Arrived here 6 June after a passage with a Polish female crew that will long stick in the memory. I have recovered from the experience helped by meeting up with a lot of friendly people I had encountered in the Caribbean, many of whom had difficult sailing conditions. Horta is full of yachts taking a break on their atlantic crossing but now we are into July the numbers tail off significantly. Few take the trouble to explore these very attractive islands. There is a long tradition of leaving a wall painting and some are beautifully done so I offer a selection to give an impression of some of the best of which mine is not to be included.
Plane Song has been here before and the painting I did then is still there albeit a little tatty now. My new effort incorporates the ceramic coaster/plaque I had made in Stoke on Trent before I departed. Should survive for a good few years!
Silver Harmony is a Contessa 32 sailed by Robert Fox. We ran into each other several times in the Caribbean.
Zeezot is berthed next to me. Albertien is a ceramic artist and it shows in their painting. The Granny with the US flag was done by a trained artist who now produces scrimshaw work[more below].
The park is only 50 metres from my berth and the blackbirds sing loudly every day.
Continuing the artistic theme, on the right is John van Opstal a Dutchman who for some 28 years has lived on Faial where he built his own house with the spectacular view you see behind him.Trained as an artistst, he took up scrimshaw work when he settled here. I have had an interest in this art form for a long time so I took the opportunity to buy a small example pictured below. His stock of whales teeth runs out soon so I'm pleased I made the investment.
Not long after my arrival a Swedish yacht departed from the berth next to me. There was a moderate cross wind at the time so we rigged a line to his bow so that I could help pull it into wind from the stern of PS. He put full power on misjudging his ability to turn away from the stern of PS and rammed the protective bar on the Monitor. The damage is byond repair facilities here and I have after some effort sent it back to the factory in California where there is hope that they can straighten the frame. The Swede, a circumnativator, was mortified and I extracted 1800 euros as a down payment before he left. I'll be suprised if it covers the cost. As I'm cruising the islands, all of which are within a day sail, I will manage with the electronic steering but I will miss the Monitor-it steers PS 25/7 without complaint.
Pico is only a 30 minute ferry ride from Horta and dominates the view from the harbour. Most of the time the summit is in cloud but I was lucky to get a picture as the rays of the setting sun illuminated the island.
Cafe Sport in Horta is rated as the best yachtsman's bar in the whole world. They provide every kind of service to the visiting yachtsmen from holding mail, to changing money. It has great atmosphere. I was particulary pleased when Jose the grandson of the original owner let me hang a PS ceramic on the wall which can be seen as a white disc above my head.
In a couple of days I will depart for St George, a demanding sail of all of 20 miles. The island can be seen in the distance to the left of Pico.