Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel

We left Vila do Porto just after seven in the morning.

Leaving Santa Maria

Nice sailing all the way, a beam reach under full sail and we made an average speed of 6,2 knots arriving at Punta Delgada in the afternoon of May 13.

Closing in on Ponta Delgada
Marina Ponta Delgada

Punta Delgada is a big city, compared to Vila do Porto anyway, lots of shops and restaurants and quite busy with a lot of traffic.

Ponta Delgada

There were a lot of available berths in the marina but swell made it uncomfortable.

We rented a car for two days and went for excursions and hikes, one day together with the crew of sy Salt.

Ponta Delgada in the background
Lagoa do Fogo
Tea plantation
Hot spring
By Lagoa dos Furnas
Lagoa Azul
Old agueduct
Boca do inferno
Abandoned hotel
View over Lagoa Verde from the abandoned hotel
Mosteiros
Porto das Capelas

Sailed distance 56,6 nautical miles

Vila do Porto, Santa Maria Azores

We left Funchal late in the afternoon and motored westward along the south coast of Madeira.

Leaving Funchal

When we reached the Ponta do Pargo the northerly wind hit us and we sailed close hauled with just the jib in about 25 knots of wind and quite heavy seas. The second day the wind eased and turned more easterly as predicted and we could set more sail and have some less uncomfortable sailing. The last 100 miles or so we could run downwind with just the code.

After 3 and a half days we arrived at Vila do Porto.

Closing in on Vila do Porto
Aproaching the marina

Santa Maria is a small island with only about 5000 inhabitants, very laid back compared to Funchal and very few tourists.

Vila do Porto Marina

The “capital” Vila do Porto is small with only a few shops and a couple of restaurants.

Vila do Porto

We did some boat maintenance and went for a couple of very nice hikes.

Hike Campo de Piedra
Old lime Stone quarry
Fika at Santo Espirito
Santo Espirito to Maia hike
Hike detour
Maia
Ponta do Castelo lighthouse
Highest waterfall in Portugal
Heading back towards Santo Espirito
Start of the waterfall
The water goes over the edge
West of the harbour

Sailed distance 492,9 nautical miles

Funchal Madeira

We really liked Rubicon and Lanzarote but after spending a month there it was time to move on.

Leaving Rubicon

The course was set for Funchal, Madeira.

Nice sailing

Nice sailing the first 24 hours and then the wind disappeared and we motored the last day and night and arrived at Funchal half past eight in the morning of the third of April after two days at sea.

Funchal ahead

Our friends on sy Lazy Frog arrived from La Palma just before us.

Funchal is a lively, rather touristy city with lots of nice streets and buildings.

Marina Funchal

We went to the botanical garden and on the way back we tried the traditional slay ride.

View from the Botanical Garden
Slay ride

The market “Mercado dos Lavradores” is a vibrant place and we went there several times to by fruits, spices, vegetables and fish.

Mercado dos Lavradores
Black Scabbard fish

We went for several hikes and walks along the levadas and of course strolled around in Funchal, often together with Anki and Janne from sy Lazy Frog.

View from Punta do Garajau
Levada 25 Fountains and Risco
Mimosa valley levada
Funchal city levada
Pico Arieero to Pico Ruvio hike

Spending a month in Funchal is no problem at all. We saw quite a lot of Madeira when we were here in November but there is still a lot to be seen here. We will be back.

Sailed distance 283,6 nautical miles