In 1418 the Portuguese discoverers Juan Gonsalez Zarco and Tristan Vaz Tejeira sailed out from the River Taag in an expedition south along the African coast. But by a gale she were driven from their course and off the coast. They were forced to seek shelter in an unknown island, which they named Porto Santo. After returning back in Portugal the next year they were send out again by Prince Henry of Portugal with the order to take possession of the island.
When they arrived at the island they discovered an other island on the southern horizon. They directed their course to that island. At that time the island was covered by a dense forest, after arrival they named the island Madeira.
It was most probably not the first time that the island group was discovered, the Romans before called these islands already the Purple Islands.
When Zarco discovered the island they were uninhabited. He took possession of the island for the Portuguese crown, and in 1421 he founded Funchal. And from this place the new colony was governed, only between 1581 and 1640 the islands came under Spanish rule, and for a short time in the early 19th century the British occupied the islands.
The group of 4 large and some small islands lay in a position between 345 and 390 mile west of Morocco.
The first seagoing ships which were used in the service were sailing vessels, and in the connections between the islands small sailing boats were used. While this typical rowboats and sailing boats have disappeared in numbers and importance, some small coastal steamers were used in the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century.
During that time fifteen new quays were constructed along the coast of Madeira, avoiding the landing of passengers and cargo on the beach.
One of this small steamers was the GAVIÃO.
Built in 1913 of steel under yard No. 150 on the yard of Cox and Co. Engineers Ltd. Falmouth, U.K for Blandy Bros & Co. of Falmouth.
08 July 1913 launched under the name GAVIÃO
Tonnage 149 gross, 132 under deck and 133 net. Dim. 106.4 x 21 x 10.3ft.
Powered by a 2 cyl. compound steam engine 29 hp. Ramage & Ferguson Ltd., Leith already manufactured the engine and boilers in 1897, and were refitted in 1913. Single screw.
One deck and was fitted out with electric light.
1914 Was she under command of Capt. J.Faria.
When she was acquired by Empresa Funchalense de Cabotagem, I could not find out, but built under the name GAVIÃO and the captain names looks for my more a Portuguese name than English, most probably she was always used in the coastal trade in Madeira.
She was used in the coastal trade in Madeira and sometimes sailed to Porto Santo.
Under Portuguese flag her tonnage is given as 163 gross, 122 net, dim. 112.6 x 21.3 x 10.9ft.
December 1951 broken up.
Madeira 1992 38e sg281, scott162.