NSHSA Mediterranean Trip 2009

How to get there:

• Probably by car or train, the boat service from Nice to St Tropez  does not run on Saturdays in June.
• I asked Kiriacoulis France they said the easiest way is the train from Nice to Toulon about 22 Euros (one way purchased at station) then a taxi to Bormes 80 euros with bags.
• Train schedule (do not buy tickets from site – 50% surcharge):       
• Raileurope Web site

Our itinerary compared to other charter companies:

• See map below.
• In short we have one of the longest trip with about 144 nautical miles
• http://www.boatbookings.com/yachting_content/french_riviera_7_day_charter_itinerary.php
• http://www.seaways-yachting.com/files/loc/FR_9_Plan_French_Riviera.pdf
• http://www.lilebleue.com/index.php?option=com_alphacontent&task=view&id=13&Itemid=21
• http://nj-yacht.com/places/france_itinerary_west.html 

Sailing Conditions:

• Prevailing winds in the spring blow from west to north and often turn easterly near Cannes. In the summer, westerly winds are replaced by calmer breezes. Cruising is easy with line-of-sight navigation within well-marked waters. There are also plenty of sheltered marinas, harbors and bays.
• http://www.lilebleue.com/index.php?option=com_alphacontent&section=4&cat=14&Itemid=21

What to see in town:

• 1^st day : Bormes les Mimosas
  • http://www.beyond.fr/villages/bormes.html
  • http://www.provenceweb.fr/e/var/bormes/bormes.htm
• 2^nd day : Saint Tropez
  • Cruising by Cavalaire, Corniche des Maures, Pampelonne baie then once on land  the sixteenth-century Citadel with its a maritime museum, Musée de l'Annonciade with paintings neo-Impressionists and Fauvists or strolling by le vieux  port and place des lices
  • http://www.france-for-visitors.com/cote-azur/st-tropez/the-town.html
  • http://insurance.essentialtravel.co.uk/tg-europe/france/st-tropez-key-attractions.asp
  • http://www.france-for-visitors.com/cote-azur/maures/index.html
  • What to see nearby  by taxi or bus
  • Ramatuelle  is a medieval picturesque village huddled up to the hillside in the heart of nature.
  • http://www.ramatuelle-tourisme.com/ramatuelle_village_authentique.php3
• 3^rd day : Antibes via les iles de Lerins (Cannes possible)
• All walking distance from port vauban (mega yachts Maltese Falcon...)
• The two most notable landmarks in Antibes are the Chateau Grimaldi, which today houses the Picasso Museum as well as several others, and the imposing Fort Carre, with its extensive ramparts. Antibes offers many old winding streets and town squares, excellent museums, a wide variety of restaurants - in short plenty to do for everyone.
• http://www.boatbookings.com/yachting_content/antibes_port_vauban.php 
• http://www.antibes-juanlespins.com/eng/culture/musees/picasso/historique/index.html
• iles de Lerins :picturesque and some ancient history
• http://www.beyond.fr/sites/lerins.html
• Cannes is a shopper's paradise for chic and expensive items there's an endless collection of top-of-the-line jewelry shops, haute-couture clothing shops and art galleries.
• http://www.provenceweb.fr/e/alpmarit/cannes/cannes.htm
• 4^th day : Saint Raphael / Frejus via Agay or night in Agay (mooring)
• For those who like a good walk Roman ruins are 1 mile ½ from Frejus port (might have a city bus). Open air market Frejus Wednesday morning.
• http://www.beyond.fr/villages/straphael.html
• http://www.beyond.fr/villages/frejus.html
• http://www.provenceweb.fr/e/var/frejus/frejus.htm
• Travel blog close to what our itinerary look like
• http://realtravel.com/juan_les_pins-journals-j1668007.html
• 5^th day : Porquerolles (anchoring)
• Porquerolles Island is a great place for walking or cycling in nature. In addition to the natural pines and pin parasol, myrtle, heather and fields of white cistus [see Wildflowers and Trees], there are botanical plantations of trees and shrubs, and even a vineyard.
• best way to visit is by bike http://www.locavtt.com/Pages/Tarifs.htm
• Historic sites to visit :
  • 14th century Fort Ste Agathe housing an underwater
  • archeological exhibition, (from June to September).
  • Church (1850) and the chemin de croix. Lighthouse (1837).
• Leisure activities :
  • Hiking through Plantations of the Conservatoire Botanique National, mountain biking, underwater diving, sailing, windsurfing, & fishing.
  • http://www.provenceweb.fr/e/var/porquerolles/porquerolles.htm
  • http://www.beyond.fr/sites/porquerolles.html
• 6^th day : Port Cros / Port Man (anchoring)
• http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/holiday-provence/french-holiday-riviera/diving-center-provence.htm
• http://www.beyond.fr/sites/portcros.html

Marina rates:

• Bav36 = 11metres, Bav38= 11.58m, Jean42=12.80m, Ben43=13.10m
• http://www.frejus.fr/?p_idref=2334
• http://www.port-de-saint-tropez.com/FR-tarifs.php
• 36/38 from 44 to 95 euros depending of port
• 42 from 51 to 111 euros
• 43 from 58 to125 euros
•  Agay mooring http://www.ville-saintraphael.fr/sports-et-loisirs/zones-de-mouillages/index.html

Mediterranean anchorages in english

• http://www.medyachter.com/pagese/eindex.html
• look from Toulon to Cannes and the drop down menu under each of them, this will give you ideas about pretty  place to anchor
• GPS
• blue chart EU 466s $183
• GPSMAP® 76CSx Color Mapping
• http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/bluechart/card.jsp?sku=AT-EU466-13&cd=Atlantic