Sail an authentic Azorean whaleboat with a local captain
No sailing experience needed. Just come aboard
We will prepare the perfect experience for you
Whether you have a particular experience in mind or simply want to come aboard, we’ll help plan the right voyage for your group.
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.
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 racing 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.