Flores

Scot Free III
Frank & Anne
Wed 3 Jul 2024 17:20
The Azores are volcanic islands, spread out into 3 groups. Flores, the most western island in Europe, was battered by Hurricane Lorenzo in 2019 and most of the harbour in Lajes was destroyed. The harbour masters’s office was tossed into the air, as were the concrete blocks of the outer breakwater. All plans for restoring the small marina have been put on hold, as the cost versus the risk of further hurricanes makes it non viable.

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There are now minimal facilities, but at least there is a Sailor’s Laundry with one washing machine and one tumble dryer, which we used twice over after our multi layers got multiples of use. Now smell fresh again. Decided to remain at anchor just next to the damaged breakwater. F went “ fishing “ for the innards of the emergency light which fell into the water. He was using the sea anchor, retrieved a couple of batteries but then a ball of iron filings too, can only imagine they are from the numerous steel containers lost & sunk in the hurricane? We’ll need to make sure none come aboard when we lift the anchor as aluminium and more noble metals don’t mix.
The beach nearby is grey, but the towels brighten it up.

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