Horta on the Island of Faial, Acores

Horta on the Island of Faial, Acores
Originally uploaded by darenpackham.

We didn't even stay here for 24 hours but it will remain a happy memory on this journey.

Horta is a port of refuge. Most people here have been fighting big seas and heavy weather and are crossing the atlantic one way or another. As I have said before, the heavy weather that we were are able to just shrug off with a push of a window wiper button is a very differnt story for the guys on regular size cruising yachts.

The spirit that I miss from the tall ships and sailing boats is very evident here on this small island. They, by hook or by crook have fought a storm, reefed in thier sails, held onto a kicking wheel and have ridden like a sleigh down rolling seas while feeling the wind and spray on thier cold scared faces.

In the Bar. There is always a bar. The first one you come to out of the harbour, is where you will find these people, they are alive and pleased for it. There was a Polish tall ship in harbour and they were all singing drunkenly, out of tune but together in the spirit of a crew who had been through something together. We were also having a fun time but I know its just not the same! After seeing that for the first time as an 'outsider' I know that my stay on motor boats will be reletively short lived. I don't think that you can properly acknowledge a trans atlantic passage under power in the same way. I felt like a bit of a cheat .
Enjoying the challenges of this for now though and am still slightly overwhealmed with it sometimes.