Melina is leaving the Azores on the 1st July, heading for Brest where we expect to arrive around the 12th. Just in time to see some of the Brest Wooden Boat Festival which is from 10 - 15 July.
The Azores have been great and a contrast to the Caribbean and US. There is lots of real fresh food and the locals are helpful wihout any of the tourist hassel. A wounderful part of the world despite it being cloudy and wet for most of our stay. The summer Azores high is just beginning to get established as we leave!
We have manged to visit eight of the nine islands. The last Santa Maria is too far south and east for us to visit this time. We took a bus, taxi or car tour around each island except Corvo. The smaller and less commercial islands are by far the most interesting and friendly. Flories and Graciosa with a population of about four thousand a piece are probably the nicest of the lot.
The next posing on this blog site will be when we arrive in Brest.
Ian
Melina arrived in Flores on 10th June after a relatively peacfull passage. Only on the last night we had to stand off in wind and rain before entering the harbour. It then rained most of the next day.
We used ´Herbs´weather serviice from Toronto on the crossing and he kept us (any many other yachts) out of the strong winds and in fair currents for most of the time. We hope to use him again on out departure from the Azores.
We will be in the Azores until early July when we set sail for Brest and due to arrive around the 15th July. The new mobile number is working +44 797 156 72 92.
Any crews wanting to join Melina in Brittany in late July and August should contact ian@hanny.net or magda@hannay.net before the end of June.
Ian (I hope you can read this as I have no glasses with me at the moment!)