Terceira Island

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Sailing near Sao Jorge Island

On the 1st of June we set sail for Terceira.  Horta was still a busy place and there was a boat rafted up to us.  We had told them that we were leaving at first light and sure enough they were up and ready to move their boat to let us out.  Its amazing how everyone cooperates to move the boats around.  And no-one bats an eye when you are climbing over their boat to get to the dock.  Everyone is doing it - its the European way.  They are used to rafting up - we Americans are not.  It was blowing 20 plus knots that morning and we were sailing downwind which was great.  A very comfortable ride for awhile anyway.  

Terceira Island

 As the day wore on though the wind died off leaving a lumpy, rolly sea state.  Our comfortable ride became less so... but to compensate we were visited by a large pod of dolphins.  Most of them were babies - playing and jumping out of the water!  So much fun to watch.  And then as we got close to Terceira we saw a whale.  Ben and Matt were so excited!  They wanted to move closer but I am always hesitant to inch up too close to a whale - my instinct is to move away.  The Azores Archipelago is home to many resident species of whales and dolphins.  In addition, they have seasonal visitors, migratory visitors and some that only occasionally visit such as the Orcas.  The dolphins we saw were striped dolphins - I had never seen that species before.  Pretty exciting!

Angra do Heroismo, Terceira

 The marina while protected by the sea wall still has a considerable amount of swell.  It is necessary to really secure your boat well.  Our boat and several of the other boats had their lines chafe through.  We are going to have to re-think our methods for securing the boat as swell is typical in the Med as well.  Yet another beautiful north atlantic island!