Yacht Charter Ponta Delgada

Yacht Charter Ponta Delgada

Yacht Charter In Ponta Delgada - Azores

On a Ponta Delgada yacht charter with Borrow a Boat you can explore much of Sao Miguel and the Azores within an easy sail. Whatever you want from an Azores archipelago yacht charter, from exploring the volcanoes to whale watching, a Ponta Delgada sailing holiday is going to be an unforgettable experience.

For almost 200 years the capital city of the Azores, Ponta Delgada is a cosmopolitan centre with a rich history. Its wealth comes from exporting oranges to the UK in the 1800s, and you will see large mansions and other trappings of wealth from that era. With 50,000 people living in the city year round it has a mixed economy that includes tourism, agriculture, viticulture and fishing.

Today tourism is a major part of the economy of Ponta Delgada, with people visiting for the nearby hot springs, sailing, hiking, canyoning, mountain biking and hiking that make Sao Miguel a fun and exciting island to visit. Being on the Mid Atlantic Ridge of undersea mountains (like Iceland but far warmer!) it has two large volcanic calderas where you can see geysers or swim in water warmed by magma deep underground.

When you do get to sea you are likely to run into the local population of sperm whale that live in the area yer round. At different times of the year it is estimated that a third of the world's species of whale pass through the Azores thanks to the excellent feeding grounds, and you may well see humpbacks and other great whales as well as porpoises and dolphins on a whale watching trip.

Rent a boat with Borrow a Boat today to see, taste and feel these wonderful islands on a sailing holiday of a lifetime.

Explore Ponta Delgada By Renting A Yacht

Ponta Delgada lies on the south coast of Sao Miguel, one of the nine islands of the Portuguese administered Azores archipelago in the mid Atlantic Ocean. Why not go island hopping to get a taste for the Azores islands as a whole?

Santa Maria is a day's sail to the south. For those looking for beautiful beaches, this is the island for you. The warmest, it is also the oldest island in geological terms with its rolling hills that have been eroded from the volcanoes of the past. This has excellent hiking and mountain biking trails too.

A day's sail to the north of Sao Miguel are the 'Ilhas Triangulo' - the three main islands of the Central Group of the Azores. Faial, Pico and Sao Jorge are volcanic islands with rich biodiversity and some great towns.

Sao Jorge is fairly new to tourism and is laid back and sleepy but with its high mountains and amazing flora and fauna is not to be missed on your sailing holiday. The main port Velas is an excellent place to use as a base.

Faial with its capital Horta is still growing in size. In 1957 a nearby underwater eruption extended the island as magma cooled and joined an underse island to its coast. Horta itself has been a busy urban centre since the 1400s and is well worth a visit for its culture and sights too.

Graciosa is the northern island of the Central Group and has an amazing magma cave called Furna do Enxofre that is accessed down a huge staircase to see a 50 metre high chamber beneath the ground.

A half day's sail to the east of Sao Jorge is Ilha Terciera, home of the Azores' capital city Angra for 400 years until the 1800s when volcanic activity made the transfer of power necessary. Visit the Sao Joao fortress and the 3km wide caldera that made life difficult in the 1800s!

There are other islands to visit on a Ponta Delgada yacht charter - Flores and Corvo are possible on a longer yach trental for example. Book your boat charter with Borrow a Boat today to see what we mean!

How To Get To Ponta Delgada

Joao Paulo II Airport

Ponta Delgada's airport is the main airport for the Azores. It has flights from the US, Canada, UK, Portugal and the Canaries.

Marinas In Ponta Delgada

Ponta Delgada Marina

A short taxi ride from the airport, Marina do Ponta Delgada is the largest in the Azores islands. It is a yacht charter hub with charter company offering crewed charter and bareboat catamaran charter, monohull sailing yacht charter, luxury yacht charter and motorboat charter.

Berth Characteristics:

640 berths

Max Length 60m (197 Feet)

Max Draught 5m (16 Feet)

List of additional services: Shore power, water, WiFi, shower/WC, launderette, garbage disposal, cash machine, hotel, restaurant.

Suggested Sailing Routes From Ponta Delgada

So, what do you want from an Azores islands boat rental out of Ponta Delgada? Hiking up volcanoes and enjoying the beautiful scenery? Whale watching at sea, or exploring the great history of these important Atlantic Ocean trading posts? On your Ponta Delgada yacht charter you can enjoy all of these and more.

7 Days - Sao Miguel and the Central Azores: This is an opportunity to explore the five islands of the Central Azores. The first day's sail will be a long leg out from Ponta Delgada to Angra on Terciera. After a morning ashore you then head to Praia on Graciosa and perhaps do some hiking inland the next day. South to Sao Jorge and a night in Velas on the south coast where you can explore this island. Horta on Faial will be your next sailing destination where you can take in the history of the former capital. Nipping across the strait to Madalena on Pico will be your shortest sail of the week, perhaps hiking up the Montanha de Pico mountain inland. Your final day will be mostly at sea as you return to Sao Miguel with your memories and hopefully a photo of a sperm whale or two!

14 Days - The Azores in Full: There will be some long sailing legs on this trip. The first day is around 40NM down to Santa Maria and you will spend the next day ashore on the sunniest island of the Azores. Another long leg the next day - to the south coast of Sao Miguel, this time to Povoacao where you can take in the hot springs of the east of the island for a day. A 60NM leg this time round to the east of the island then north to Angra do Heroismo on Terciera. The next few days will be island hopping to Graciosa and Sao Jorge, ahead of a longer leg to Corvo and Flores in the northern group of the Azores. South-east for another day's sail to Horta, then Pico before the final long leg back to Ponta Delgada.

Best Times To Hire A Yacht In Ponta Delgada

The hottest time - and the most expensive time of year are the school holiday months of July and August. If you are limited to these months then be prepared to pay a premium on the boatyou are hiring and in the marinas you visit.

The sailing season in the Azores runs from April to October so it may pay to go earlier or later in the year. The weather is still a lot warmer than in Northern Europe - be prepared to smile in your tee shirt as you see locals bundled up in their winter jackets - but you will find the locals warmer toward you, the marinas cheaper and to have parted with less cash on the holiday in the first place. As a tip? October is better than April as the Atlantic Ocean is still warm from the summer months.

The Climate

Azores High

This dominates the weather in the region. For you the sailor you will find the temperatures around 23 degrees C between April and October and a bit cooler at night. Generally speaking you can expect F4-5 winds from the west between April and August then it coming from the NE - E and building in September and October as the high pressure moves north.

FAQs:

What should I consider when hiring a Yacht or Boat?

The main points to consider are what is your budget, have you got the necessary sailing experience and qualifications to manage the boat if it's not going to have a skipper, whom you are taking sailing, where exactly you wish to go and what will the weather be like on the proposed dates of your trip.

What are the Marinas in Ponta Delgada?

Marina do Ponta Delgada is a very large marina with 640 berths and is capable of taking superyacht charters of up to 60 metres.

When are the best times to hire a boat in Ponta Delgada?

The sailing season runs from April to October thanks to the temperature and winds. This is a subtropical Atlantic archipelago with some of the best sailing conditions close to Portugal. If you want a quiet, more authentic sailing holiday, do try to visit outside school holidays - October is often the best with the sea still warm and the heat nowhere as fierce.

Do you have to pay a deposit when hiring a Yacht in Ponta Delgada?

You will typically pay 50% up front on booking the yacht hire and the balance on arrival. You will either pay a security deposit with your credit card on departure or can get insurance covering damage in advance. In some cases (such as the recent Covid situation) charter companies may be more flexible but this depends on the individual charter companies themselves.

What happens if my Yacht breaks down?

If you are at sea and in danger, call MAYDAY on VHF Ch16 or ring the coast guard on your phone if you have reception. If you have a mechanical fault and can make it to or are on a mooring you will be able to phone a help line number given by the boat charter company.

What should I think of before I hire a Yacht or Boat in Ponta Delgada?

You should consider do you have the experience to handle the yacht charter or boat hire before you book and where do you want to go along with what the weather will be like. Dress for warm weather but do have something for tropical rains - light but waterproof.

What Qualifications Do I need to hire a boat or yacht?

If you want to sail without a skipper then you will need relevant qualifications like RYA Day Skipper/International Certificate of Competence (ICC)/ASA 104 Bareboat certificate or the US Sailing Certificate. For small 'day boats' or if you choose to have a crewed yacht charter you typically don't require licences.