On leaving Ponta Delgada we sailed west for about 12 miles to a small semi sunken volcanic crater now an island and nature reserve opposite of the little town, Vila Franca do Campo.

We found out, that the seabirds we heard that evening were hundreds of Cory’s Shearwaters, which nest in the cliffs of the crater.

After a peaceful night sleep and an idyllic morning, the first boat load of visitors were dropped off and some officials told us we could not anchor out here (although marked on our updated charts) and asked us to drop anchor off the beach of the town. So, following the inspiration to get moving, we checked out the place, didn’t feel that attracted to it and with a good forecast for winds in the right direction later in the day, we set sail for Terceira some hundred miles away.