Our touristy day in Funchal was indeed splendid marred only by Bob’s cut lip, where his kindle fell on his face when he dozed off, and the finest collection of mosquito bites from toe to top including his and hers bites to the eyelid resulting in marital matching swollen eyes. We had checked in Porto Santo re mossies but were told that the millions of lizards ate them all so no problem  but there are obviously not enough lizards in Madeira despite the thousands that we have seen .  The mosquito nets have now been installed after the mosquitos have bolted.

Funchal is a very attractive city with its ‘look at me’ mosaic pavements, beautifully ornate churches, a cable car ride up to the densely populated Botanical Gardens and the ubiquitous 2 km sledge ride down regular roads (we even overtook a taxi).  We happened to be there for the Festival of Corpus Christi complete with full blown Catholic mass (we unfortunately arrived just in time for the collection) and dressed over all procession (that sounded just like a Mafia funeral).

It is a tradition in Funchal for visiting yachts to make their mark on the harbour wall.  We were very excited to find amongst the etchings along the harbour wall Wind Charger’s visit in 2005.  We added ‘& 2011 Under New Management’ to a rather fine drawing.

Bob and I had a ‘gala dinner’ at a restaurant that served ‘rice dishes from around the world’.  Every single dish whether starter, main or pud included rice.  I can hear now the gasps of amazement from all those of you that know that Bob (amongst his very long list of beans, couscous, pasta except spaghetti, tomato based sauces etc) does not like rice.  It was delicious. Think duck carpaccio with rice vinaigrette, scallops and hazelnut paste on a leek risotto, rack of lamb washed down with a delicious wine of Portugal followed by a tribute to tiramisu complete with puffed rice smoothed down with a glass of Madeira my dear.  Divine!

We returned to the boat where we defused a potential international incident.  A German boat had arrived late from the Azores, the Portuguese harbour master only spoke English and was asking our rafted French boat if they could come alongside them.  The French didn’t speak English and were getting very arm wavy and shoulder shrugging as the Portguese harbour master simply shouted even louder to in English to make them understand. The whole scenario was accompanied by the barking of dogs loyal to the harbourmaster (they were street dogs taken under his wing). I had to translate as best as I could (not the barking, English to French) and we all went to bed as harmonious members of the EU.  We set off this morning at 1000 after amicably untangling the, by now, three boats in a raft.

The sailing today has been fabulous as we head for the Canaries.  Force 6 gusting 7 all day and we have been bowling along.  Yet again we are riding the waves in parallel so get rolled around continuously and drenched occasionally.  Everyone has been quiet, with noses in books most of the time.   It has been nice to have a peaceful day, charging through the sea, after a full on day of touristing in the city.