Horta - Clearance
For full details on clearing into and out of the Azores see Azores Formalities.
International Clearance
All formalities may be completed with the marina office building, which also houses customs and immigration.
- As you approach Faial and before entering the harbor, make contact with the marina on VHF Ch. 16 (or in Horta Ch. 09). They can provide you with anchoring instructions during working hours.
- You may be asked to berth alongside the reception quay (minimum depth 3m) – space permitting. As you pass through the breakwater entrance turn to port and follow the breakwater on your starboard side to the end. To starboard is a two-story white building (fuel pumps can easily be seen at its Northern end). This is the “reception dock.”
- The marina office is open 0800-1200, 1300-2000 (seven days a week in the high season April to June).
- The offices of Immigration, maritime police, Customs (Alfandega) and Guarda Nacional Republicana are next to the marina office in the same building. The marina staff will inform the captain of the order in which these officials must be visited, both on arrival and at departure.
- The marina office will assign a berth once clearance is completed.
- Yachts arriving after office hours should wait at the reception quay until the next morning.
Last updated: May 2023
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Port Navigation
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We arrived from St. Marteen, after 22 days sailing trip. Called them Channel 9. Some person from the Marina tould us to anchor at the entrance of the harbour, to do the COVID test on board. Nobody can land without this. Next day we were informed everithing is Okay. Again more paper work. We have to pass inmigration checkout, even if your passport is from the Eurozone.
Next day more papers. We are now leaving to the continent. We paid 30 euros for staying at the anchor área two days. So we sail away …
The welcome here by everyone concerned has been quite remarkable. The harbour authorities have worked tirelessly with great patience in the face of a never ending stream of yachts arriving after long passages. Peter’s Cafe Sport too have gone beyond expectations by visiting boats under quarantine and doing shopping for them by going off to the supermarket and working late into the night to deliver food, water, gas and restaurant quality meals. The process of testing for Covid19 has been well organised by the Maritime Police and Health Authority with results available within 24 hours.
Jobiska has been one of the beneficiaries of the kindness of the wonderful Azorean people. We have great memories of these islands from 2 previous visits but had not really appreciated just how lucky we are to have these islands, an essential stopover for the trans Atlantic sailor, inhabited by such kind and caring people.
Azores 20190731
Faial – Horta
SY Belissima/FR/La Rochelle
Checking in Horta this month we had to pay 70€ to the Buoy and Lighthouses Association (?)
Some boats as us had to pay and others not (?)
Azores 20190731
Faial
Horta marina
SY Belissima/FR/La Rochelle
We were very pleased to meet good professional services in Horta Marina with a group of services managed by Harry SCHANK of Good@Wood Shipwrights especially for mechanic, Gelcoat, Inox welding.
Harry is very helpful and efficient 7/7, speaking English, Dutch, German. He arrived ten years ago and knows everybody here.
Marina da Horta
9900 Horta – Faial Grisu – PB – 36 (Azores)
Phone +351 922 169 233
Email : grisu1969@hotmail.de
Site http://www.goodatwood.eu
Laundry service here is provided by Mr Santos and his wife Rosa Maria. He collects and delivers from the marina most days. Contact details LAVANDARIA DA ROSA – Mobile: 962821723. Excellent service and much easier than walking the whole length of the marina.
Report by RCC Pilotage Foundation:
WARNING: We had some very useful insight from Tony Dudman regarding anchoring in the Azores. Having been told by the marineiro ashore in Horta to anchor until the office opened, they anchored with a tripping line but later couldn’t get the anchor up. Another boat abeam also had problems freeing themselves and a couple ashore said they too had got snagged the day before.
They eventually needed a diver to release them, who informed them that patch of the harbour had disused anchors and chain left over from ship manoeuvres. Be careful or avoid anchoring in this area.