Sao Jorge 38 40.809N. 28 12.134W
Persephone... Cruiser/Racer
Nigel & Karen Goodhew...
Sun 16 Jul 2017 16:30
On the previous evening, I had been privileged to have been invited to go out and see the start of the second leg of the Class 40 race back to Sable d'Olonne aboard Jean-Pierre's yacht. By coincidence, JP was the guy who fixed our engine last time we were in Horta!
Anyway, yesterday there was no wind. At all. So an excellent opportunity to put our newly serviced and repaired engine to the test. And pass the test it did, with flying colours. 4 hours after firing her up, we arrived in Velas, Sao Jorge and the good old engine didn't miss a beat, ran smoothly, at constant speed and stayed running on tickover.....in short, things were just as they should be.
This morning, we explored the charming little town of Velas, clinging as it does, to the vertiginous south coast of the island. There seems to us, to be a strong hint of old Cornwall here. Little fishermans cottages hugging the cliff faces around the tiny harbour. Everything is spotlessly clean, trees trimmed or coppiced, streets swept, public spaces and street furniture immaculately painted.
The welcome in the marina was fulsome, detailed and delivered with heartfelt warmth, even pride.
I think we will have little trouble spending a week or so here....
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