600M SW of Gib lies a volcanic island....

The Atlantic Ocean is ringred with islands. The Madeiran archipelago has two inhabited main islands, and several smaller ones now designated Marine Conservation Areas. Consequently yachts visiting the smaller islands require a permit.

Your first ocean passage is always memorable, and that first landfall, special. Moira's first was Porto Santos, 30M north of Madeira. It was also our first in Avocette, and what a wonderful island to land on.

Christoper Columbus lived here too. This small volcanic, and arid, island is beautiful. The natives friendly and the climate great. The beach, all 9km of it, is better that any in the Caribbean - and empty! A tour of the island is a must; beautiful beaches give way to dramatic cliffs, and dormant volcanos tower over them all.

The small marina sits in the corner of the NATO built harbour. Very strong downdrafts fall off the hills from pre-dawn to mid-day testing the fenders to their limits.

Away in the distance Madeira calls. Heads'l unrolled, Avocette slipped quietly south.

What a contrast. Madeira is bigger, even higher, with lush green vegetation cascading dowm into the sea. The island is a maze of steep valleys and high volcanic hills. Houses and vegetation cling to the rock. The walking is fantastic, driving challenging, and the bus rides scarier than Alton Towers!