Madeira marinas.

[Jabs]

I'm planning a trip to Madeira in November.
I've been reading some very mixed reviews of facilities and wonder if it's going to be fun!

Has anyone recent experience of Funchal or anywhere else on the island?

Thanks in advance.

Tony

 

[Monique]

We are in Madeira; Marina Quinta do Lorde. Personnel is very friendly and courteous. The island is a TREASURE. We did not expect to be so impressed by it. There are only 2-3 marinas catering to cruising boats. Beware, all marinas are subject to katabatic winds and surge, Funchal seems quite bad and limited to smaller boats (would accept ours but after inspection in very light winds, we decided not to go there). We posted a report on noonsite. Look it up.

You will enjoy the island; this is certain.

Cheers,

 

[john_q]

Agree about positive comment on Maderia, we anchored out in Funchal but that was a few yearsa ago.

Don't miss out on Porto Santo on your way there either

 

[Scillypete]

I stopped at Quinta do Lorde twice a couple of years ago, excellent if a little pricey, Funchal marina looked like a place to avoid, I went to Funchal on the bus which was cheap and a very good service and although you need to change, the bus stops right outside Quinta do Lorde. Madeira is a beautiful island well worth a visit, one downside to q do Lorde is that it is miles from civilisation and there is only one bar restaurant there. I spoke with other yachties that stopped at Funchal and none had a good word to say about the marina there, things may have changed since but I doubt it

 

[James Marinero]

I stopped at Quinta do Lorde twice a couple of years ago, excellent if a little pricey, Funchal marina looked like a place to avoid, I went to Funchal on the bus which was cheap and a very good service and although you need to change, the bus stops right outside Quinta do Lorde. Madeira is a beautiful island well worth a visit, one downside to q do Lorde is that it is miles from civilisation and there is only one bar restaurant there. I spoke with other yachties that stopped at Funchal and none had a good word to say about the marina there, things may have changed since but I doubt it

+1

I was in Porto Santo a couple of months ago (3rd visit) and it is a gem. Anchoring is permitted in the harbour again but is chargeable (as is outside). There are some good price deals to be had. Can live aboard ashore in yard as well.

 

[Monique]

Agree with all the comments following my own. One comment not made earlier is the state of disrepair at MQDL.... some pontoon sections are "past their best by date". I would go to sea rather than face a storm in this marina.

 

[Spuddy]

I Was there last year in May. Porto Santo is an endearing little place with supermarket etc in the nearby town.
Funchal was OK - nice town but quite a lot of tourists but then there are lots of locals as well doing there thing.
We spent a week in Calheta for engine repairs. It was a handy place for us to drift into with a bust engine but no other reason to be there really. We hired car to get to chandler in Funchal who only had limited stock; the exhaust muffler and hose had to be flown from Netherlands via Lisbon.
The Ilhas Desertas are a must do

 

[geem]

Agree with all the comments following my own. One comment not made earlier is the state of disrepair at MQDL.... some pontoon sections are "past their best by date". I would go to sea rather than face a storm in this marina.

QDL Marina lost a large section of the breakwater about 3 years ago. If a southerly storm hits it would be a bad place to be. Boats were sunk in the marina during the storm that lost the section of breakwater. Having said that, in normal weather QDL is a great place to berth. We prefer it over the tiny over crowded Funchal Marina/ harbour

 

[Leighb]

Never been to Madeira by sea, but holiday there every year and have visited most of the marinas by road, agree with comments about QDL regarding "dining" quite a nice cafe/restaurant, but no other choice really and miles from anywhere, altho' you can get buses to Funchal etc.

The marina at Calheta is quite another thing, there are lots of restaurants, and there is a very nice sandy beach beyond the western end of the marina. No idea about yachting facilities or prices. There are a variety of types and sizes of yachts sail and power in there, and we have often seen foreign ensigns.

Funchal is of course the capital with all that it implies good and bad, marina looks very crowded and perhaps only suitable for smaller boats? We have quite often seen large yachts anchored off but that would need settled weather!!! The occasional "superyacht" has been seen berthed on the main quay where the cruise ships berth.

 

[Peroo]

We were in Funchal this year (May) and had a great time – had to “med Moor” but if you call in advance they will do what they can to fit you in – the “new marina” next door, is well, not useful.

Calheta is interesting but they really seem to want local yachts, not transients – the entrance has a tricky and narrow dogleg to port entrance, though do-able, though getting prices is not straight-forward.

Quinta is, well, Quinta – pricey, though discounts are available, and fair distance from anywhere, and the long pontoon against the wall is still to be replaced. However folks do like the place and the villas and apartments are well developed and more seem to be under development.

If you can, visit the islands, do – the people and the islands are fantastic.

Porto Santo is interesting in its own way, but do be aware of a surge, in the anchorage and in the small marina, which can be strong and will test your mooring lines, and the anchorage can be very rolly. Much like Quinta at times.

PS Don’t forget your paint!! There are walls to be painted!!!!

Haven't been to the yard under the runway yet.................

 

[geem]

We were in Funchal this year (May) and had a great time – had to “med Moor” but if you call in advance they will do what they can to fit you in – the “new marina” next door, is well, not useful.

Calheta is interesting but they really seem to want local yachts, not transients – the entrance has a tricky and narrow dogleg to port entrance, though do-able, though getting prices is not straight-forward.

Quinta is, well, Quinta – pricey, though discounts are available, and fair distance from anywhere, and the long pontoon against the wall is still to be replaced. However folks do like the place and the villas and apartments are well developed and more seem to be under development.

If you can, visit the islands, do – the people and the islands are fantastic.

Porto Santo is interesting in its own way, but do be aware of a surge, in the anchorage and in the small marina, which can be strong and will test your mooring lines, and the anchorage can be very rolly. Much like Quinta at times.

PS Don’t forget your paint!! There are walls to be painted!!!!

Haven't been to the yard under the runway yet.................

30% discount in QDL marina is the norm

 

[typhoonNige]

30% discount in QDL marina is the norm

None of our memberships got us a discount there so I joined the SSCA online. More than paid for itself in a week and proved to be an association worth joining too.

 

[Jabs]

Many thanks to all for the updates.

Tony

 

[geem]

None of our memberships got us a discount there so I joined the SSCA online. More than paid for itself in a week and proved to be an association worth joining too.

We are OCC members. We got 30% discount but sailors we met who weren't OCC members were also getting good discount.
We were last there a couple of years ago so things may have changed