Step aboard an authentic Azorean whaleboat, “Nossa Senhora de Fátima”, beautifully rebuilt by João Tavares and captained by Filipe Fernandes, a sailor with over 20 years of experience in mastering these historic vessels.
Step aboard as crew, guided by an awarded sailor devoted to preserving this island tradition.
To know this boat is to know the people who made it—and who were made by it. It is memory in motion, culture afloat, and proof that from the hardest circumstances, beauty and excellence can emerge. More than a boat, it carries the story of who we are.
With over 20 Years sailing whaleboats, Filipe is a dedicated guardian of their history and cultural significance, committed to preserving their legacy for future generations.
Built in 1929, she was abandoned to the elements 50 years later, until an iconic whaler took her in and gave her shelter — now lovingly restored to honor both their legacies.