Ah Funchal!
A small ski ramp bolted to the cliffs I remember. A bit cheeky saying that '75s are good aircraft becouse they land there -(even though they are). There's a big chunk of gravity helping you stop on that slope.
Without a headwind I do remember a short load of fuel helped you to skip to a nearby island to get a full tank, and then you left properly.
I would love to have been on a landing/take off when it was the original, original runway - the one that didn't have the extension in the sea! I bet there was some real bum clenching moments in those days!
Is the new runway at the same location or have they found a different bit of the island that's flat now? Been a while.