Red Ruth
Ile Jeudi
Bob and Lin Griffiths
Sun 5 Aug 2012 13:10
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Thursday 2 August to Sunday 5 August
2012
We took the shuttle bus into Machico on Thursday to
have a look around and raid the supermarket. The next couple of days were
spent doing more repairs to the caulking on teak decks, laundry and more
shopping.
We also met Peter and Lorraine who are the
current owners of a Rustler 42 called 'Red Ruth'. I remember this
boat, which is Hull number 1 of a modern generation Rustler made in
Falmouth, because it received fantastic reviews by the yachting press when they
tested it some years ago. I also recall seeing Red Ruth last August when
we were in Torrevieja trying to get various repairs done although I didn't speak
to the owners at the time. Peter and Lorraine were heading east and
went on to the Balearics, Sardinia and Rome and eventually to Malta where
they wintered.
This year they sailed back west arriving in
Madeira about 3 weeks ago and were relieved that, at last, another UK boat
had appeared (there are a lot of French boats here). Together we went into
Machico on Friday evening to experience the 'Gastronomy Fair' and had a nice
Madeiran dish (espada with banana).
On Sunday they took us to a local Sunday market and
what an experience that was. Apart from the normal fruit and vegetables,
meats and clothing stands you could buy parrots, lovebirds, chickens, cages for
said birds, tools and, and....
An example of a 'genuine'
jacket:-
 Where else would you expect to find perfume for
sale next to a chainsaw? The stall holder stopped me from taking a
photograph the first time - presumably either the branding or the source of the
chainsaws was suspect. Obviously I regarded this as a challenge to be
overcome and snook a photo in later:-  As we walked around the 'refreshment' area Lin and
Lorraine decided it would be a good idea to sample the local drinks - cider or
Poncha. Peter opted for the cider as he was driving but the rest of us
sampled the Poncha which is rum and lemon juice with a spot of sugar to soften
the taste.
Peter and Lorraine with their drinks:-
 The Madeirans are really friendly and engage you in
conversation in passing. There is no pushiness and they were very
interested that we had sailed our boats here. This guy had spent 25
years in the UK and was just explaining to me that they give Poncha to relax
'their women' so that seduction might be easier:-
 One of his friends decided to buy a couple more
glasses for Lin and Lorraine just before he left as a 'welcome to Madeira'
gesture! As he doesn't expect to see us again this was a lovely, warm
gesture.
We shared these before quickly finding something to
eat. As you can see the Poncha works:-
 Iced teas all round with the barbequed
chicken:-
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