In August 2006, Funchal’s bay will welcome sailboats on their last leg of the first European regatta that will link Cork Island, Ireland, to Madeira from July 21 to August 6.

The event commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Lisbon Naval Association that, in partnership with Funchal city’s 500th year Committee, decided to make Madeira the finishing line for this regatta which will call in at ports steeped in sailing tradition.
The 1st Atlantic Meeting regatta is for the cruiser (IRC) and 40 classes and will start on July 21st at the Irish island of Cork. Participants will then sail to La Rochelle, France(on the 22nd), Corunna and Cádiz (on the 24th) and Lisbon where the race’s first stage will end.
The second stage, Lisbon-Madeira regatta, starting on July 30th -will include participants from mainland Portugal and Madeira. In Madeira, participants will dock at Quinta do Lorde Marina and, on August 5th, will attend the awards dinner for the general category of the 2nd stage Regatta of the 1st Atlantic Meeting.

Source: Madeira Tourism Board - July Newsletter