I mean, did you know the personal fishing boat of the King of Spain is sitting nonchalantly at the entrance to the marina. When I approached the friendly crew and asked them if I could take photos, and this in my very bad Spanish, I still had not realised to whom this boat belonged. They looked at me with calculating and thoughtful analysis. They were used to the paparazzi, I think. Luckily, I had brought Carla with me. No,  it is not what you are thinking. Carla is 6 years old and she does not know how to do the hoola-hoop. She did, however,  take one of the photographs - hopefully it came out - and, hopefully, I’ll put it up. Also, a picture of her. Carla, I mean, not the boat. Okay, the kings boat too.

But, clearly, Carla was not the topic of article here. The boats were. We’ll be talking to Richard, who owns three boats, including the Margarita: these are the charter ones. I don’t think he will mind the free publicity. Hopefully,  he will be able to supply us with some of the photos he has of some of the really BIG catches that have been had off the Island.

Maybe some Tuna pictures too. They catch a lot of Tuna. But its the really “big fish” that draw them here. In particular, the Blue Marlin.
Private and excessively wealthy. The glossy boats attest to that. Like Tyson’s Pride, owned by the “Chicken King” of the United States, Don Tyson, an old friend of Bill Clinton when the current USA president was governor of Arkansas. By the time you finish reading this article Don Tyson has probably sold $ 150 000 worth of chicken. ( 5 billion a year in gross sales - you do the math)..
Chicken Kings contesting the Princes of the Sea ? Ummm..., the sport of luxury and privilege that it has become.... Not necessarily, some people like the taxi-driver from London save months ahead to treat themselves to a special trip like this - where it costs no less than £400.00 or about 600$00 a day to go out to the deep blue sea.

We, Carla and I, counted at least eleven deep sea fishing boats. Notwithstanding the ones that were already out at sea  the afternoon we were there. Many, as mentioned before, are private. However, it is not uncommon that they may charter themselves. The Pesca Grossa alongside seems to be one of those.

The Karramarro, a yacht belonging to the royal family of Spain. She seemed to be only a few days in Madeira.

The flags show the cosmopolitan air around the Funchal marina

Some more of the well skippered boats; boats that almost want to speak of their experiences...

Many deep sea fishing yachts line up in the marina. Most are private. But at least 4 companies operate a charter business. Nearly all of them have something available for you to do at any moments request.