Terceira - Praia da Vitoria
Starcross Fair Log
Ross Wilson
Thu 12 May 2011 17:42
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Thursday 12/05/11
Praia Marina Terceira
38:43.8N 27:03.4W
Intention: to sail to
Portugal/Spain (833NM approx)
After 2 uncomfortable nights in
Angra Marina with swell causing excessive surging and damaging a fairlead,
we sailed round to the east coast and are now in the marina at Praia da
Vitoria. The marina entrance (not the main harbour which accomodates
cargo, cruise and warships) is rather shallow with dredging in progress, but
once in there is adequate depth for a 2.4m draft yacht. This is a
lovely location with friendly helpful staff, immaculate showers, toilets and
laundry facilities, a sandy beach (hence the need for dredging) with beach bar,
and a small town with an adequate supermarket within walking
distance. There is, however, no fuel dock and this has to be carried
from a garage beside the supermarket. (Note that the fuel pontoon at
Angra located just inside the marina entrance was considered unuseable
because of the swell at the time we were there).
We will stay here until next week when
an additional crew member is expected to arrive at Lajes International Airport
located nearby (regular flights from UK with change at Lisbon). This is
also a military airfield and the flight path passes over the marina; great for
plane spotting but it can be rather noisy! We will then head for
the Portuguese/Spanish coast, as far north as the wind will practically
allow, noting that the High mid-Atlantic appears to be moving south towards the
Azores. |