The boat “SENHORA DE FÁTIMA”, owned by Cristóvão Mota Soares, was built in 1945 in a small Village called Capelas located on the northern coats of S. Miguel. Its’ registration is PD-320-B. According t its official document, the boat was classified as a “sailing and rowing whaling canoe” LOA = 10.85 m, beam = 1.92 m, depth = 0.72 m; gross tonnage = 12.923 cubic meters. In 1946, the boat was sent to the island of Graciosa, where Mr. Soares had a whaling company operating with two motorized tow boats and six whaleboats. On July 25^th, 1946 the whaleboat changes its registration to SG-98-B in the Maritime Delegation of Santa Cruz, Graciosa, maintaining the same name, technical specifications, and owner. At the peak of the whaling period, “SENHORA DE FÁTIMA” was rented to the Whaling Captain João Baptista, who continued operating the boat in Graciosa until 1960. After the death of Mr. Soares, his company was acquired by Jose Cristiano de Sousa, a prestigious ship owner from the island of Pico. The company later joined an association called, Armações Baleeiras Reunidas, LDA, based in the town of São Roque, Pico. It is known that the whaleboat “SENHORA DE FÁTIMA” was active during the 40s until the ban on whaling in the early ’80s, and then later abandoned on the wharf of Santa Cruz. In January 1989, Mr. Rufino Cordeiro Dias Pereira, a native of Graciosa, purchased the abandoned boat. His reasons are essentially emotional. It was the boat in which his father, Captain João Baptista, used for whaling over many years!

In May 1993 it was converted into a fishing vessel having kept the same name but changing the registration for GS-222-L. In March 1998, it changed to the category of a leisure boat and has undergone profound modifications in the structure. A few years later the boat was once more transferred to the Santa Cruz Nautical Club, where it was converted into a bar counter at an affiliated department. On November 30, 2007, the “SENHORA DE FÁTIMA” remains were acquired by the Azorean whale watching company TERRA AZUL with the aim of its total recuperation under the Azorean Whaling Heritage Program, supported by government public funds. The idea is to rebuild this TRADITIONAL WHALEBOAT and restoring its dignity and splendor of old times allowing current and future generations to conserve their cultural references and collective memories.

Check more info at www.150milhasdehistoria.blogspot.com

Miguel Cravinho

“We had a fantastic time and hope to return sometime. Everything was as good as we expected and in many cases better! Many thanks.”
Mrs King (15-29 Aug 09)
Sao Miguel & Pico – whale watching holiday staying at Caloura, Talisman & Whalecome ao Pico

“Everything worked seamlessly and the quality of the accomodation, transfers, car hire etc. was excellent. The Azores were beautiful and we may up sticks to Flores to start a self sufficient life! Many thanks.”
Mr & Mrs Dearden (25 Jul – 08 Aug 09)
Sao Miguel, Pico & Flores

“Both whale watching trips were amazing and the natural scenery was breathtaking – your brochure doesn’t really do it justice. After the whale watching our kids were grinning from ear to ear (as were we!). Overall, a very good vacation enjoyed by all of us. One which we will remember with happiness and will be hard to top! Well done and many thanks.”
The Dodd family (4-18 Aug 09)
Sao Miguel & Faial – whale watching holiday staying at House of Varadouro and Quinta Altamira

Hope you enjoy it.
Best regards.

Miguel

For information on a whale watching holiday aboard this great new boat, click here

Whale watching boat

Bottlenose dolphin

Common dolphin

Dolphin acrobatics

Fin whale

Sperm whale

Watching Sperm Whales