It was a slow motor sail to Velas in Sao Jorge. What a trip. We got an early start, but soon started seeing other boats behind us. We were soon overtaken by a Dutch research boat that tags and monitors whales. We were hoping to spot some whales since the researchers were so close, but no luck.
Instead we were treated to hour after hour of studying Azorean topography by water. So much of the island is uninhabitable based on geologic development (volcanoes and earthquakes), that what we saw was obvious. Big bowls left after eruptions (caulderas) left room for a good size village to take shape. Fajas, the remnants of lava flows ending at the sea’s edge, also made for good, albeit smaller, villages. The switchbacks carved into the mountainside to reach these fajas looked remarkably daunting.
We didn’t reach Velas and drop anchor till 7:30 that night, and I just assumed the local festivities from the weekend would be over. Instead, local OCC port commander Linda Lane Thornton met us at the dock with her husband Andy, and we headed off to the party. Wow, do the Portuguese know how to party. Many, many, many beers and a kebab later, the band started up at midnight. One Vision, a Queen tribute band worthy of Eurovision, played until 2 am. At 1:30 fireworks were set off directly overhead. What a night! What an introduction to the island – so much for things being quieter than Terceira! We staggered back to the dinghy and passed out on board at 2:30 am, music still playing the distance. Welcome to Velas!
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