Quinta do Lorde Marina

Madeira’s airport (L) and Caniçal, the island’s main commercial port (R)   

We hauled up our anchor and left Baía d’Abra at 0925 on Monday 2 October. Once out of the bay and heading west we got our first proper view of Madeira’s rather unusual runway. Built on a small plateau on the side of the hill, half of the runway has had to be supported on huge concrete pillars. Directly ahead of us was Madeira’s main commercial port, Caniçal. We wanted to visit Caniçal because it apparently has a very good museum covering Madeira’s whaling industry but that trip would have to be done by road as the harbour is a commercial one and not for visiting yachts.

Quinta do Lorde marina and hotel complex   

So, we were headed just 2 miles west to the Quinta do Lorde marina. It was opened in 2002 but the associated 5-star hotel and ‘village’ were not finished until 2014.

Having called ahead on the VHF radio, we waited at the narrow entrance for the mariñeros to meet us in a RIB and lead us to our mooring. That worked well and we appreciated the extra pair of hands because it was quite windy and there was very little manoeuvring space.

At just gone 1000am we were tied up and Nicky set off to completed the arrivals paperwork. The staff were very friendly and efficient, arranging for a full gas bottle for us as well as giving her lots of information on public transport and where to visit.

Our priority was to get to Funchal on the 1130 bus and as we walked out of the marina complex we spotted Red Ruth moored a couple of pontoons up from us. Red Ruth was the first Rustler 42 built (in 1998) and now seems to be based here. We also managed to fit in a quick chat to the staff of the small chandlery. Whilst they didn’t have a replacement AIS aerial in stock, the chap did have all of the gear to test our one, something that we definitely wanted to do.

But not immediately, because we had a bus to catch. We quickly sorted ourselves out, cantered through the Quinta do Lorde hotel complex and up towards the bus stop. As an extra fitness routine, I legged it back to BV to get our wallets and we arrived at the bus stop with a couple of minutes spare before the bus to take us to Funchal arrived.

Quinta do Lorde Marina, Madeira