Annual berth - South of France

[Seejay]

I‘ll be looking to acquire a boat this year and (hopefully!) to moor her in the Nice/Cannes area. I realise from past experience that this is not simple, but as it‘s been a few years since I owned a berth (Antibes) I was wondering what the situation is currently. I believe that nearly all the original concessions have expired/are expiring around this time and moorings will now be rented out by the local authority with, understandably, precedence given to current leaseholders.
So what are the chances of my being able to rent a 14m slip on a yearly basis? In which port is this more likely to happen? Is it just a case of contacting all the marinas directly or are there any other channels?
Many thanks!

 

[Portofino]

Buy a boat through a marina dealer .There are plenty of the usual suspects in La Napoule .
Negotiation of a berth is normal .They all hold access to berths .Eg Fairline France are my current tenant of a 15 M .I own who’s lease expires 2029 .
You sit there in the offices and simply walk out onto the pontoon to pick .
Know two friends who bought S /Skrs from S/ Skr France @ la Nap around 15 m and paid €1000 pcm .Had a choice of berths open ended .One sold it after 2 yrs so that berth came up and so the cycle repeats .
Thats a good price they got as I rent mine out for € 16/17 K all in .So for them the subsidised “ rent “ sweetened the deal(s) .

What are you looking for boat wise ?
Where are you gonna buy it from ?

 

[Seejay]

Hi Porto, It will be a used Rodman 41, or at least will be if I'm sure of finding a berth out there!

 

[jfm2387438]

Hi Porto. I'm in the same boat (excuse the pun) as Seejay & would very much like to keep a boat in La Napoule or surrounding and have been looking at berths. I don't currently have a boat and favour a day boat (Sacs Strider 11m or 13m), there's a 13m for sale at Blattes in Golfe Juan at the moment actually. Taking ur suggestion, wud you recommend calling Blattes and asking about the boat & a berth at the same time i.e. you help me with a berth and I'll maybe buy the boat type of thing? The other question was do you generally buy for the concession period i.e. spend 80,000 euros for 8 years (as opposed to paying monthly which wouldn't be 'buying' it) and if so, is sub letting like you do always permissible? Finally if sub letting is a 'thing' how do I find options to sub let of someone else is there a web site?! Sorry for so many questions... thank you.

 

[Portofino]

Hi Porto. I'm in the same boat (excuse the pun) as Seejay & would very much like to keep a boat in La Napoule or surrounding and have been looking at berths. I don't currently have a boat and favour a day boat (Sacs Strider 11m or 13m), there's a 13m for sale at Blattes in Golfe Juan at the moment actually. Taking ur suggestion, wud you recommend calling Blattes and asking about the boat & a berth at the same time i.e. you help me with a berth and I'll maybe buy the boat type of thing? The other question was do you generally buy for the concession period i.e. spend 80,000 euros for 8 years (as opposed to paying monthly which wouldn't be 'buying' it) and if so, is sub letting like you do always permissible? Finally if sub letting is a 'thing' how do I find options to sub let of someone else is there a web site?! Sorry for so many questions... thank you.

Hello and Welcome.
Yes call Blattes and try and combine the two .They should have contacts .
Generally buy a concession, there’s 9 years left at La Nap .*
You may find sublets but could get booted out at short notice .Security of tenure is weak .
As la Nap it’s a berth holder run outfit each berth holder holds shares based on sq M of your berth .
We rent the shops out and receive car park income and there’s an AGM .Some of the tenants of the shop units are directors and seats last 3 years before they seek re-election .
Those guys control the letting ,Bart @ Homeport is a board member and runs a berth brokerage and Fairline France + irrc Searay ?
So subletting , Barts co ordinates and the marina office have a waiting list .
The rates are set ( see online ) by the marina indirectly the berth holders .Marina takes 20 % commission.

As an aside you need good safe parking ,ours has CCTV and security guards at the barrier , as a berth holder you get a free pass .

Also a plan B could be dry stack at La Rague or Port inland up the river adjacent to the airport .
Traffic is ok ish because it’s just W of Cannes .Summer traffic from Cannes to Monaco is a nightmare , but I expect you know that .

As for Day boating it’s ideal with the Lerins , Esterel mountains and Cap d Antibes = always shelter @ anchor .
About an hr to St Trop .

* Was a 50 y concession and should have expired in 2019 but we keep negotiating extensions .That’s not to say past performance is a guarantee of further extensions .

 

[jfm2387438]

Hello and Welcome.
Yes call Blattes and try and combine the two .They should have contacts .
Generally buy a concession, there’s 9 years left at La Nap .*
You may find sublets but could get booted out at short notice .Security of tenure is weak .
As la Nap it’s a berth holder run outfit each berth holder holds shares based on sq M of your berth .
We rent the shops out and receive car park income and there’s an AGM .Some of the tenants of the shop units are directors and seats last 3 years before they seek re-election .
Those guys control the letting ,Bart @ Homeport is a board member and runs a berth brokerage and Fairline France + irrc Searay ?
So subletting , Barts co ordinates and the marina office have a waiting list .
The rates are set ( see online ) by the marina indirectly the berth holders .Marina takes 20 % commission.

As an aside you need good safe parking ,ours has CCTV and security guards at the barrier , as a berth holder you get a free pass .

Also a plan B could be dry stack at La Rague or Port inland up the river adjacent to the airport .
Traffic is ok ish because it’s just W of Cannes .Summer traffic from Cannes to Monaco is a nightmare , but I expect you know that .

As for Day boating it’s ideal with the Lerins , Esterel mountains and Cap d Antibes = always shelter @ anchor .
About an hr to St Trop .

* Was a 50 y concession and should have expired in 2019 but we keep negotiating extensions .That’s not to say past performance is a guarantee of further extensions .

Wow, thanks for taking the time to answer, much appreciated. I will digest and take your advice. Yes I originally thought the dry stack at Port Inland would be best (esp cost wise) & I've boated from there before, quite like it, but on the web site I was struggling with beam as it says limit is 3.7m whereas most the boats I was looking at were 3.8 / 3.9 but I suppose no harm in asking! Thanks again.