Azores : Profile

Facts

• Most yachts stop in the Azores on their way east across the Atlantic, although some call on their way west or when sailing from the South Atlantic towards Northern Europe. Although hundreds of yachts call every year, very few of them cruise around the islands and the majority stop only in Horta, on the island of Faial, one of the perennially favourite places of long-distance sailors.

• With their secluded bays, uncrowded anchorages and protected harbours, the rest of the Azores are still waiting to be discovered as a cruising destination in their own right.

• Yachting facilities are concentrated in the 4 main ports: Horta, Ponta Delgada, Angra do Heroismo and Praia da Vitoria.

Weather

The climate in the Azores is dominated by the mid-Atlantic area of high pressure which bears their name. The position of the Azores high varies with the season, being more northerly in the autumn and more southerly in the spring, usually lying to the S or SW of the islands. In winter the area can be stormy and very wet, while in the summer the Azores high can be stationary with prolonged periods of calm weather.

A long-term weather forecast can be obtained from the Meteorological Observatory in Horta; it is best to do this through Horta Marina. A daily prognosis is also posted at the offices of the marina and the port authority.

Main Ports

Most of the marinas belong to the same company and tend to have the same price (Praia da Vitoria is reported to be the cheapest).

Corvo:  Corvo

Faial:  Horta *

Flores:  Lajes das Flores * , Santa Cruz das Flores

Graciosa:  Vila da Praia *

Pico:  Cais do Pico , Lajes do Pico , Madalena

Santa Maria:  Vila do Porto *

Sao Jorge:  Vila das Velas

Sao Miguel:  Ponta Delgada *

Terceira:  Angra do Heroismo * , Praia da Vitoria *

*Indicates a port of entry.

Related Reports

Atlantic Islands Guide (29 Sep 2010)

Azores Cruising (22 Oct 2009)

Ponta Delgada Marina (14 Oct 2009)

European Regulations Regarding Insurance Cover and AIS Equipment  (13 Sep 2009)

Passage from Azores to England in July (10 Aug 2009)

Arriving in Lajes de Pico - Some Advice (17 Jul 2009)

Nova Scotia, Halifax to Azores (12 Jan 2009)

Azores to Jacksonville, Florida (24 Jun 2008)

Caribbean, St. Martin to Azores in May (22 May 2008)

Azores to Bermuda to USA, Rhode Island (22 May 2008)

Caribbean East to Southern Brazil (15 May 2008)

Related News

Atlantic Ocean: Norwegian Yacht Missing - Now Safely Arrived in Ireland (26 Sep 2011)

ARC Europe transatlantic cruising rally starts (09 May 2011)

New Summer Rally from the Azores to Madeira and Back (01 Jul 2010)

British cruising sailors rescued after yacht sinks in NE Atlantic (19 Jun 2010)

Transatlantic Rally sets sail from Nanny Cay, Tortola, BVIs (08 May 2010)

Largest ever ARC Europe fleet start from Nanny Cay, Tortola, BVIs (08 May 2009)

Missing Yacht - Formosa ´68 (07 Oct 2008)

ARC Europe Transatlantic Rally departs Antigua (14 May 2008)

EU extends VAT grace period for non-EU boats to 18 months (12 Aug 2001)