The next island along is Faial with the main harbour of Horta the major stopping place for boats heading back east across the Atlantic. Less than 25 miles from Velas it was a motor most of the way, just a short period with enough wind to sail. When we were last here it was 2020, the COVID year, and we were sailing back from the Caribbean. Luckily for us the authorities started allowing yacht people ashore after getting a negative covid test just the week before we arrived (prior to that boats had to anchor off and supplies were brought to them) so we were able to spend nearly 2 weeks exploring the island. In 2020 the harbour was full of yachts but very peaceful ashore as there were no flights, now its Sea Week in Horta, lots of yacht races, dinghy races, rowing races, swimming races and music (and of course a full complement of tourists) so it’s pretty busy though paradoxically probably less itinerant yachts. We were lucky enough to be allocated a berth on the wall in the marina.