A day trip in South of France (with pics)

[scubaman]

We just returned from a holiday in the Antibes/Juan-les-Pins. We got to enjoy varying spring weather from a bit of a storm to beautiful sunshine with a very gentle wind. On one particularly nice day we decided to hire a RIB and explore the Golfe Juan area and visit the Lerins Islands.

We hired the rib from Dream Yachting in Port Gallice from where we pottered to Cannes for a spin around the old port. From there we continued to the Iles de Lerins and the southern of the two islands, Ile Saint-Honorat. It being mid week, it was pretty quiet, so we decided to head inside the little breakwater sheltered basin on the north shore of the island. For some reason, the rib didn’t have a one single mooring line, so I had to take the straps from the bimini to secure the stern to the concrete jetty. It was a very calm day so no problems there.

My daughter having a go at the helm.

Our ride for the day.

After a lunch at the ‘la tunnel’ we visited the ‘Abbaye de Lerins’, a beautiful old monastery.

The beautiful monuments are very visible around the island.

Around 30 Cistercian monks still live in the monastery today (not pictured).

The vieux monastery.

The locals were having a day out at the port.

Despite it being early in the season, there were around ten or so boats anchored between the islands. A very popular spot in the summer, I'm told. It was busy when we stopped for a dive in the beautifully clear waters during the Forum Dive Cruise.

We then did a spin around the south side of the island, which gave me a change to open up the throttles and enjoy the residual swell from an earlier storm. We then slowly made our way back to Golfe Juan where we did an another spin around the port and refuelled (only 33 litres) before heading back to Port Gallice at sunset.

A day we won’t forget in a hurry.

Thanks.

 

[Harpsden]

Looks like a fantastic day out.

Thanks for posting.

 

[Pinnacle]

Despite it being early in the season, there were around ten or so boats anchored between the islands.

Hope SWMBO and the kids liked the venue. I thought it was very pretty. No fire-fighting planes, I suppose.......

 

[scubaman]

Hope SWMBO and the kids liked the venue. I thought it was very pretty. No fire-fighting planes, I suppose.......

No planes this time to impress my wife, but if her questions regarding the costs of mooring, shipping the boat over, etc. are anything to go by, I'd say she liked it . Who wouldn't, to be honest...

 

[Rickard]

Thanks for sharing

 

[Pinnacle]

No planes this time to impress my wife, but if her questions regarding the costs of mooring, shipping the boat over, etc. are anything to go by, I'd say she liked it . Who wouldn't, to be honest...

Ooooh......jfm will approve!!

 

[jfm]

Ooooh......jfm will approve!!

Yes indeed! If Mrs Scubaman insists you move your boat to the Med just shout and we'll be happy to help.


Nice pictures K, as ever. It sounds like you visited a couple of the best places. Sorry to miss you but thank you for the pictures you kindly sent me of my boat.

 

[benjenbav]

Blue sky, clear water, beautiful scenery, nice weather...

I just don't see how it'll catch on.

 

[adey]

We've been based in Gallice since October last year and love it. The down side is that like many holiday resorts, much of it is closed in the winter. It's also very expensive. 10 euros for a beer, 25 for a burger
Houses are a bit pricey too http://www.capdantibes-immobilier.c...si_s_transaction=sell&lsi_s_page=1&position=2
We quite often get the train to Antibes where things are a bit more normal.

 

[alt]

Hi K,
Thanks for the pics as always. I remember when BartW & co. brought us there... I nipped off to Cannes on the RIB for some over-priced screwdrivers

You really made the most of your recent trip. How much did the RIB cost to rent for the day? (PM if you prefer) - I'd be tempted to drive down to SoF for a week during the summer, but the intention would be to be able to rent a small RIB etc. to get on the water... I couldn't handle being down there and not getting out on the water... looking in envy as the usual suspects fly by

 

[Portofino]

Here you are
http://www.winnerboat.com/index_en.php

 

[jfm]

And here. http://www.antibes-bateaux.com/bateaux-locations. The Fr word for rental is "Location" - that word has nothing to do with where something is located!

Few hundred euros/day and say 200/half day, depending on what you rent. You need an ICC else limited to 6hp. you leave a deposit but i'm not sure if cash or cr card. you fill up with petrol at end of day as you return the boat, which can involve queueing

 

[scubaman]

@Pinnacale and Jfm

Thank you for the offer, but attempting as moving the boat over feels, there is a bit of a dilemma: I've become convinced that in order to survive in the med, we'd need air con. This would mean quite a significant upgrade (ala JtB), which coupled with the cost of moving the boat over just doesn't make enough sense.

The other route would be to sell the boat here and then find a replacement from the med, use it there for a while and then ship it only one way, but it would be even more of a hassle when our current boat is pretty perfect for us.

Also getting there is a bit of a pain from where I live, so for now we are going to keep the boat near and hopefully use it a lot.

 

[scubaman]

Blue sky, clear water, beautiful scenery, nice weather...

I just don't see how it'll catch on.

I agree. The clear water increases the stress factor no end, as you can see the rocks in 10 meters of water. It also makes it bl@@dy difficult to estimate how much water there is. Try going to a museum and you'll only find paintings from overrated artists who clearly have no concept of human physique and can't draw a straight line. I could go on but just can't see what all the fuss is about...

 

[scubaman]

Hi K,
Thanks for the pics as always. I remember when BartW & co. brought us there... I nipped off to Cannes on the RIB for some over-priced screwdrivers

You really made the most of your recent trip. How much did the RIB cost to rent for the day? (PM if you prefer) - I'd be tempted to drive down to SoF for a week during the summer, but the intention would be to be able to rent a small RIB etc. to get on the water... I couldn't handle being down there and not getting out on the water... looking in envy as the usual suspects fly by

Hi,

Yep, I remember your skipping a dive for drinks at the Carlton. Not a bad choice, although it was a very nice dive .

I rented mine from here -> http://www.yacht-riviera.com/en/

The price of the rib was 400€ per day from which I got a 10% early season discount. Price seems to be inline with the others mentioned here.

Definitely worth doing if you go down there. I had never driven a rib before and also forgotten how much fun messing around on a more compact open boat is. It's a fantastic way to enjoy the sights, but I'd imagine it can be pretty busy in the summer so worth booking well in advance.

Edit: as JFM mentioned above and I wrote on the ICC thread, you must have your ICC with you.

 

[scubaman]

We've been based in Gallice since October last year and love it. The down side is that like many holiday resorts, much of it is closed in the winter. It's also very expensive. 10 euros for a beer, 25 for a burger
Houses are a bit pricey too http://www.capdantibes-immobilier.c...si_s_transaction=sell&lsi_s_page=1&position=2
We quite often get the train to Antibes where things are a bit more normal.

Gallice seemed a very nice and clean marina. Great position as well. Had I realized that you're based there, I'd looked you boat up and made sure the ropes are ok.

 

[MapisM]

Thanks for sharing your pics with us, K. Vey nice stuff, as always!
A. looks very familiar with helming, did you already train her on the mothership, by chance?
Love the sunset pic in the marina, among others. What sort of lens did you use, 200mm or so, at a guess?

 

[scubaman]

Thanks for sharing your pics with us, K. Vey nice stuff, as always!
A. looks very familiar with helming, did you already train her on the mothership, by chance?
Love the sunset pic in the marina, among others. What sort of lens did you use, 200mm or so, at a guess?

Thanks M! Yes, I've let them helm when they ask and when there is enough open water around (as in this case). This time A was a little uncertain while helming. Only after a while she told me that she can't see well because of the folder on the console .

A very good call on the lens, I used my 70-200 mm lens @200 mm in this instance!

 

[adey]

Had I realized that you're based there, I'd looked you boat up and made sure the ropes are ok.

Thanks, although the marina staff are pretty good at that as the marina is not huge.
Incidentally I was grateful that there were not many boats anchored between the islands when I was there last because I managed to fall off the bathing platform, fully dressed, followed by the tender.
You can probably see my jeans drying in the cockpit.

 

[BartW]

very well done Kivi, and very nice pics as alway's

you make many of us to shame, with your just do it attitude,
renting a boat, in winter, in a not familiar (to you) region, and go for it !
while owning a very nice boat yourselve in another region.

also in this region, have spend quite a few occasions at anchor between the lerins, but didn't bother / too lazy or too occupied with the guests ;-)
to visit the island, and the famous monastry

many thanks for sharing !