Hi All!
We’re signed up for the OCC’s Azores Pursuit Rally – a rather interesting event in which participants can start from wherever and whenever they want (more than 500 miles away) and aim to arrive in Horta, Faial in the Azores on June 18th at 12 noon.
52 boats are entered in the event – and 180 people will be in Horta!!! Should be an opportunity for a party or two!
We’re leaving tomorrow morning – and hopefully will arrive in Horta well before the 18th – we’re ready to move on from the Caribbean and interested in spending additional time in the Azores. We therefore are losers in the event – but perhaps we are overall gainers?
Anyway, you can follow along where we are right here
Toodle-oo! is ready, the crew have the jitters – but once on the way, it’ll all smooth out and with luck we’ll arrive in Horta around June 5th.
Have a great passage and a wonderful time in Horta.
Simon & Sally
We crossed to the Azores in 2015 from the USVI with Dan on Eschaton, who left from Antigua. Crossing was good thanks to Chris Parker, who routed us out of trouble. We had hoped to go into Flores, but NE winds caused them to evacuate the marina and send everyone to the only anchorage , which was over used. So, we went to Horta. The chandlery is great! If they don’t have it, they can get it. Last we heard, Ruth and Duncan were selling it to go back cruising. Sweet deal for anyone interested.
While in Horta, John climbed the mountain in Pico with friends off Rustler. They are the folks buying Badger Sett. Ellie went to St Gorges. Later we did a tour in Pico and spent the night at Joe’s B&B. Fabulous.
The best was meeting up with Dan on Terceira. Rustler was there and we did the running of the bulls – fun! This was Sao João day, so an incredible parade that lasted into early AM, running of the bulls and many minor running of the bulls throughout the area, some with immature bulls for kids or even in the water! We also went to Sao Miguel where Ellie’s Grandfather was from. We saw the village he came from and the church where he was baptized. Where Ellie grew up on Cape Cod, Mass it was 80 % Portuguese, 40% Azores and 40 % Cape Verdeans. So seeing the culture and food was like going back to her childhood.
We loved the Azores and was astounded by how clean the islands were. When we remarked about it, they simply said, we love our islands. That says it all. So many parks, each with a caretaker, beautiful and they make sure picnic areas have wood for BBQs.
It is in the top of our favorite places.