Funchal : Profile

Clearance

The inner harbour at Funchal is run as a small marina, mainly full of local boats. Formalities are completed at the reception dock, immediately to starboard as one enters the marina. Officers from Guarda Fiscal (dealing with customs) and Policia Maritima (immigration) are here 0900-1200, 1400-1800 every day. If there is no space to come alongside, boats should anchor in the outer harbour and visit the office by dinghy. The marina monitors Channel 16 during office hours (0900-1230, 1430-1800 Monday to Friday, 0900-1200 Saturday). The Guarda Fiscal will issue a transit log to non-EU yachts arriving from outside of Madeira. Even if coming from Porto Santo, the clearance procedure must still be completed. On departure the marina office and all other officials must be visited.

Docking

Docking facilities for visitors in the main harbour at Funchal are not very comfortable as there are no pontoons available, and boats have to raft to the quay walls. During the busy months of October and November, if wishing to moor here, anchoring in the centre of the harbour may be the only option. An increasing number of cruise ships are calling here, to encourage this, and to allow the docking of even larger vessels, the commercial activities are being moved to Canical, to the east of Funchal. This move is due to be completed by 2006.

A more comfortable and secure berth can now be found in the new marina at Quinta do Lorde, 2 nm from Canical, at the eastern end of the island. There are plans to increase the size of this marina from its present 270 berths to 1000 in the next few years. The approaches to this marina can be easily identified by the wind farm on the land to the west of the entrance.

Funchal Marina
Porto Funchal, Av. Francisco S. Carneiro
Tel:+351 291 232 717, Fax:+351 291 225 521, VHF Channel 16, 62 (0900-1800)
marinafunchal@sapo.pt
Opening Hours: 0900-1830 (office)
A small marina in a sheltered corner of the main harbour. There is a quay for visiting boats.

Yacht Clubs

Visiting yachtsmen are welcome at the club (Clube Naval do Funchal), which is rather far from the harbour, although the club maintains a base next to the marina.

Clube Naval do Funchal
Tel:+351 291 224661 / 231402, Fax:+351 291 225733
cnavalfl@mail.telepac.pt
The yacht club is located several kilometres to the west of the marina at 235 Estrada Monumental. The club also has a large facility in the Funchal dock and boatyard area just across the river outlet to the west of the marina. The boatyard facility has several workshops and yacht club members, who work on their own boats, can help in finding expert assistance if repairs are needed.

Related Reports

Glowing Report For Quinta du Lorde Marina (21 Sep 2007)

Cruising Report On Morocco & Atlantic Islands September 2005 - January 2006 (08 Sep 2006)

Atlantic Islands Guide (10 Feb 2006)

Paying VAT on an imported boat (29 Jul 2003)

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