Azores
Jun 4th - Jul 8th, 2019
Flores, Azores. Jun 4th -Jun 7th
Approaching Flores in the Azores, the western most island in Europe. The passage, from Bermuda, took us 13 days. We averaged 5.4 kt. Ran the engine only 41.4 hours, 14%. The shortest great circle distance is 1672.4 Nm. We sailed 1941 Nm to get there. We had a great passage with good wind almost the whole time. Looking forward to a full nights of sleep, together 💕
We decided to anchor outside the tiny harbor.
Time for a well deserved, and traditional, Jäger!
View over the marina/harbor in Lajes das Flores
Beautiful green landscape. Lots of stone walls built for fencing
Spectacular south coast line
June 6th is the Swedish national holiday. To celebrate it we hoisted the Swedish flag!
There are seven Lagoons on Flores. All very different.
Two different lagoons on different levels
Two lagoons close together. The one that looks black is actually called Long Lagoon. And the other one is called Black Lagoon
Beautiful green country side
This is the very remote part of the west coast. In the lower picture you can see the road ends. It felt like this little town was the end of the world. Our guide lives here. In the winter there are only 8 people living there.
The most beautiful place we've ever seen :-)
The wind took the waterfall before it reached the ground below
Anette is enjoying a nice fresh water swim
Beautiful rainbow by the fall
Anders is enjoying the view of the waterfall
A very special looking rock. Known as a Volcanic Phenomenon.
Corvo, Azores. Jun 7th
We decided to visit the small neighboring island of Corvo. This was our ride!
A spectacular ride between narrow passages in high speed. The scenery was amazing on this northern part of the west coast.
Having fun... First crossing the Atlantic, and then going for a boat-ride...
Lots of waterfalls and caves on this coast line
A hole in the rock
It was a wet ride. Well deserved "big" beer ;-)
Looking down on Vila do Corvo. Flores is in the background
Leaving Corvo
Later the same day, we set sail for Horta, Faial. Leaving Flores in the sunset :-)
Horta, Faial, Azores. Jun 8th-Jun 17th
Passage Data: Passage from Flores, Azores to Horta, Azores. It took us 20 hours. And we averaged 6.7 Knots. The shortest great circle distance is 129.4 Nautical Miles.
We sailed 145 Nautical Miles to get here. We run the engine 2.8 Hours (13%) during the passage.
After an overnight sail and 20 hours later we're approaching Faial and Horta.
Enjoying the beautiful Horta marina, with views over Pico
I [Anette} hiked the rim of the crater, Caldeira. 8km. Beautiful hike, even with the clouds that came and went.
The trail was sometimes very narrow. But it was so beautiful with the variety of flowers and bushes
Here the trail is going up to the highest point, in to the clouds...
The beach in Horta
The same guard towers as in Puerto Rico. I think the Portuguese has something to do with this
Pico, Azores.
We caught the first ferry to Pico, 7:30am.
Arriving in Madalena, Pico. A good clear day for hiking
On our way up. We cleared the low laying clouds pretty quick.
Anders and I are posing at the crater, with the very last peak behind us
I [Anette} made it to the very top, Yay!
The view from the top was spectacular, even with the low clouds
Second time visiting Pico. We rented a car and drove around the island. Stunning black landscape. We were totally amazed by all the black lave stone walls that was built to shelter the vines
We visited a lava cave {or a Lave Tunnel as they call it].
We got hair net to protect us from other people's germ in the helmets. Pretty :-)
The inlet to the cave
Beautiful formations in the cave
Then we ended the day with a visit to one of many vineyards.
These where the wines we tested. All local from this small vineyard
Art in Horta
We finished our painting . It’s a tradition here in Horta to leave a painting on the wall. It will give fair winds and good luck on future passages.
Sao Jorge, Azores.
We took the ferry over to Sao Jorge. A 2 hour ferry trip. But it was so worth it. This is an amazingly beautiful, and different island. Actually one of our favorite! Here you can see Pico in the background
Suddenly it looked like steam was coming out from Pico . An eruption??
Looking south from the highest point of Sao Jorge. This island is made up of several smaller volcanoes. It is amazingly green. Great place for hiking
Above is the highest peak of Sao Jorge, Pico de Esperanca, 1053 m. In the bottom picture you can see Graciosa, the neighbor island to the north.
This is one of many Faja, plateaus down by the ocean. This is were we had lunch. Porta de Notre Grande
Faja dos Vimes. It is the only place in Europe where they have coffee plantation and make their own coffee
We drove to the very northern tip of the island on small dirt roads
Beautiful Botanical Garden
Stunning view from the northern part of the island. Very green rolling hills
Ponta dos Rosais, the most northern point of Sao Jorge. This is the lighthouse. Panoramic view to the north
On our way back to Velas, where the ferry docks
We got very lucky here in Horta Harbor. We got a very nice slip right away, even though it's super busy this time of the year, and boats are rafting 3-4 deep next to each other. We have a hard time leaving Horta and this very protected marina, But tomorrow we set sail for Terceira.
Terceira. Jun 18th -Jul 8th
Dolphins joined us on our passage between Faial and Terceira.Always a happy sight :-)
Approaching the harbor in Praia da Vitoria
Beautiful stone steps decorated with flowers up to the monument on the hillside of Praia da Vitoria
Below Anders is the marina, and Horizon
At the monument overlooking the town and the harbor
We rented a car for a couple days to explore the island
These were the two caves we visited. Both worth visiting and unique in their own way
The tunnel down to Algar do Carvao
Road trip, part 1
This skylight on the way down was amazingly lush and green
Anette deep down in the cave
At the bottom of the cave is this beautiful lake
The colors of the walls were just mesmerizing
Outside Grotto Natural
This looked like the lava was still flowing
Pretty tight tunnels to go through
Interesting to see the moss growing in the light of the spot
Agra do Heroismo, Bullrun Festival
Happy Midsummer from our AirBnB in Agra do Heroismo
Beautiful flower covered side of the roads. Hortensia is in abandonment on all the islands in the Azores
Picnic in a scenic surrounding, on the side of the road. These chairs in the wall is very common
Overlooking Agra do Heroismo
All the streets are decorated for the Festival
So many beautiful, colorful churches on these islands
This is the opening evening of the 10 days Festival. Streets are packed with people. Let the big Parade start
The Parade was just amazing. So many beautiful dresses and big decorated wagons. It went on for probably 2 hours
Agra Cup, sailing race
We sailed on our friends boat, Stealing time, in the Agra bay regatta. We had so much fun
We got a very good start, not really planned, but we started off as number 4. First leg was all downwind.
We sailed a figure eight around two of the "islands" in the bay. 12 nm. These two are actually the first island
And these rocks are the second "island"
Big Party after with free food and drinks. And of course awards
Bull Run
The pre Bull run parade
And the brass band
People were sitting up high everywhere
This bull came straight at us. Too close for our liking
What a wonderful fun and exiting experience. A once in a lifetime indeed!
They tried to tease this bull to chase them. He took a break here but then suddenly he charged.
Road trip, part 2
We hiked up to this peak. The trail was very rough steep and damaged from flooding
The trail actually went up to this little lake
Hortensia flower
We drove as far as we could up to the trail
Beautiful trees with red flowers are everywhere along the hillsides
Really cool natural pool place, in Biscoitos. But the water was pretty cold, 21C or so
Blue water between lava rocks
Rugged north shore of Terciera
Our little red rental car
My lunch :-) The dish to the left is the Terciera's national dish. Very Yummy
Wedding trip to Sweden
We left for Sweden for 10 days. We’re so happy that our God son’s wedding brought our whole family together 💕
Our three sons in Stockholm together, A rare occasion
We celebrated 4th of July in Stockholm
Preparation to leave the Azores
At the first spreader. Anders is the brave one going up the mast
Back at Horizon we fixed the broken shroud. Thanks Outbound, and Phil, for sending a new one so quick
Beautiful views from the mast