BLUE AZORES

Sailing & Island Hopping

Welcome to the Azores, the half-forgotten Islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Why not try a different holiday with Island Hopping and Sea Watching on board a luxurious sailing catamaran? Sailing experience is not necessary.
 

The Azores

The Azores

The Azores

Nine emerald islands, ranging from the smallest- Corvo with 300 inhabitants to San Miguel with 150.000 inhabitants, warmed by the Gulf Stream and surrounded by an ocean teeming with life. All islands are within easy reach from each other in a day’s trip. The Azores offer some very interesting sightseeing too. The Unesco has declared the beautiful town Angra do Heroismo on Terceira a cultural heritage. On San Miguel are the Blue and Green Lagoons in a huge extinct volcano cone. There are several hot spots on the island, in some of them food is cooked traditionally, one of them is in a small cove and warms the sea, it’s like swimming in a huge bathtub. Santa Maria with its dazzling exotic flora is another Madeira- one huge flowery garden. On Faial is Peter Café Sport, one of the most famous sailors’ bar anywhere on the planet. The beauty of the Azores is endless. No mass tourism spoils any of the islands. Due to the Gulf Stream the weather is always just right- nice and warm but not too hot. From June onwards you can expect air temperatures between 24° and 28°, water temperatures 22° - 25°.

 
 

 

 
 

Islandhopping

Islandhopping

Islandhopping

You can chose between going into the ports or marinas and exploring the islands or staying out for a beautiful night sail under the bright stars in a fluorescent sea, caused by bioluminescent algae. Every movement of the boat leaves a glittering trail of small stars in the water, Dolphins coming up to the boat seem to be swimming in long shining pipes. Islandhopping on the Azores is very pleasant sailing. You can see the next island when you take off in the morning. However, just a few miles off the islands you are in the deep sea, 2000-4000m depths are normal. After a beautiful days cruise you arrive on a new island to explore. For those who would like a longer trip or need mileage for their Yachtmaster License there is the option of a cruise from San Miguel to Madeira (4-5 days), back to Santa Maria (4-5 days) and then San Miguel, altogether 1000 seamiles of mainly Bluewater Sailing.

 
 

Sea Watch

Sea Watch

Sea Watch

Yes, there are whales there, but the right expression should be sea watching; whales, birds, dolphins, turtles, bonitos and sunfish. Whalehunting from small wooden sailing boats has a long tradition on the Azores due to the great variety of whales around the islands.Commercial whalehunting ended in 1966, however, you can still find the traditional whaling boats around the islands, now used for leisure. Normally you can expect every day dolphins coming up to the boat for a visit. Tuna and Bonitos sometimes follow the boat for days on end. In calm conditions you can go for a swim from the boat. A strange feeling, swimming in the ocean, knowing there are several thousand meters of water below you. The water temperatures rise to about 23°C in July and 24°-25° in August, the air remains a constant 25°-27° due to the Gulf Stream. There is no better and leisurely way to get to know sailing and the sea.

For legal reasons, I must here clearly state that we do not do so called "Whale Watching Tours". There are several licensed companies on the Azores which do landbased whale watching daytrips.

  
   
   
   
   
 

Sailcharter

Sailcharter

Sailcharter
 
The Vessel


MOBY DICK
Size: Length 14,6m x Width 7,4m x Draft 0,75m,
Displacement: 10t.
Sail area: 90m2
Design: Roland de Casenove, Architect Navale, Paris
Built by: Mikael Bahner and launched in 1992
 A 46` sailing catamaran is ideal for cruising. Always upright and steady and with loads of room, allowing everybody a spot of privacy where he or she can sunbathe, read a book or just enjoy the sea. In any kind of nice breeze this type of boat immediately picks up speed and does for some exciting sailing. Contrary to small racing catamarans and the like, large catamarans do not capsize. There are four spacious double cabins  on board. The galley is outfitted with a four-flame stove, standard oven, double sink and fridge as in any kitchen on land giving for excellent cooking. The boat is also equipped with a radar, two GPSs, fishfinder, two autopilots, solar panels, generator, Epirb, life raft, inflatable dinghy, electric anchor winch, just to mention some of the gear.There are altogether 16 waterproof bulkheads on the boat. Cruising Catamarans are extremely safe vessels.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


The Skipper
Mikael- or Mike to everybody on board. Born in Sweden and has been boat building, sailing and surfing all his life. He has logged more than 35.000 offshore sea miles sailing all over Europe.He speaks six languages fluently (English, German, French, Portugese, Czech- and of course Swedish).
 
  
 


Videos
    
Sail&Hike
For those of us who would like to combine a land&sea holiday we have a special offer: We will collect you in Ponta Delgada on São Miguel. From there we sail to Santa Maria, a very enjoyble daytrip. On Santa Maria you stay on board for three days in the comfortable and beautifully situated marina. You will be brought evry day to a  hike. Hiking on Santa Maria is a special experience,  an absolutely clean enviremont,  pristine nature, again and again  fantastic panoramic vistas of the ocean. On the way encounters with freindly locals. Finally another daytrip back to Ponta Delgada
Price: € 490/pers. This includes fuel, habour duties and meals on board during the sailtrip from and to Ponta Delgada.
Click here for more about Santa Maria
   
How to Get On Board

SATA has weekly flights (flight time: 2½ hrs) in summer from London to San Miguel which is the starting point for the charter. Ryanair flies from London to Porto from where there is a connection to San Miguel with SATA. SATA and TAP have several flights every day from Lisbon to San Miguel, Terceira and Faial. There are also daily flights between the islands, as well as a ferry during the summer months. In Summer SATA also has direct flights from Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Boston, Providence, Montreal and Toronto to San Miguel. Check the charter offers, they are often cheaper than the regular airlines.
 

Prices
You can either charter the whole boat (with skipper)- ask for a quotation- or a berth: single cabine for € 86,- per day, addition during single allocation of the double cabine € 15.-/day . A kitty is set up by the crew to cover harbour duties, food and fuel, usually € 15.-/person&day. Minimum charter: 4 days.		  

Payment
30% at the booking date, a further 30% two months before begin of charter, balance on charter begin. No refund if the booking is cancelled by you, 100% refund if cancelled by us.		  

Contact

Phone/Fax 00351 916039582
Email mike.azores@sapo.pt

We live in dire times of spam and viruses, please always use “Blue Azores” as subject.

Mikael Bahner
Calheta
Santo Espirito
9580-209 Vila do Porto
Santa Maria
Azores/Portugal
 
Useful Links
Sightseeing: Santa Maria , www.azoren.at , www.acorestube.com
General: www.azoren-archipel.net/21031.html , www.azoren.de
Partner: www.boatsailservice.com
Another special island on the other side of the Ocean:  Singing Pebbles
Excellent Bed&Breakfast on Santa Maria: www.azorean-spirit.com