Velas, Sao Jorge 5 to 14 Sept 2012

Velas from the view point on the cliff top

Velas Marina

Views around Velas town

The tourist office

In this street, the Rua da Capela

we found a butchers shop behind the string curtains - not exactly well advertised

A modern sculpture in memory of the Sperm whaling days

Part of the waterfront

Looking back towards the marina 

One of the lava rock pool swimming areas

Lava Arch

Looking over the strait to Pico

Sail Ponta Delgada to Velas, Sao Jorge 5 to 6 September 2012

We were back on Dutch Link from Holland late on Monday night 3 September and had hoped that we could spend a few days in Ponta Delgada before sailing back to the middle Azores Islands. However, the Gribfiles indicated that Wednesday would be a perfect wind for our trip back west and that thereafter the wind would be on the nose.

 So at 12.20hrs on Wednesday 5 September we cast off and started our 136 nautical mile trip from Sao Miguel to Velas on Sao Jorge

 

 Had to motor for the first hour as we were in the wind shadow of Sao Miguel

 By 13.30hrs the wind had increased to a pleasant ENE 4Bft and we were sailing on a beam reach with 1 reef in main and 1 reef in Genny

 As we approached the western tip of the island the wind dropped off as we came in the wind shadow of the Sete Cidades caldeira and I was tempted to use the engine. However, there was a suggestion of white horses on the horizon and we were soon bowling along at 7 to 9 knots SOG.

  

 Sunset approaching

 At daybreak Sao Jorge was clearly visible

 although it was shrouded in low cloud and we experienced some drizzle

 The coast of Sao Jorge has high cliffs with several fertile Fajas, areas where lava flows and erosional debris form flattish areas just under the cliffs. Many of them are either inhabited or at least are cultivated.

 On port is the island of Pico - unfortunately the Pico volcano was covered in cloud

During our passage in the channel between Pico and Sao Jorge, the wind became light and turned to the SSE.  We rang up the harbour master to see how late we could arrive and he told us that as he was helping to unload a freighter , he would be around till at least 2000hrs so no hurry.

Low cloud over Sao Jorge

 Approaching our destination, Velas on Sao Jorge

 Jose, our very friendly harbour master had told us by phone that he had a berth for us on the long E pontoon parallel to the breakwater

 By 1730 hrs we were safely moored on E pontoon after a very pleasant sail - 136 miles in 29 hours, average speed 4.7 Knots, motoring time only 3 hours.

 View of Velas harbour and marina from a viewpoint on the cliffs above the harbour

So far it is very still in the marina with no swell. The only disturbance is the raucous peculiar "being sick" sound of the Cory Shearwaters as they circle around in the evening before rousting for the night in their homes in the crevasses in the cliffs towering above the marina

Visit to Holland 29 Aug to 3 Sept 2012 via Lisbon

Thursday 30 August I, Mike, took a taxi for the 15 minute trip to the Ponta Delgada airport (cost 10 Euro) in time for the 10.15hrs SATA flight to Lisbon. As this flight would land at Lisbon13.20hrs but the connecting SATA flight to Amsterdam would not leave before 19.50hrs, I decided to pop into Lisbon instead of hanging around at the airport. Talking to the person sitting next to me, it turns out I was in luck. A new Metro line had been opened in July from within the terminal building which would connect with the line going into the center of the city - very convenient and cost less than 4 Euros for the 50 minute trip.

A note on the metro route taken -

I took the Red Metro line from inside airport terminal building to S Sebastio where I changed to the Blue Metro line to Baixa Chiada which is in old city centre close to the river Targa

The Lisbon Metro plan is in below link

http://www.golisbon.com/maps/lisbon-metro.html 

It took about 50 minutes each way from inside airport terminal building. You can get tickets from machine at station with credit card. So if you have checked your bags for whole trip, it should be possible to visit the centre of Lisbon if you have a 5 hour plus wait between planes.

 
Wonderful weather for wandering around the elegant old city

 Inside the ornate righthand arch is Starbucks - must rank as one of their most attractive locations

It was a good job that I had spent the afternoon in the city as on returning to the airport I discovered that the flight had been delayed by over 2 hours due to airtraffic control issues.

 

The next day had to sample the superb Dutch pancakes at Landgoed Mariënwaerdt.

 Wedding party travelling to the church in style

 followed closely by the wedding couple

 Cuttng the cake

 Wonderful weather for photos

 Super super trouper performance

 plus American style sketch

 Could not leave Holland before yet another of those delicious pancakes

 Holland is the land where everything is possible - such as this pancake with cheese, bacon, stewed cheries in syrup and icecream - yummy - the waitress did ask twice to check if that was really what we wanted but brought it all the same

Caught the 19.50hrs SATA flight from Amsterdam back to Ponta Delgada on Monday 3 September ( the only day SATA flies directly between Amsterdam and Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, Azores) after having had a super weekend in sunny Holland.