Angra to Ponta Delgada

Hi everyone,

We had a great 95nm sail from Anga do Heroismo on Terciera island to Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel island.  It was supposed to be an overnighter but we had more wind than anticipated so arrived in the dark at 0215.  The fact we had a big cruising boat to chase may have been part of the equation!

Sao Miguel ahead

Here are the usual plots...

Track

Arrival

Graphs

We departed 1nm behind Moody 44 sv Metzi and finished 4nm behind.  The wind was sufficient to get Zen Again powered up, but not quite enough for Metzi.  Always fun to snap at the heels of a bigger boat.  The wind was initially on the beam, occasionally a little broader and becoming a close reach as we approached Sao Miguel.

Winds were 12-15G16-24 all the way to Sao Miguel.  A small trough came through with light rain and more wind, but otherwise it was champagne sailing.  The wind gradually died in the lee of Sao Miguel so we motored the last few miles.  The crew of Metzi were waiting to take our lines on arrival - very nice considering it was 0215 - thanks guys!

Into the blue

Sunset

Alongside sv Metzi in Ponta Delgada

Now to explore the biggest island in the Azores.

Terceira

Hi everyone,

We spent four nights in Angra do Heroismo on Terceira island.  We had a busy time exploring the island in company with the OCC Macaronesia Cruisers.

Bull^3

We stayed in the marina on the newest jetty.  Very modern but most open to surge, and there was a lot of snatching despite little swell outside.  The anchorage was very rolly.  We were all together on this jetty which made it very social.  OCC Port Officer Siggi was on hand for each boat's arrival and immediately set to work showing us the island.

Photon Infinity, Zen Again, Metzi & Caballito de Mar
in Angra Marina

We'd arrived after a full-on daysail bashing to windward (see preceding post) so day 1 was a lay-day.  After cleaning up the boat we had a look around town.  Angra is a typical Portuguese town - very pretty with patterned stone sidewalks, colourful buildings and colourful flowers along the streets.  That evening we had a 'pontoon party' then walked to the Club Navale for drinks & snacks.  We dressed up with our kamikazi headbands.

Angra waterfront

Vasco de Gama stepping ashore

Colourful park

OCC Macaronesia Cruisers

On day 2 we did a full day tour of the island.  We visited Monte Brasil, several viewpoints, the famous Galantas restaurant for lunch, Praia de Vitoria, Algar do Carvao cave and the Fumaroles thermal vents.

King Alfonso VI looks over the harbour

Sunny coastal scene

Broody coastal scene

Countryside

Very large caldera

Lunch at Galantas

Descending into Algar do Carvao

View to the top

Lake at the bottom

The crew at the Fumerols

On day 3 we visited the pilot Geothermal Station on the island.  Interesting place.  That evening we had a wonderful dinner after sundowners on Siggi's boat.

Geothermal plant

Sundowners

It was a short stay in Terceira but we saw a lot of the island.  Siggi did an awesome job arranging everything for us all.

Trust all's well where you are.

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.