If the sea is not safe, the skipper cancels the trip and you choose another date or a full refund. The call depends on swell and wind, not on a grey sky, and it is always the skipper's to make.
Who decides whether the boat goes out?
The skipper. Not the booking platform, not the office, and not the guest. On every Chifbay trip the call on safety belongs to the person who will be at the helm, because that person knows the boat and knows this stretch of coast, from the marina in Funchal west to Cabo Girão, Fajã dos Padres and Ribeira Brava.
The skipper does not decide in a vacuum. Two public bodies watch the sea around the island. IPMA, Portugal's weather and sea institute, issues colour-coded warnings for rough seas, and even its lowest level, yellow, is described as a risk for activities that depend on the state of the sea, such as fishing and coastal navigation. Funchal's port authority, the Capitania do Porto do Funchal, puts out separate warnings for strong wind and heavy seas, and when the weather turns it tells boats to keep to sheltered harbours. A skipper reads all of this, then looks at the water.
What makes the sea "not safe"?
Two things, mostly: swell and wind. Rain and cloud are a separate matter, which we come to below.
Swell
Swell is the long, rolling wave made by storms far out in the Atlantic. It can arrive on a perfectly sunny day, which surprises people. It matters most where the boat stops close to the shore. At Fajã dos Padres and Ribeira Brava the Day Trip stops for swimming, jumping in and paddle boards, and a big swell turns calm water by the rocks into surge.
The south coast, where all our trips run, is often the sheltered side. The big winter swells usually come from the north and north-west and hit the north coast hardest. Warnings show this split. In March 2025, for example, IPMA put the north coast on orange for rough seas while the south coast was on yellow, with waves from the west of 4 to 5 metres. Even the lower warning meant seas far too big for a small boat close to the shore. A swell from the west or south-west reaches the south coast directly.
Wind
Wind makes short, steep waves on top of whatever swell is running. A light breeze is normal at sea. A strong wind makes the ride rough, the swim stops unpleasant and the run back to Funchal wet, and strong gusts are a reason on their own for a skipper to say no.
What does not count
A grey sky is not a safety problem. Neither is light rain. If the sea is safe, the trip can go ahead, and Madeira's weather often changes within a few kilometres, so a cloudy Funchal does not always mean a cloudy coast further west. Our guide to Madeira's microclimates explains why.
What happens, step by step?
- You book. On chifbay.com, GetYourGuide, Viator or Click&Boat. Until 24 hours before departure, you can still cancel at no charge.
- The skipper follows the forecast. Swell height, the time between waves, wind speed and direction, and any warnings from IPMA or the Capitania.
- The call is made. If the sea is not safe for your departure, the skipper cancels the trip. A sea forecast is most reliable close to the day, so do not expect a decision a week ahead.
- We contact you. As soon as the call is made, we let you know, using the contact details from your booking.
- You choose. Another date, or a full refund. It is your choice, not ours.
- Your refund goes back the way you paid. If you booked through a platform, the refund runs through that platform.
Can you cancel yourself if the forecast looks bad?
Yes, for free, up to 24 hours before departure. That is the simple rule, and it does not depend on the weather. If you look at the forecast two days out and do not like it, cancel, and rebook another day if you like. You do not need a reason.
Inside the last 24 hours it works differently. A change of mind is no longer a free cancellation. If the sea is not safe, though, the skipper cancels and you still get your choice of another date or a full refund. The only case left is the in-between day: safe, but grey and a bit lively. Then the trip runs. Unsure how a lively sea will feel? Our honest page on seasickness at sea in Madeira is worth a read before you decide.
How do you plan a holiday around the weather?
You cannot control the Atlantic, but you can give yourself room.
- Book an early day of your stay. If the trip is cancelled, there are days left to move it. A trip on your last afternoon has no plan B.
- Keep one spare day in mind. It does not need to be empty. A day for the market in Funchal or a museum can swap with the boat if needed.
- Expect more lively days in winter. The big Atlantic storms are more common from late autumn to spring. Summer is usually the steadiest season, though no month comes with a promise.
- Look at the right forecast. A forecast for the north coast says little about the south coast. What to look for is in this guide to reading Madeira's sea conditions.
Is there ever a reason not to book at all?
Yes. If you have one single possible day, a large swell is already forecast for it and you will be upset if the trip is called off, do not book in hope. Pick a land plan for that day instead. A trip moved or refunded is fair, but it is not the morning on the water you came for.
And if a forecast is fine but you know you are badly affected by motion, the Sunset Trip on a calm evening is a gentler first taste than a Day Trip on a breezy one. Both trips are on the page with our two trips, and the cancellation rules are set out in full on the practical information page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I get my money back if the boat trip is cancelled for weather?
Yes. If the sea is not safe and the skipper cancels, you choose another date or a full refund.
Who decides if the sea is too rough?
The skipper. That call is always theirs, based on the forecast, official warnings and the sea itself.
Does the trip run if it rains but the sea is calm?
Yes, it can. Rain alone is not a safety reason. If you would rather skip a wet day, cancelling is free as long as you do it 24 hours or more ahead.
Is the south coast of Madeira calmer than the north?
Often, yes, because the big winter swells usually hit the north coast hardest. A swell from the west or south-west still reaches the south coast, so the forecast for your day is what counts.
A sunny sky with a big swell is a no. A grey sky over a flat sea is a go.