Exploring Horta with ARC Europe
by World Cruising Club 5 Jun 23:48 PDT
Peters Cafe - ARC Europe 2025 © World Cruising Club
The ARC Europe fleet has now all arrived in Horta with the final boats arriving Wednesday evening. It's great to see the fleet together again and off exploring the island of Faial.
The first arrivals got together at the famous Peter Café Sport on Tuesday evening for Welcome Drinks. Peter's Café is an iconic bar and a must visit for passing sailors, overlooking the Marina and bay of Horta. It has been run by the same family for three generations, and serves as everything from a currency exchange and post office to restaurant and bar serving their famous gin and tonics.
Many of the crews have taken the opportunity to explore more of Faial, visiting the volcano and museum or taking a bike tour up to the crater and enjoying the all downhill cycle back down to the town! Some of the earlier arrivals also managed to see the procession of Our Lady of Angustias from the church in Horta on Sunday. It's one of the most important religious festivities in Faial with many locals taking part and a key part of Azorean culture.
The skippers attended a cruising briefing this morning giving them information about the islands of the Azores and advice on moving to the next stop. The first boats to arrive in Horta will be moving on to Terceira in a couple of days with a few opting to stop at São Jorge on the way to explore more of the Azores islands before the fleet is reunited in São Miguel ahead of their start to Lagos or Northern Europe.