Cruise.

View over Velas

On Saturday we rewatered, reprovisioned and did various boat jobs.  In the afternoon we swam at the town 'beach' with the crews of sv Metzi and sv Photon Infinity.  The beach is more of a rock pool, with an amazing variety of fish.

Pretty Park

Aussie Bar!

Church

Sao Jorge = St George, hence the dragon!

On Sunday we all took a taxi to the W end of the island and walked several kilometres to the cape.  Spectacular scenery.

Lighthouse at the cape

Long walk!

On Monday we all took a half day tour of the island.  Very scenic and interesting.

A church mostly destroyed by a lava flow

With the sv Metzi crew

OCC cruise group

A Faja
(flat coastal area formed by rock or lava flows)

Coastal view showing one Faja

Another church

Windmill with 'tiller'

On Sunday evening we had dinner at the Club Naval restaurant.  A fun evening terminated by the need to rise before dawn on Monday for a long day sail to Angra on Terceira island.

Thanks to Linda for organising the OCC cruise overall and our stays in Horta and Velas!

Horta to Velas

Hi everyone,

Our 22 nm passage from Horta on Faial island to Velas on Sao Jorge was another half sail & half motor trip.  We were in company with the OCC Macaronesia Cruise in Company fleet.

Sao Jorge ahead

Here are the usual plots...

Track

Arrival

Graphs

We had a very nice broad reach up the channel between Faial and Pico.  We even gybed N in an attempt to stay out of Pico's lee for a little longer.  But ultimately there was no escape and we motored for the final hour after losing steerage way.

Farewell Horta!

Velas ahead

Entering the port

Entering the marina

The marina

Twas a nice day passage.  Looking forward to exploring Sao Jorge!