Genuíno Madruga: The Seafaring Hero of the Azores

The restaurant Genuíno is on the waterfront at Porto Pim Bay, a short walk south of the Horta city center. The walls are covered with navigation charts, sailing instruments, and photographs from the two circumnavigations. It is part dining room and part living archive of a life spent at sea. The food is Azorean, focused on seafood and local produce, and the terrace has the best view over Porto Pim Bay of any restaurant in Horta.

We sat down with Genuíno Madruga at his restaurant and asked him to tell his story.

In His Own Words

"I was born in the village of São João, on Pico Island, on December 9, 1950. Some years later, when the Capelinhos Volcano became dormant, around 1958, my parents and my siblings moved together to the city of Horta. During my time here, I've met some very prominent, seafaring people. Among those most important to me is a Frenchman named Marcel Bardiaux. He became a mentor, from whom I learned a great deal. After learning from him, I began planning my own grand journey, much like Bardiaux once made.

My first boat was a little vessel I built myself in 1963. It was only about 2.6 meters. I had already bought everything I needed (the boards, the nails) so I was able to complete the task in one month, all the while thinking and dreaming about the hope that I had in my heart since high school: that I would one day take a trip, possibly around the world.

Later, when I bought a boat (the same sailboat I have today) I already had a name picked out for it: "Hemingway", in homage to the author Ernest Hemingway, and in particular, his book "The Old Man and the Sea". To me, someone who had just started working on the sea as a fisherman, this story taught me a lot, and inspired me to pursue my sailing dreams.

After the official departure date for my journey was set, there was no turning back. Despite any circumstance that may arise, what matters now is accomplishing my one goal: journeying around the world.

I managed to do exactly this, navigating solo and sailing through Cape Horn.

This accomplishment was monumental in my life, achieving a goal I had set for myself. Such a feat is truly the most important thing that can happen in someone's life.

When I saw Pico Island once more, that was an image that I'll never forget.

Even after all that I have seen in the world, I think that these beautiful islands of ours are unmatched, and so very special.

Ours is truly an oasis amid the world's misfortune.

As to my last destination? Well… I'm here now, but we shall see what the future holds…"

The Restaurant

The Genuíno restaurant is one of the most distinctive dining experiences on Faial. The sailing memorabilia is not decorative in the generic sense: the charts, the instruments, and the photographs are from the actual voyages, which gives the space a specific gravity that a themed restaurant cannot replicate. The seafood is fresh and the kitchen focuses on Azorean preparation. The view from the terrace over Porto Pim Bay toward Monte da Guia is the best dining view in Horta. Book ahead in July and August.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Genuíno Madruga?

Genuíno Madruga is a sailor from Faial Island who became the first Portuguese person to complete a solo circumnavigation of the world, a feat he accomplished twice aboard his sailboat "Hemingway." He was born on Pico Island in 1950 and moved to Horta as a child. He now runs a restaurant at Porto Pim Bay in Horta.

What is the Genuíno restaurant like?

The restaurant is a waterfront seafood dining room at Porto Pim Bay, Horta, decorated with navigation charts, instruments, and photographs from Genuíno Madruga's two solo circumnavigations. The food focuses on Azorean seafood. The terrace has a view over Porto Pim Bay and Monte da Guia. It is the most distinctive restaurant in Horta.

Do I need to book the Genuíno restaurant in advance?

Reservations are recommended in July and August, when Horta is busiest with visiting sailors and tourists. Outside peak summer, walk-ins are generally possible, but calling ahead is the safe approach.

Where is the Genuíno restaurant located?

The restaurant is at Porto Pim Bay, about a 10-minute walk south of the Horta city center. Porto Pim Bay is the main sheltered beach near Horta, framed by Monte da Guia.

What is the name of Genuíno Madruga's boat?

His sailboat is named "Hemingway," chosen in tribute to Ernest Hemingway and his novel "The Old Man and the Sea," which Genuíno cites as a formative influence on his decision to pursue ocean sailing.