Sailing
Azores in 2026
"Hawaii of Europe"
Pico's mountain over 7700 feet!
Trip Emblem
Destination
Azores - (Portuguese)central group of islands: Terceira, Pico, Sailo, Graciosa and Faial
Dates
Sep 12 to Sep 19, 2026 (Sat to Sat)Home Base: Faial sland
Horta Marina (popular X-Atlantic stopping point)
Planning Brunch: 28 June 2027 at Sam's (and virtual)
Iteneraries: Sail Sail Azores These volcanic islands are two hours air trip east from Portugal in the Atlantic Ocean. It is a favorite stopping place for cross-pond cruisers. Like Hawaii, many of Azore islands have a distinctive flair. Use links below to discover more.
Full disclosure: This is NOT a balmy, lazy-daze Caribbean trip with lots of snorkeling and line-of-sight sailing. This is definitely a "sailors" experience with some open ocean crosses between islands. It is not sailing in flat water within a rimming reef. Excitement is guaranteed, as they say.
Cost Estimate: 8 days, 7 nights, boat and board costs $1400 per person, double occupancy
Airfare ideas:
There are direct flights to Azores Ponta Delgada (PDL) airport. For example, from Boston. Then a one hour puddle jumper from PDL to Faial Island (HOR). A round trip from SFO is priced possibly around $1700 that time of year.
If you are already in Lisbon, then there is a direct link to HOR by Azores Airlines.
You may consider other add-on options, including a extension to tour the popular Sao Miguel island (Azores' Oahu). Indulge the Portuguese experience by visiting Porto/Lisbon. We plan including biking along the Duoro river.
More about Azores
A 2021 yachting story from a repeat sailor around the islands.
A Sailing Magazine description how Azores have changed.
From the Official Visitors site for Visit Azores.
Diving available - Even Resort Dives - with Octopus
For more details, call Joe at 408-234-4268, or email at exegrec3 at gmail dot com.
A "full disclosure" fom one of the charter company websites:
This is not the BVI. To charter a boat (in the Azores) you need a fair amount of experience, as the sailing can be challenging, ranging from simple coastal hops to true ocean passages in sometimes strong weather. You don’t need a certificate, but you will be closely queried as to your experience.
Also, chartering in the Azores has proved very popular with Europeans, so you need to book well in advance. The season runs from April through October; prime time is from May through September.
Sailboat Information
Only sloops available. I have made reservations as of mid Feb 2025 when bookings finally opened for 2026.
Boat Reservation
LayoutSTELLA
Dufour 410 Sloop
3 cabins
STRAPPO
Dufour 460 Sloop
4 cabins
Reservations
Costs and Deposits
Trip is budgeted at $1500 per person, double occupancy.
This estimate is for 8 day/7 night trip. It includes boat, insurance, fuel, provisioning, beverages, some meals ashore, dock and marina fees, taxes. It does not include your transport costs to the marina. It does not reflect hotel or travel costs off the boat, nor any air fare.
We can go with as few as 6 people, or as many as 12 with two boats.
Signup
First come first served as always, with preference for a first mate signup.
I will call for deposits in late Winter 2025 when the boat reservations open up. A $700 deposit is due then. The balance will be due about 90 days before the trip.
(Electronic payments: try first with $1 and ask me for success before the full amount)
- Paypal using the email: exegrec3 AT yahoo DOT com
- Venmo using ID: @Joseph-Martinka
- Zelle transfer: 408 DASH 234 DASH 4268 my cell #
- Check to 1760 Laurentian Way, Sunnyvale, CA 940877
The deposit is refundable only if we find someone else to go in your place.
Crew Status
Roles needed for each boat: Skipper, 1st Mate, Pursor, Dinghy Captain
Current Signups
Those expressing an interest but no deposits: Nanden/Napor
| Crew | NAME | Boat | Roles | Boat |
| 1 | Joe Martinka | 41 | Skipper or Navigator | plank owners |
| 2 | Dorian Martinka | 41 | last spouse, songstress | |
| 3 | Sam Martin | 46 | potential skipper, resident mixologist | deposit received |
| 4 | Laura Alster-Martin | 46 | ||
| 5 | Tom Martin | 46 | potential 1st mate | deposit received |
| 6 | Elida Oettel | 46 | ||
| 7 | Jeff Dunham | 41 | potential 1st mate | deposit received |
| 8 | Meesh Krick | 41 | high priestest of happy hour | |
| 9 | Jack Doolittle | 41 | potential 1st mate | deposit received |
| 10 | Marie Doolittle | 41 | ||
| 11 | Larry Meyer | 46 | potential 1st mate | deposit received |
| 12 | Therese Meyer | 46 | ||
| 13 | Anne Utech (single cabin ) | 46 | potential 1st mate | deposit received |
| wait list | Jeff Martinka | deposit on hold | ||
| wait list | Nathalie McCoy | |||
| wait list | ||||
| wait list | ||||
| wait list |
Page updates
October 20, 2024 - first draft prepped for crew call
Dec 10, 2024 - updated for some interest.
Jan 21, 2025 - first day deposts received
Jan 23, 2025 - later deposits and promises- Two boats are complete
Jan 25, 2025 - more waitlist entries
Feb 17, 2025 - reserved two boats after being on waiting list for months
Feb 22, 2026 - yeah, a year later. Fixed two crew last
names. Reformatted for mobile devices