Azores to Portsmouth – in Horta
Posted by Julian on Thursday May 28, 2009 Under Atlantic Sailing, On BoardIt’s been an tiring couple of days. I arrived at Heathrow Airport, care of Mum and Dad, at 3am. Straight away I met a guy called Dave who was joining up with Ondeck at Horta. This was good because it was a lot easier negotiating the airports a lot less stressful.
BTW: At Lisbon Airport I had the shortest bus ride ever. There were 2 buses at our boarding gate and after about 15 minutes both busses were full – and I mean we were crammed in like sardines. Anyway, the bus set off and and 50 meters later it stopped right outside our plane! I’m guessing but it took around 15 seconds. Mad!
So with just a few hours sleep, taken at intervals during the day, we finally arrived in Horta at around 2pm. There were about 10 people arriving on the same flight, due to do the the same sail to Portsmouth so we all shared some taxis to the Marina. Our taxi driver thought he was Michael Schumacher with some pretty impressive cornering on the narrow roads. But he did drop us off right next to the fleet of Ondeck’s Farr 65 yachts which was really handy because my rucksack weighs in at around a tonne (ish).
I spent the remainder of the first day getting to know the crew, most of which was spent a Peter Cafe Sport (typical Brit abroad – head straight for the pub). But it was worth the hardship because we all bonded really well, they are a nice bunch with a real mix of exprerience from total beginners to those doing their Yachtmaster exams.
Today (Thursday), I’ve mostly been doing some sight seeing around Horta (thanks for the map Kathie!). I haven’t done as much as I would have hoped but time is short. I’m trying to balance sight seeing with spending time with the crew.
I wouldn’t be a proper English man if I didn’t talk about the weather. So here is the the current synopsis: Wet.
We cast off on Friday 29 May and I think this is going to be my last blog entry before we reach Portsmouth 
because I think using the satelite link is going to be very limited. If I do get a chance however, I will make sure I take it.
PS: I now know which boat I will be sailing on. She is the ‘Spirit of Isis’. You can follow my progress on this chart.
If you are not my Wife and Daughter please look away now 
but I’m really missing you both a lot and I think of you all the time.
May 28th, 2009 at 19:10
Bemvindo aos Açores, bemvindo à Horta, bemvindo ao Peter Café Sport, Júlian!!!
Oh my yes, rain does occur in the Azores, otherwise the islands wouldn’t be so green and lush. Hope you’ll get to do some sightseeing on Faial nonetheless. Have you gotten to try any authentic Portuguese cuisine yet? Is Isis berthed directly below Peter’s, as Xanthippe was in June 2002? Hope you’ll get to post again before casting off. Even if not, do snap tons of photos so you can post a full account upon your return.
Boa viagem!!!
May 28th, 2009 at 19:18
P.S. If the rain doesn’t let up, could always trek or take a cab up to the Public Library (noted on map) to see the art display in the ground-floor gallery space, or go explore the lobby of the Estalagem Santa Cruz (old fort right on the marina) — I had a delicious vegetarian entrée there for dinner one evening last year. But I do hope the skies clear in time for you to see Faial’s breathtaking vistas including iconic ["ex libris," as they say in the Azores] Mt. Pico across Fayal[sic] Roads).
May 30th, 2009 at 21:44
Hi Julian
Have a lovely time, see you in a couple of weeks. Don’t forget jummy blog.
Sam