“Following the disastrous mudslides in Madeira Members will be pleased to hear that our Port Officer there, Catia Carvalho, is OK and Quinta do Lorde has come through without much damage. For other areas of this beautiful and hospitable island and her people though the situation is very different. Much of central Funchal and Ribeira Brava has been devastated and the news from areas in the south like Camara dos Lobos is very bad. As we go to press there are still regions like the Curral das Freiras which are cut off. Many members will have happy memories of the welcome extended to them by the Madeiran people and wish to do something to help at this time. Catia tells us that the charity ‘Caritas Diocesana do Funchal’ is doing much valuable work on the ground and details of how to contribute directly to them are posted below.
In addition, Rotary International in Funchal are channelling support to replace infrastructure using the support of the Rotary Foundation in association with the Rotary Club of Teddington & the Hamptons where our secretary, Richard Anderton, is a member. Catia goes on to make the plea that despite the damage to the infrastructure visitors do not cancel their plans to visit Madeira, the island economy is now very dependent on tourism and if visitors stop coming then the crisis will deepen further”
To donate either make a transfer to:
Caritas Diocesana do Funchal
Bank: BANIF, NIB:003800011626371377113
Or send a check payable to Rotary Club of Teddington & the Hamptons, at 153 Park Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0BS UK. Mark your donation "Madeira Fund".
The OCC has renewed the `partnership’ arrangement with Berthon, one of the world’s leading brokerage firms. The Berthon Sales Division specialises in blue water cruising yachts and has offices in Lymington, England, in Golfe Juan in the South of France, at Real Club Nautica in Palma de Mallorca and in Newport, Rhode Island,. They are also the official broker to the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC).
In essence, OCC Members contemplating buying or selling a yacht may obtain free advice on market conditions, on the likely price of a particular vessel (whether offered privately, through Berthon or through another broker) and on the best way of proceeding with the desired sale or purchase.
The OCC has introduced a new bursary scheme the aim of which is to foster the development of ocean cruising by enabling young people to gain experience of long distance sailing. The bursary will facilitate the introduction of youngsters to experienced sailors and contribute towards the costs of the voyage.
