On the way to the hydrangea archipelago
The cruise Concarneau - Les Açores -Concarneau which will leave on July 12th, 2020 is the new name of the famous "Route des Hortensia" organized for about twenty years. After a 10-year break, the team of the Société des régates de Concarneau has decided to relaunch this course in the form of a flotilla cruise.
Didier Parez, one of the organizers, explains the motivations : " I practiced ocean racing for many years, then for my retirement with my wife we went on a round-the-world trip. On returning from this beautiful adventure, I met many sailboat owners who were hesitant to embark alone on a long crossing such as a trip to the Azores. It's obvious that a group departure allows to demystify such a crossing and to be able to access the pleasures of deep-sea cruising"
If the SRC team has taken up the route of the mythical Route des Hortensia again this time it is not a regatta, but a real flotilla cruise that they offer. Didier Parez:" We have limited the number of participants to 20 boats in order to guarantee conviviality and not to limit ourselves to the large marinas". The registration fee is extremely affordable, only 300 euros, which is much cheaper than any regatta lasting a few days.
"Thanks to local sponsors, registration fees are kept to a minimum. They include berths in Concarneau, upstream and downstream of the cruise, as well as during the 3 stopovers in the Azores. In addition, before leaving, participants will be briefed on boat preparation, safety, provisioning or insurance and of course the weather forecast"
Colourful ports of call
The Azores are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and exotic cruise destinations in Europe.
After a summer crossing of the Bay of Biscay towards the archipelago, a distance of 1150 miles, the participants will arrive on the island of Terceira . The third island discovered by the Portuguese (hence its name) is often referred to as "?l 'island of the fête?" in the Azores.
In the summer, entertainment is in full swing with hundreds of festivals organised by the island's different communities. Terceira is also rich in its exceptional historical and natural heritage.
The fleet will then head for the island of Faial, otherwise known as the Blue Island in reference to the huge clumps of hydrangeas, shades of blue, which decorate the houses, separate the fields and line the roads. The island of Faial is the island of sailors par excellence with the emblematic Peter Sport café where several generations of sailors have already stopped over.
Finally, the flotilla will set course for graciosa Island and its brand new port, which the rally will have the honour of inaugurating. Declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2007, the small island of Graciosa is located in the north-west of the Azores archipelago.
Nicknamed the White Island, Graciosa is a garden composed of plants endemic to the Azores archipelago that nature lovers will appreciate. And Didier Parez announces that " for two days, participants will take part in traditional regattas on real whaling ships with local crews."
The boats will set sail again from the continent on August 4th to arrive 10 days later in the middle of the blue net festival in Concarneau.
