Antibes/SoF - local knowledge please

[Greg2]

Our lad has pulled a rabbit out of the hat and has arranged for us to see the F1 in Monaco at the end of May, which has absolutely made SWMBO's decade! Whilst we were chatting about it n the pub, making plans to have a long weekend based in Nice, he casually remembers that a contact has a 35 foot Windy sports cruiser in Antibes that he charters and has said we can have the keys for a couple of days as long as we put some fuel in it!

Not having boated in that part of the world we are wondering what is realistically doable for a couple of day trips. Is St Tropez for lunch a realistic option? Similarly, could we do Monaco? Any other suggestions?

Specifically are lunchtime berths an option and who should we contact? Any navigational tips/things to watch out for? Is calling on VHF required when entering/leaving marinas/ports? etc, etc

All tips and advice will be gratefully received.

 

[MapisM]

Is St Tropez for lunch a realistic option? Similarly, could we do Monaco?

You definitely can.
From Antibes, St Trop is 30Nm or so heading E along the coast, and Monaco is even closer, at about half of that distance, though in the opposite direction.
Anyway, that's probably the most well known cruising area here in the asylum, so I'm sure you will be soon overwhelmed by many other (and more accurate!) suggestions. :encouragement:

 

[jfm]

Our lad has pulled a rabbit out of the hat and has arranged for us to see the F1 in Monaco at the end of May, which has absolutely made SWMBO's decade! Whilst we were chatting about it n the pub, making plans to have a long weekend based in Nice, he casually remembers that a contact has a 35 foot Windy sports cruiser in Antibes that he charters and has said we can have the keys for a couple of days as long as we put some fuel in it!

Not having boated in that part of the world we are wondering what is realistically doable for a couple of day trips. Is St Tropez for lunch a realistic option? Similarly, could we do Monaco? Any other suggestions?

Specifically are lunchtime berths an option and who should we contact? Any navigational tips/things to watch out for? Is calling on VHF required when entering/leaving marinas/ports? etc, etc

All tips and advice will be gratefully received.

you can do st trop but I wouldn't bother. It doesn't work well for anchoring off in a new-to-you boat, and you won't get a reservation in 35 feet, so you'd have to beg on thr day. And it's a long trip in the sea state/ boat size combo

Monaco yes is easily reached but it is GP weekend so you absolutely won't be allowed in, and you needs lots of chain to anchor off. There are nice anchorages just to the west, between Eze and cap d'ail

If you want to get off for lunch then go to villefranche. Anchor in the rade, NE corner, in about 8m. Then tender across to west, tie up at quai, no fee, no reservation needed, and eat at the wonderful mer germaine, =one the finest restaurants on the planet, with a great history . MYAG is their biggest customer.

Another great spot in a 35 footer is between the Lerins islands off Cannes. Anchor in 4m in the turquoise bits e.g. Near the little harbour entrance., on the smaller southerly island with the monastery. Again it is free to go ashore and just tie up. There's a restaurant but not sure when it opens. I prefer a picnic.

La garoupe is another nice spot. East side of cap d'antibes at the bottom of the cap. Anchor near the beach and the restaurant tender will take you ashore if you want.

Lunchtime berths possible but rarely in st trop and not in MC on that weekend. You must call on vhf 9 or 12- you have to look in the guidebook or it will be on a sign as you enter the port. Be sensitive on vhf use. Use simple English unless the person is fluent. Don't rattle on in idioms or colloquial English as people do: "we've been caught short and wondering if like any chance of maybe a berth mate-sorry it's short notice and we've haven't had chance to get a booking sorted". If you ask for anything you must state bateau moteur, longueur dix mètres, and largeur trois point cinque metres. They absolutely always want your beam. Most speak EN. When calling ask for the port name. Port de Monaco, port Vauban, etc. Don't use the word "Marina" or harbour or anything other than port.

Frankly anchoring is invariably the better option.

Nav is easy but there are a few bad hazards in the area we're discussing so you really should study the chart. The south cardinal to the south of thr Lerins is WELL north of the last rock so give it a very wide berth, like 100metres south or more.

As you transit between Lerins you must stay in the buoyed corridor highway then turn off to you anchoring spot when you've chosen it. There are several speed limit zones so check thr chart and if everyone else is slow that is a clue. There are plenty of police boats and an encounter will not be fun. It's all on the chart though.

Plenty of us will be there so maybe say hello.

 

[jfm]

You definitely can.
From Antibes, St Trop is 30Nm or so heading E along the coast, and Monaco is even closer, at about half of that distance, though in the opposite direction:

from antibes, st trop is to the west and Monaco is east. I'm sure you meant that P!

 

[MapisM]

from antibes, st trop is to the west and Monaco is east. I'm sure you meant that P!

Doh! Well, at least I didn't say that in two threads at the same time....

 

[Greg2]

Thanks guys, some helpful pointers......particularly on the east west thing!

Bit worrying that a south cardinal is well north of part of the hazard so thanks for that particular tip.

Not sure what the score is with a tender on the Windy i.e. not sure if it has one but will find out.

 

[CharlieAlpha]

Thanks guys, some helpful pointers......particularly on the east west thing!

Bit worrying that a south cardinal is well north of part of the hazard so thanks for that particular tip.

Not sure what the score is with a tender on the Windy i.e. not sure if it has one but will find out.

You and M will have a great time, F1 and a boat - welljel - kids they do come good in the end

 

[Pinnacle]

from antibes, st trop is to the west and Monaco is east. I'm sure you meant that P!

Comon P.......get a grip!

 

[jfm]

Comon P.......get a grip!

Pinnacle, MapisM is on honeymoon with a beautiful new boat :encouragement::encouragement: and only has his mind on one thing:encouragement:. It's just not a good time to ask him for navigational directions.

 

[Portofino]

St Trop is a day trip really in all ,and JFM,s right in that boat even a Windy it can get choppy at various legs particulary crossing bay of Frejus and later bay of St Trop whereby the wind can blow down the gapin the hills over Port Grimaud .

It may be calm @ Antibes but different @ St Trop -seperated by the Esteril Mnts -often different sea states .

How ever if you or ( wife ) insists to look at Jimmy Choo shops ,Hermes and Prada -et al -then its doable
Little boat mind set
Works like this
No VHF -- just arrive @ fuel pontoon on the RHS as you go in ,put a few L in while one of you slopes off to Capitaneries and asks to tie up for a couple of hrs .The visitor berths usuaully empty are Oppersite ,so. Just tie up .

Next to the SW of the town S of the obvious grave yard there is a sheltered bay - a restaurant ( with a lad n tender ) anchor there - give the lad € 10-20 .St Trop is a 10min walk .
if that's a no goer ?
Next go to Port Grimaud -- visitors berths RHS tie up -take the ferry to St Trop / and back -- stay the pm ?? If it blows up .

Pampelonne bay round the corner ,best place to drop anchor
In the middle -restaurant bouys - tie up but you will be picked up and expected to eat .
W end more public ,can in close with no obligations - wine lists are in desending from € 3000 to € 30 -so be warned .Swim suits for her around €300- €1000 ,in the restaurant boutique -if the service is slow ,she will be in ,between courses :encouragement:

Wind gen Westerly and increases after noon so if day tripping the ride back should be better assuming you have recovered from the up wind ride there .

Figure 2 hrs each way Antibes / Pampelonne --easy -if mirror calm then sure a good 1hr in a 25 ft Windy .


Lerins --
Just add the N island on the W side has a visitor jetty -and some restaurants etc-stern to if busy if not side on .But I think it will be busy end of May
The little harbour on the S island as a L restriction -go in if you want and are confidant re new boat to you handling skills -- it's tight , shallow and often packed @ W/E -- early bird gets the worm .
It's highly likely you will ding a 35 ftr in there in my view -- sign says 6-7 m iirc ?

Monaco
We have never had any probs in the Sunseeker P35 or the Itama on race day going in and poking our nose .
Hovering - then departing .If so head W and end up @ Cap Ferat -- again nice fuel pontoon / visitors to kill a couple of hrs , in a 35 ftr -- done that too .This time wife can go into a Spar supermarket and buy normal things @ normal prices .
Can see an issue if folks enter Monaco in a 80 ftr upwards sure .
There's a steady stream of small boat n tender ( some not that small ) comings n goings --just tag along -no VHF malarkey
We have never been chalanged to date 5 boat GP trips .
One does wonder exactly what peeps get who pay to moor on race W/E ?Go and see for yourself !

 

[benjenbav]

Pinnacle, MapisM is on honeymoon with a beautiful new boat :encouragement::encouragement: and only has his mind on one thing:encouragement:. It's just not a good time to ask him for navigational directions.

Confession time: I have never been able to tell east from west without having to think very carefully about it. Even then I'm only slightly better than 50%.

Not a problem on the water though, as I am completely comfortable with 90 and 270 degrees and so long as I think in those terms I hardly ever run aground.

 

[mcanderson]

Just a small point, the port at St Jean is still being worked on so space is even more limited. Another option is to take a bouy at Mala Beach Cap D'Ail. Tender from the restaurants will collect you for a lunch and then it's a quick nip around the corner to Monaco. Good news is both restaurants have boutiques! So you can give your € over to help the local economy. My wife can be very generous.

 

[MapisM]

Pinnacle, MapisM is on honeymoon with a beautiful new boat :encouragement::encouragement: and only has his mind on one thing:encouragement:. It's just not a good time to ask him for navigational directions.

Naah, I'm already over that phase.
We have yet to finalize the formal hand over, and I'm already busy removing/replacing instruments and doing other refitting stuff...
...and discovering more things worth doing while I am at that.
B.O.A.T. - as always. Aaarumph! Just hope it'll be worth, eventually.

Btw, while I was at the yard today, with several different boats on the hard, I took the opportunity to take some hull pics, as a special gift for Portofino.
I will post them in his "hull shape" thread as soon as I have a bit of time to arrange them...

Oh, and the good news is that the old tub is very likely to have already found someone else willing to giver her all the TLC she constantly needs: a very good friend of mine, also based in CF, who is much better (and more willing) than myself at dealing with wood maintenance. More about that soon, probably with some other refitting bits! :encouragement:

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

As you transit between Lerins you must stay in the buoyed corridor highway then turn off to you anchoring spot when you've chosen it. There are several speed limit zones so check thr chart and if everyone else is slow that is a clue. There are plenty of police boats and an encounter will not be fun. It's all on the chart though.

My depth sounder was playing up when we wandered into the anchorage between the Lerins last October. On the chart there looked to be some quite shallow patches particularly on the north side. Just for my future reference are there any really shallow areas where you can't go?

 

[Pinnacle]

Pinnacle, MapisM is on honeymoon with a beautiful new boat :encouragement::encouragement: and only has his mind on one thing:encouragement:. It's just not a good time to ask him for navigational directions.

All understood J, but as P says, he is already over that initial flush of delight as is now getting stuck into things like instrument upgrades. But - I think I can see how the error occurred. When coming towards the SoF coast from where P is based, the directions are reversed. Left equals Westwards whereas coming out of the port and turning left will take you in an Easterly direction. There ........ how's that for Man Logic!


MapisM - glad to hear you might have found a purchaser for the "old tub". I imagine that when you do eventually sell her you will have lots of mixed emotions.

As you know, owning two boats is rarely a great idea.......

 

[Portofino]

No between - all ok .

But there is nasty shoals N island and mainland between the castle ( man with iron mask rep ? ) and the visitors jetty .
Temping to hug the shore esp if you gave recently anchored off to the restaurant .

There is seperated buoyed channel to the jetty -follow the ferries .So go back out N then turn in S


N island tends to peter out on the E side give it a wi----------de berth
Esp at night , and /or if you have had a bit of of lunch time drink - there's hardly a year that goes buy with out this ( not me btw )

 

[Portofino]

Naah, I'm already over that phase.
We have yet to finalize the formal hand over, and I'm already busy removing/replacing instruments and doing other refitting stuff...
...and discovering more things worth doing while I am at that.
B.O.A.T. - as always. Aaarumph! Just hope it'll be worth, eventually.

Btw, while I was at the yard today, with several different boats on the hard, I took the opportunity to take some hull pics, as a special gift for Portofino.
I will post them in his "hull shape" thread as soon as I have a bit of time to arrange them...

Oh, and the good news is that the old tub is very likely to have already found someone else willing to giver her all the TLC she constantly needs: a very good friend of mine, also based in CF, who is much better (and more willing) than myself at dealing with wood maintenance. More about that soon, probably with some other refitting bits! :encouragement:

Sounds good :encouragement:
On all fronts----

 

[Greg2]

You and M will have a great time, F1 and a boat - welljel - kids they do come good in the end

Yep, can't quite believe it!
Our lad will be there too as he has some business and our daughter has decided to buy a ticket as she is an F1 fan so it promises to be a very memorable family trip.

The boat thing really is the icing on the cake!

 

[Greg2]

Thanks for the additional comments and advice.....all very helpful and gratefully received.

Really looking forward to it!