Funchal - Madeira Grande

We left Porto Santo the 23rd for Madeira. We first intended to anchor at Machico. But there was work being done at the breakwater and Madeira airport runway ended just beside the anchorage. So we continued to Funchal. Arriving one day early they were kind and gave us a good berth.

We have been sightseeing eating and shopping. Done some work on the boat. Unblocked the sink  in the galley and replaced a diode in the solar panel/windgenerator circuit.

We had an exciting trip on the cable car up the mountain to the tropical garden.
Have a look at the video on Youtube:   https://youtu.be/7SfjbRez7oQ

And here is a few pictures too.

Grete relaxing after a hard trip up the mountain.

Tropical garden, waterfeatures

Fluids in large quantities is imperative in temps like theese...

On our way down the mountain

Tomorrow we sail 15nm to the small port of Cahleta.
We will stay there in till Friday. On Wednesday we are going for a 6hr walk on the "Levadas"
We will be arriving the Marina at Santa Cruz, Tennerife Sunday afternoon.

Will try to be on HF radio for SSB and CW on 14328 at 1900z.

Still in Porto Santo

We are still in Porto Santo. We love this island for it quiet and relaxed athmosphere.

Today we rented a car and went exploring. On the higher peaks there were some nice viewpoints.
Here is one of them overlooking the port and the marina we are in.

We zoomed in to get a look on "Ocean Viking" resting at the pontoon.

The north side of the island was clearly marked by earlier volcanic terrain.
There were more birds there, a few trees (almost a forest) and a thin layer of vegetation.

Grete spotted a few hawks (not shure what kind) that hung in the air looking for preys...

Even got close to one sitting on a fensepost at the airport, that didn't mind being photographed

View from one of the Pico's showing the airport and out towards the west.
You should be able to see the main island, Madeira Grande in the horizon.

Our plan is to depart from Porto Santo on Wednesday towards Madeira Grande.
There are a couple of anchorages/marinas we might try - before we arrive in the main town of Funchal. Will write more later.  Cheers to you all !

PS. Have had regular contacts on 14.328 (shortwave radio) at 1700Z with Leif/LA3ZH and Alf/LA1ZM) But as there is lots of local noise in Porto Santo Marina I havn't heard anyone else
calling.

Radio sked times

The past week condx to Norway on 20m HAM radio has been from fantastic to poor. I will be on 14328 (14333 if QRM) at 1700UTC. However we are at anchor in Porto Santo with hills shielding to N.Europe. Try listen via SDR receivers online. Many of them to be found at SDR.HU

Cascais to Porto Santo

We are approaching the Island of Porto Santo in the Madeira Archipelago.
We should be in Porto Santo Marina in a couple of hours.

Porto Santo - land ahoi !

 We left Cascais near Lisboa at 1100 the 2nd of October to sail 480 nm to PS.
This has so far been our longest crossing. Weather has been very nice, a bit too nice as we have had to motorsail much of the time. We have been supplied by weatherforecast by Geir's radio friend Leif/LA3ZH via Winlink/Pactor on the HF radio.

Beeing a low traffic area it has been possible to risk longer sleeping periods between lookouts. 
Radar and AIS makes it possible to spot other vessels. The water is too deep for fisheries.

But we were paid a visit by these guys:

We were a bit concerned that no officials asked our next port of call or dep/arr times.
We tried to call Portugese radio stations or coastguard on VHF while we were withing range, but got no reply.
We ended up phoneing MRCC Lisboa who gladly registred our sail plan and we agreed we'd call them back then arriving at Porto Santo.
When we were within cellphone range from PS - Sunday morning they had already tried to phone us Twice.
Phoned them back and thanked them for their vigilancy and concern.

Grete has served very nice dinners on the way. Twice Indian caserolle and Saturday we had this nice pasta bolognaise.

Home made Bolognaise and a small glass of red ;)