A charity golf tournament in aid of victims of the recent floods in Madeira was held at the Palheiro Golf course on 6 March 2010.

The event was organised by the Palheiro Estate holding company, Palheiro Estate SGPS SA, with all proceeds going to the Cruz Vermelha (Red Cross).
The tournament was held in good weather and was very well supported, with approximately 100 players taking part. The format for the golf was Texas Scramble, with players in teams of two.

The winning team were Jonathan Fletcher & Michael Blandy, with 61 net; followed by John Holt & Peter Jacques, 66 net; and Peter Booth & Philippe Moreau, also with 66 net.

The prize for the “longest drive” was won by Jonathan Fletcher, with Rubina Laranja winning the “closest to the hole” competition.
After the tournament, the players assembled in the Clubhouse for a buffet lunch, followed by the prize giving ceremony. The prizes were given out by Patrícia Rodrigues of Palheiro Golf and Edgar Rodrigues, the Palheiro Golf Professional.
The original announcement of the charity event had brought a surge of support from all those associated with the Palheiro Estate – both companies and private individuals. This support not only took the form of turning up on the day to be part of the event, but also the donation of a large number of tombola prizes and items to be auctioned. The items donated included works of art; a cruise; various holidays – an array of valuables which gave an indication of the degree of support this worthwhile cause has attracted.

The “Palheiro Estate for Madeira” event ended with the announcement that approximately €9000 had been raised, all of which is destined to help the victims of the flooding which struck the island on 20 February 2010.

The “Palheiro Estate for Madeira” appeal continues until the end of March, at which time all funds collected will be handed over to Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa da Madeira.

Donations can be made to the following account:

• Account nº: 000836892624

• NIB: 0007 0000 0083 6892 62423

• IBAN: PT50 0007 0000 0083 6892 6242 3

Os asociados reafirmam a sua confianza no Presidente

No congresso da Associação, celebrado entre os dias 15 a 18 de novembro de 2009 em Biarritz, os membros de Relais & Châteaux reafirmaram a sua confiança no seu Presidente dando o seu voto de forma unanime à lista de candidatos para o Comitê chefiado por Jaume Tàpies.
Os associados escolheram na reunião anual os seus representantes para os próximos quatro anos nas duas comissões que compõem o conselho, a saber:
Os membros do Comitê Executivo eleito pelos sócios da Assembéia geral
Os membros da comissão de delegados eleitos pelos componentes das várias delegações da associação

Eleições: ações coerentes e esforços contínuos

A reeleição de Jaume Tàpies como Presidente Internacional de Relais & Châteaux assegura a coerência e a continuidade das actividades conduzidas pelo presidente e a sua equipa durante o seu primeiro mandato.
Os seus novos projetos e idéias também farão que a Associação atenda às necessidades de uma clientela internacional seleta.

“Minha paixão e ambição por Relais & Châteaux me levaram a apresentar-me novamente como Presidente da Associação e estou contente por minha reeleição. Agora podemos embarcar em uma maneira nova e robusta para garantir o futuro de Relais & Châteaux.
Os próximos quatro anos, me dedicarei a consolidação da nossa estratégia de vendas a nível mundial e ao desenvolvimento de nossas linhas de comunicação.
Juntamente com a Câmara de Relais & Châteaux e com o apoio de todos os nossos parceiros, continuar a impulsionar o nosso crescimento internacional e a criação de novas Rotas da Felicidade”, disse Jaume Tàpies, que foi reeleito para o cargo de Presidente Internacional de Relais & Châteaux por mais 4 anos.

Delegado para a Espanha e Portugal, um Português: Sr. Mario Morais GM Stromp Hotel Quinta das Lágrimas em Coimbra e Vilamonte Resort no Algarve

Sobre Relais & Châteaux:
Relais & Châteaux é um grupo exclusivo de 475 dos mais exclusivos hotéis e restaurantes de fina gastronomia em 57 países.
A missão da associação, fundada na França em 1954, é ampliar a sua forma única de viver pelo mundo mediante uma seleção de áreas com caracter verdadeiramente excepcional.
Além disso, Relais & Châteaux é também uma família de donos de restaurantes e Grandes Chefs de todo o mundo que compartilham de sua paixão e dedicação para oferecer momentos de grande harmonia e riqueza sensorial para seus hóspedes.
De vinhedos de Napa Valley para às praias de Bali e olivais de Provence aos abrigos (pousadas) na África do Sul, Relais & Châteaux oferece todas as paradas precisas sobre a melhor maneira de descobrir os lugares especiais em cada país.
A assinatura Relais & Châteaux reflete esse compromisso:
“EM TODO O MUNDO, ÚNICO NO MUNDO”.
www.relaischateaux.com

Palheiro Estate publish their new Real Estate flyer in English, Russian and Portuguese.

“Located on a prime hilltop site overlooking Funchal, the capital of Madeira, the 130 hectare Palheiro Estate has grown from an early 19th century hunting lodge and summer retreat for nobility into a sophisticated resort destination.
•  Spectacular 18-hole Palheiro Golf course, complemented by a golf academy  and clubhouse with bar, restaurant and terrace offering panoramic views of the harbour and Funchal city
•  5-star country house hotel, Casa Velha do Palheiro, a member of Relais &  Châteaux, offers 37 luxurious rooms, a haute cuisine restaurant, library and  terrace overlooking the Palheiro Gardens
•  Palheiro Spa boasts a hydro pool, treatment rooms, gym, sauna and steam room
•  Palheiro Gardens, famous for the diversity of trees and plants from around the world
•  Motor yacht Balancal, moored in Funchal marina,  available for dolphin and whale-watching or deep-sea fishing”

For more information and to receive a brochure via email contact www.palheiroestate.com

If you are looking for an escape to the sun and a sub-tropical island - see how Ireland AM presenter Anna Daly got on when she spent a few days on Madeira islands.

Also, Dolphin watching is one thing you shouldn’t miss out on if you visit Madeira. The Atlantic waters off the Portuguese Island are perfect for dolphin watching.

See the video where Anna checks out the warm winter sun in the Portuguese Island of Porto Santo.

See all the videos on www.tv3.ie

No domingo passado realizou-se, no Palheiro Golfe, a final do Circuito Júnior Madeira 2009, intitulado Torneio “Tiger Woods”, que contou com a participação de cerca de 80 jovens (dos 5 aos 16 anos) de ambos os Clubes: Palheiro Golfe e Santo da Serra.
Este circuito foi composto por 4 torneios, sendo que cada torneio foi por sua vez dividido em 4 categorias conforme a idade e a capacidade de jogo de cada jovem (Categoria de 18 buracos;9 buracos;3 buracos e Chip & Putt).

Este Circuito teve como finalidade promover esta modalidade junto dos jovens e pais, proporcionando um ambiente amigável, divertido, mas também competitivo.

Após a competição, foi oferecido um lanche aos participantes, procedendo-se   à entrega de prémios. Cada jovem recebeu uma medalha de participação.

Os vencedores nas várias categorias foram os seguintes:

Na categoria de 18 buracos, o vencedor foi Robert Jesus (PG), seguindo-se de Manuel João Sousa (CGSS) e André Bento (CGSS) ficou em 3º lugar.
Na categoria de 9 buracos, em 1º lugar ficou Declan Hobley (PG), seguindo-se de Carlos Laranja (CGSS) e Bernardo Costa Silva (CGSS).
Na categoria de 3 buracos, em 1º lugar ficou Cristóvão Gouveia (CGSS), seguindo-se de Diogo Fernandes (CGSS) e Nancy Jocanovic (CGSS).
No Chip & Putt, João Diogo Antunes (CGSS) foi o vencedor, seguindo-se de Natacha Sofia (CGSS) e Bianca Capelinha (PG).

Academia de Formação Palheiro Golfe - 2º Torneio
No Passado Sábado dia 12 de Dezembro realizou-se no Palheiro Golfe o 2º Torneio da época para a Academia de Formação Palheiro Golfe, que contou com a presença de 33 jovens.
A competição realizou-se em 3 diferentes módulos, 5 situações de chip e putt para os mais jovens e iniciados na modalidade; 6 buracos, onde os jovens com nível médio tiveram a oportunidade de jogar o percurso da academia na totalidade; e, finalmente os jovens com nível técnico mais avançado jogaram 9 buracos.

Os resultados ficaram ordenados da seguinte forma: Chip e putt  1º Joaquim Gouveia (13),  2º Maria Marta Domingues (15), 3º Madalena Veltman (16). Na competição dos 6 Buracos a classificação ficou ordenada da seguinte forma: 1º Pedro Camacho (29), 2º Leonel Pereira (36), 3º   Gustavo Gouveia (37). A competição dos 9 buracos ficou marcada pela ausência do líder após a primeira prova, pois, infelizmente, Robert Jesus viu-se impossibilitado de jogar o torneio por problemas físicos. João Pedro Mendonça ganhou esta competição com 42 pancadas, seguido de Catarina Spínola (51) e e de Gonçalo Araújo (57).
Na Modalidade de 6 buracos foi introduzida uma dificuldade acrescida onde todos os participantes nesta competição tiveram como tarefa marcar o cartão de outro colega, tal como numa situação real de competição para jogadores experientes. Esta iniciativa visa a preparação dos jovens para outras metas.
Como brinde de Natal todos os jovens que participaram no torneio receberam um pólo com o logótipo do clube. Os treinos e a competição regressam para o próximo ano. Parabéns a todos os participantes, pelo empenho e pela forma que se apresentam no torneio, mas, principalmente, pelo comportamento, que foi exemplar. Estes jovens dignificaram o Palheiro Golfe, a modalidade, e a si próprios.
Resultado do Campeonato após a segunda prova:
9 Buracos        Total
•    João Pedro Mendonça    180 pontos
•    Catarina Spínola        120
•    Robert Jesus        100
•    Jessica Otto        100
•    Pedro Moreira        80
•    Mariana Biscoito        70
6 Buracos                     Total
•    Leonel Pereira            180
•    Pedro Camacho            150
•    Gustavo Gouveia            140
•    Nuno Camacho            110
•    Marta Freitas            70
•    Bianca Capelinha            50
Chip e putt            Total
•    Joaquim Gouveia            180
•    Marta Domingues            140
•    Madalena Teixeira        100
•    Oliver Gouveia            80
•    Madalena Veltman        60
•    Francisco Rodrigues        50

Madeira islands prestigious country house hotel Casa Velha do Palheiro is featured on Deutsche Welle and includes an interview with General Manager Celeste Monteiro Ringertz. See the video in full at: http://bit.ly/521ady

The report begins 17 minutes and 25 seconds into the video. Visit the Casa Velha do Palheiro website at: http://www.casa-velha.com/

Dear All,

I have pleasure in sending you an invitation for the Queen’s Cocktail which as you have probably realised was postponed because of major works in the English Church Gardens, this work is now well underway, and we  very much look forward to holding our usual Garden Party there next June.

HM Ambassador to Portugal Alex Ellis and his wife Teresa and son Thomas are making an informal visit to the island on 7th and 8th November and the cocktail will take place at  6pm on Saturday 7th ( please see the attachment).

The party will be informal, and I am keen that the Ambassador and his family have the chance to meet a good cross section of the local British community, both permanent residents and those  who come and go throughout the year.

Long gone are the days when I knew the majority of the British community in Madeira, so I would be most grateful if you would  please forward this message on to any  friends who may wish to join us.

In order to have a reasonable idea about the necessary catering, I would very much appreciate it if you would kindly let me know in advance if you are able to join us, as I would not wish to run short of victuals…..!!

If any ladies ( or gentlemen !!) would like to assist by providing a plate of canapés this would be most welcome.

With best wishes

Joy Menezes

Honorary British Consul

Tel: 291 212 860  British Consulate  / Mobile 962720557  or 962390166  ( Joy)

The MY Balancal featured in the prestigious Financial Times’ How to Spend It magazine, after a visit by correspondent Sebastian Hope. Sebastian spent two days fishing in Madeira, and was unfortunately one of the few unlucky ones in that he just missed out on catching a marlin. Very unlucky in fact, as the next day the biggest fish of the season was caught on MY Balancal – a whopper at more than 1000 lbs.

Read about it for yourself at: http://www.howtospendit.com

Palheiro, the Cabell Robinson designed, 18 hole par 72 golf course, which opened in 1993 and was imaginatively redesigned in 2003, has made Golf World’s 2009 list of Europe’s top 100 golf courses.

The recently released Golf World list was meticulously compiled by a panel of expert Tour pros to provide the definitive guide to the best courses in Europe.

In compiling this chart, Golf World spoke to golfing experts, architects, golf writers and bloggers, golf tourists and players from each of the countries in the European Tour. Each person was asked to rank their top European courses by design, condition, history and reputation.

Jonathan Fletcher, director of Palheiro Estate, comments: “We are, of course, delighted that Palheiro has been recognised as one of Europe’s Top 100 Golf Courses.   We’ve been working hard to develop our offering and clearly that work is being recognised, which is great encouragement for the entire team.”

The Palheiro course, 500 meters above sea level, winds around the renowned Palheiro estate, with breathtaking views; fast, undulating greens; well placed bunkers and tight fairways.  The stylish clubhouse, offers dramatic, panoramic views across Funchal harbour and the Atlantic Ocean.

Palheiro provides the perfect base for exploring the delights of Madeira. Visitors have the choice of staying in the estate’s graceful 5-star country house hotel, Casa Velha do Palheiro, or enjoying a more independent stay in one of the Palheiro Village villas or apartments which overlook Funchal.

Both long and short stays are possible.  Fully furnished villas are available to rent, providing the perfect family holiday for all ages. Property is also available on either a freehold or fractional basis.

For more information, please contact Palheiro Village on + 351 291 794 015 or visit:   HYPERLINK www.palheiroestate.com

Just back from three days in Madeira, fishing for specimen blue marlin. I’d never been out before apart from a short trip in Antigua)so was not too optimistic, given that you can go days without a bite in this kind of fishing.

As a fly fisher I had always assumed that the real skill in this kind of fishing belonged to the boatmen and that’s true; but it’s a real team affair and the one in the chair has to do his part too. It’s easy to fluff things taking the rod to the chair and, when the people around you are working so hard for your enjoyment,you need to listen to what they’re saying.

In the event we didn’t have to wait long, the boat was barely out of Funchal when a dorado snatched at the furthest lure. There was a bit of a commotion but it didn’t seize
the big squid-like artificial bait which is a bit big for these fish.

But the commotion was obviously enough to interest something else as barely 30 seconds later I could see a fin moving up on one of the starboard lures. I don’t have the combination of letters to describe the boatman’s scream. There was a lunge and the fish dropped back but Nick Bayntun, who runs the back of the boat, was already working the lure and when the fish came again he let loose the drag momentarily, popping the bait in to its face and I could see it all, the take, the turn, the
run, everything.

My task was to lift the rod out of its side-holster and position it in the seating in front of the chair, while settling myself and clipping the seat chains on to the reel. Then up with the feet on to the board and ready to go, all as the fish is running out. When all this is happening it’s as if time has slowed down as your senses capture every detail of the moment.

The line was dipping down about 20 yards behind the boat, so it was surprising to
see the fish break the surface some 200 yards behind the boat. Then it was pumping and winding, but not pumping the handle. You don’t hold the rod at all, just work the chair with your body, winding with the right hand and guiding the line with your left hand on the spool. Meanwhile the skipper is making life easier by reversing the boat.

It didn’t take too long, maybe 15 to 20 minutes to bring a beautiful blue marlin (pictured above)to the boat. How big? The skipper thought 400lb. Nick thought maybe 350lb. Naturally I went with the skipper! Oh, the joy of catch and release!

Ten yards from the boat the action wasn’t over. A fish like this isn’t caught until someone has touched the leader or “grabbed the wire”. You need to be really careful
grabbing that wire as Stewart Campbell, one of the world’s most experienced marlin fishers discovered here.

Those last few yards had the boys on deck sweating a bit but they held on and she was ours. What a beautiful fish she was too and very healthy, quickly released to grow, hopefully, in to one of those “granders”, the 1000lb+ blue marlin for which Madeira is famed. How did I know she was female? All the blue marlins caught here are female.

There was so much of the day ahead and we felt optimistic for another as I handed over the chair to my host, Jonathan Fletcher, part of the Blandy Madeira family, and owner of the boat, Balancal.
But it wasn’t to be. We saw fin back whales, we saw dolphins, we even saw a huge leatherback turtle, and what a sight that was, but no more takes.

Mission accomplished, we dropped plans for a second day out but I had the chance to go along with a second boat where an 11-year-old boy, Curtis de Silva, was trying to capture the “small fry” IGFA Blue Marlin record that today stands at 448lb. The day I caught my fish he had lost one in the 800lb class. It helps that his dad, an experienced Trinidadian skipper “Frothy” de Silva, is at the helm.

Frothy pulled the baits three times through surface-feeding big eyed tuna, but didn’t get a bite. The conditions looked great with plenty of mackerel shoals (or bait balls) near the surface, showing up on the fish-finder, but the bites weren’t coming. As we made for the harbour in calm water at the end of the day I was staring down in to the depths from the platform and saw what I thought was a dolphin just ahead of the boat.
But no, there was the bill and the fin. We were moving up on a cruising blue marlin. With a kick of its tail it was gone before I could take a picture, but that image of this most majestic of fish at one with its environment will stay with me for the rest of my life.

It was real privilege to meet some of the world’s best known big game fishers and skippers - people like James Roberts, Peter Bristow and Anibal Fernandes. Bristow probably has more 1000lb+ black marlin to his name than any other skipper, once coming across a shoal of maybe 50 fish north of Cairns in the 1990s. “We got among them and hooked 30 fish, caught 20 that day. I’ve never seen anything like it before or
since,” he says. Watch out for my full report on this in a forthcoming (October 2009) issue of The Field.

This article from Richard Donkin, UK - http://www.richarddonkin.com