Azores

Blue water sailing around the Azores

The Atlantic Islands of The Azores, Madeira, and Canaries sit on the latitude where the butter melts and Trans Atlantic sailors turn westwards with the trade winds. Staging posts for square rig sailors and yachtsmen through the centuries, these mountainous island landfalls with lush vegetation are a welcome reward on our 10-14 day ocean passages.

There is more to becoming a blue water sailor than swapping oilskins for shorts, but a winter suntan certainly helps. Ocean sailors happily adapt to a watch routine and the constant motion of the ship day and night. Experience all the ships moods from glassy calms to white capped swells launching flying fish from crest to crest.

Azores for Island Hopping

The Azores has welcomed Ocean travellers and sailors for centuries. It is a unique place and will bring out the explorer in you. The permanent crew will also have some ideas on the best things to see ashore as their ships have explored these islands for several years. Sometimes transport will be hired to explore further inland (small charge for this to cover costs), or a BBQ or crew meal ashore might be proposed.

Azure Seas and Lush Volcanic Flora

The Azores are Portuguese, and there are 9 islands in 3 distinct groups – all volcanic with ancient Caldera craters. Only Pico still has an original cone over 2351m high. From June – October the weather is dominated by the Azores High. Summer temperatures typically reach 23 degrees centigrade. Evenings are cooler than the Caribbean. The shorelines are often steep cliffs and the vegetation is lush with much tropical fruit as well as fresh dairy products. Fishing, green tourism and whale watching are an important part of their economy and in the past Whaling was a major industry.

Azores

Azores - Whale Hunters turned Environmentalists

Whale hunting was historically a major source of income in the Azores. The local island communities continue to reap the benefits of being on the migration trail but now they have turned to whale watching and cetacean research, replacing their bloodier past. A tall ship (like a whaling ship) has a great advantage over island boats for cetacean spotting – a crows nest vantage point. If you are on the royal yard and you see a pod of whales spouting, we don't think you will be able to resist the Captain Ahab / Moby Dick moment. Yes, both Classic Sailing directors have been caught shouting "Thar she blows !"

The best whale watching route in Europe

Sail from Azores to the UK on tall ship Stavros S Niarchos for a 1200 mile ocean passage that covers some of the best* places in the world to see dolphins and whales (* as recommended by the Dolphin & Whale Conservation Society) . It really doesn’t take long crossing the Bay of Biscay before you reach the continental shelf in the Bay of Biscay where currents from the deep ocean upwell creating a rich source of plankton from the depths feeding all levels of marine life. The sea turns a reassuring blue off the North Coast of Spain, another hotspot for Dolphins. You will experience many hours night sailing under incredibly bright stars in unpolluted dark night skies, and you can even spot dolphins at night in calm weather as they leave a glowing trail of phosphorescence.

Azores voyage dates on British Tall Ship Stavros S Niarchos in 2010