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 every day expect 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. Two double cabin midships with double berths and two double cabins in the foreship with single berths. The galley is outfitted with a four-flame stove, standard oven, double sink and two fridges as in any kitchen on land giving for excellent cooking. 

Equipment: EPIRB, Radar, AIS, VHF with automatic emergency signal, two life rafts, chartplotter,  GPS, fishfinder/sonar,  autopilot, solar panels (2 x 100W), 220v generator, , inflatable dinghy with outboard, electric anchor winch, , towed water generator, just to mention some of the gear.

There are altogether 16 waterproof bulkheads on the boat. Cruising Catamarans are extremely safe vessels. You can see the Catamaran on the marina's  webcam. Go to  "Webcam"  /Weathercams/Vila do Porto/ and there she is! (out of order at this moment).
DOCUMENTS, click here:
Charter License: Licença
Annual  Survey:  Vistoria
Insurance: Seguro
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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, Portuguese, 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. There is a restaurant in the marina and it's only a 10 minute walk to the town center. You will be brought every 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 plus the encounters with freindly locals along the way. Finally another daytrip back to Ponta Delgada.
Prices:
The yacht has four spacious cabins, two midships with double berths and two in the foreship with single berths.
€ 490/pers for a single berth in the foreship.
€ 540/pers for a double berth in the midship.
Included are two daytrips from Ponta Delgada and back, accommodation in the yacht and transportation to and from the hikes. It includes fuel, habour duties and meals on board during the sailtrip from and to Ponta Delgada.
Click here for more information:

SANTA MARIA

Logging Seamiles

If  you need to log seamiles for your Yachtmaster Certificate there are the options Santa Maria-Flores (320 sm), Santa Maria - Madeira (500 sm) or Santa Maria - Canary Islands (730 sm). Ask for a quotiation.
   

 
How to Get On Board

Starting point for the charter is the island Santa Maria, just  south of  São Miguel, the main island.

Santa Maria is probably the most beautiful of the azoraian islands, have a look at Santa Maria

SATA, TAP, Easy Jet and Ryan Air offer flights to the Azores, Porto and Lisbon. All airlines also offer flights out from Lisbon to Ponta Delgada (São Miguel, main island). Jetairfly flies from Brussels to Ponta Delgada.
There are several alternatives to get to Santa Maria:
1.Via Lisbon and then directly to Santa Maria, SATA operates flights from Lisbon to Santa Maria on Thursdays and Sundays.
2.Fly directly to Ponta Delgada (main island) and then on to Santa Maria (daily flights, 15 min).
3.Via Lisbon and Ponta Delgada (several flights per day) and then on to Santa Maria (the connecting flight to Santa Maria is free). Alternatively via Porto to Ponta Delgada.
 

Prices

Four cabins, eight persons.
Low season
November – March: € 2.600,-/Week.
Mid season
April+May & September+October: € 3.550,-/Week.
High season
July+August: € 4.490,-/Week.

Prices include skipper, harbour duties and fuel for standard harbour or mooring maneuvers.


Ask for a quotation for longer charters or in case your crew is less than eight persons.

PAYMENT:  30% at booking, another 30% two months before the charter, final payment two weeks before the charter.  Refund: full refund if we cancel the charter (has never happened), no refund if you cancel the charter (has also never happened).
 		 


Contact

Phone 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.de
Partner: www.boatsailservice.com
Excellent Bed&Breakfast on Santa Maria: www.azorean-spirit.com