Just Nuts! arrived in Funchal on the 31/08/2012 at 03.00 hrs after a five day passage down from Oeiras (pronounced "Oh Irish" ).
Wind direction varied between NW and NE with strengths of F1 to F5 making for an easy passage. Arriving off Maderia you can still smell the scorched earth after the recent fires that have ravaged large parts of the island. Nileo from the wine shop in the market (well worth a visit for vintage years) sent us this photo taken from outside his home.
A word to the wise on Funchal, recent works on the foreshore have limited the anchoring area outside the marina, a series of unlit special marks have been placed on or about the 5m contour. There is some space at the minute on the wall in the marina but beware of the night watchman's dog if you have animals of your own. Internet is great and the connection is free, a nice man does the laundry very cheaply.
Sorry we missed the party in Oeiras!
See you in Las Palmas.