Azores - Yachting Essentials

Azores Yachting Essentials

Electricity

Voltage: 220V / Frequency: 50Hz (standard throughout mainland Europe)
Mainspower available in all island marinas.

Voltage: 380V 3-phase current is available in some areas of Horta Marina and Ponta Delgada.

Water

Water is available at all the ports except Corvo.

Fuel

Fuel is available at Horta, Lajes das Flores, Vila do Porto, Vila das Velas, Ponta Delgada, Vila Franca do Campo, and Praia da Vitoria.

Large quantities of fuel can be arranged for delivery in Horta and Ponta Delgada. In harbors where there are no fuel pumps available (such as Lajes do Pico) the same may be arranged, however normally there is a minimum quantity and it may take several days to organise.

Note: Diesel is gasoleo, and, petrol is gasolina.

LPG

Only butane is available on all the islands and only GALP cylinders can be exchanged.

Bottles can be exchanged at Ponta Delgada, and Praia da Vitoria.

All other bottles, including Camping Gaz, must be sent for re-filling. Bottles can be re-filled at Horta (Faial), Ponta Delgada (Sao Miguel) and Praia da Vitoria (Terceira). This usually takes at least 2 working days.

Note: most ports/marina which has repair services also supply LPG. Make sure you have your correct fitting for European bottles. Old and rusty bottles will be refused.

Chandlery

Chandlery is expensive in the Azores and limited in availabililty. In general you can find, or order, most things in Horta and Ponta Delgada and hardware stores on all islands tend to have rope, paint and possibly fenders due to the local boating/fishing community. No duty is paid on anything ordered in the EU, but bringing things in from elsewhere can incur additional costs. See Customs for more info.

Repairs

There are boatyards with lift out and repairs at Horta (20 tonne), Vila do Porto (75 tonne), Vila das Velas (crane & limited repairs), Ponta Delgada (25 tonne), Vila Franca do Campo (80 tonne), and Praia da Vitoria (35 tonne) and Angra do Heroismo (50 tonne).

Laying Up

If wanting to leave your boat ashore in the Azores, the marina at Praia da Vitoria, Terceira is best suited for this purpose, although Vila do Porto has recently expanded. There are good flight connections to Horta from Lisbon as well as frequent service from Boston to Sao Miguel and/or Terceira; all with Azores Airlines.

While Horta is not suitable for laying your boat up ashore, many cruisers leave their boats in the water here over the winter. Praia de Vitoria is also a good option, plus Angra do Heroismo and Vila do Porto. Be sure to organise a yacht caretaker in your absence.

Anchoring

• Horta and Flores Marinas now charge an anchoring fee of 50% of the berthing rate. A rate sheet will be supplied on arrival. Other Azores marinas may well start doing the same.
• Many inlets are now protected by breakwaters making viable anchorages.
• Fibre-optic undersea cables connect all the islands, and some islands have more than one. All should be lit at night over the no-anchoring area (marked on charts).
• You will be fined for anchoring in a prohibited area.

Marinas

All marinas in the Islands are under the jurasdiction of Azores Ports (https://portosdosacores.pt/en/), as are all commercial and fishing harbors. The only exceptions are Praia da Vitoria (Terceira), Vila Franca do Campo (Sao Miguel) and Cais da Barra (Graciosa - new marina 2021), which belong to the local City Council (Camara Municipal).

https://portosdosacores.pt/en/ has details of all yachting marinas and their facilities. Berthing fees are standard across all marinas, irrespective of facilities. Approx. cost for a 12-15m yacht in 2021 - 18 Euros including water and electricity. Payment can be made by most cards, except American Express. Normally showers are paid as extra.

As expansion works continue in many harbors, it pays to check with your departure marina for any on-going changes in the next harbor on your itinerary, should hazards be unlit.