Bareboat Charter SOF. Advice please..

[peterandjeanette]

Not having been to SOF for about 40 years I'm sure some things have changed.
We're going for the first two weeks in September on a Dufour 405, just SWMBO and me.
Some advice would be appreciated on items such as :-
Berthing in marinas or bays.
Do we need to book in advance?
On arrival - dock at waiting/fuel pontoon and seek a berth from Capitainaire or berth in an empty slot anywhere and then report?
Drop anchor or use lazy lines if present? Techniques for short handed pickup of lazy lines?
Stern to or bows in?
Anchor off the marina and dinghy ashore?
Recommendations for overnight anchoring in bays.

Places to avoid or must visit?

Where to obtain weather information when we don't have a laptop?

Long list, I know. But being fairly new to sailing any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[RichardS]

Should be a great trip - where are you starting from?

Richard

 

[Sans Bateau]

Early Sept is perfect for SoF, as Richards says though, were are you setting off from?

 

[peterandjeanette]

Starting point is Bormes les Mimosa - just east of Toulon.
The plan is to spend the first week heading east towards Monaco then back. If time and weather permit, perhaps a little further west towards Marseilles. Not particularly keen to head out into the Golfe de Lion or further south to Corsica. Need a bit more experience before tackling that.

 

[Twister_Ken]

If you head west you won't get to Monaco - well, not without doing a circumnavigation. I wouldn't plan on going too far - in the Med mornings are often windless which means lots of motoring if you want big distances. Also, you don't want to get stuck too far from base if a Mistral kicks in, you'll have a miserable time trying to get back. Close by you have...

...the Calanques, between Marseilles and Toulon, fantastic - sort of mini Med fjords, anchor. The Porquerolles islands good too, close to Bormes. So to are the Iles d'Hyeres.

 

[Sans Bateau]

Port de Bormes, that'll be Kirrioculis (or however you spell it) I know the place pretty well, sailed out of there several times.

Easiest destination, is just outside the marina, anchor at Cap Benat, or go straight across to the Ille de H'yeres, Port Cros to the west of the Island, you may be lucky to pick up a buoy there or anchor outside, but be warned it can be a little rolly at anchor. Port Cro is a MUST!! To the East of the Island is Port Mann, anchor only and it does get crowded. The next Island along to the West is Porquerolles, lots of places to anchor, or go into the marina/harbour. Be carefull going in as it is narrow and there are a lot of movements, including the Hyeres ferry..

If you would prefer head East to the Bay de St Tropez, but dont go into St Trop, anchor to the east in the bay, or go across to St Maxime, we love St Maxime. From here you can get a ferry across to St Trop, worth a visit.

If you are in a marina around these parts, its stern too, with lazy lines you pick up for the bow. Dont use bare hands handling these though as they get shell fish growing on them and they will cut!

In most marinas/harbours we have been into there is reception pontoon.

I have always got the weather on my phone, wind guru seems OK.

Back to Port de Borme, best place to eat is Brasserie de Port, good for people watching.

If you see a Bav 36 called Berty 2, give it a wave and say "Hello Peter!" wont be me but it will give my friend a surprise!

 

[jfm]

Not having been to SOF for about 40 years I'm sure some things have changed.
We're going for the first two weeks in September on a Dufour 405, just SWMBO and me.
Some advice would be appreciated on items such as :-
Berthing in marinas or bays.
Do we need to book in advance?
On arrival - dock at waiting/fuel pontoon and seek a berth from Capitainaire or berth in an empty slot anywhere and then report?
Drop anchor or use lazy lines if present? Techniques for short handed pickup of lazy lines?
Stern to or bows in?
Anchor off the marina and dinghy ashore?
Recommendations for overnight anchoring in bays.

Places to avoid or must visit?

Where to obtain weather information when we don't have a laptop?

Long list, I know. But being fairly new to sailing any advice would be much appreciated.

Monaco is East of Toulon (I know you knew that!)
September is a great time
your questions in order:
You likely will not need to book in advance. Many don't do bookings for 40ers anyway. But there is no harm trying, and in particular it is a good idea to call in the morning to request a berth that evening. Call on mobile is best. Never call 12-2.30. alternatively just arrive and call on 9 or 12 vhf

Remember, at virtually all marinas you can arrive 18.30 and tie to fuel pontoon but be gone by 8am. No shore power, and often there is no water but you can get that by requesting use of an empty berth for an hour (ask on VHF for that).

Never just arrive and take an empty slot. 99% of the time it is someone's private berth. you will get yelled at big time

In all marinas you will visit in a 40er it will be lazy lines not anchor, unless you get a slot on the RHS as you enter st Trop, in which case drop the anchor very far away and let out loads of chain. Lazy lines are dead easy to pick up - use boat hook at stern quarters and wear gardening gloves if squeamish. The boat will be jammed between 2 neighbours at this point so it wont flap about. Rent a boat with bowthruster if you can
In a sailboat you can do stern or bows in. your choice, unless it is dictated by your passerelle arrangements
Anchoring overnight works. Plenty of good safe spots. Between islands off Cannes, St Trop bay, Theoule, either side of caps D'Antibes and Ferrat, deep inside Villefranche is one of my favourites and very safe in prevailing easterlies
Weather info is posted at all capitaineries and is blasted out continuously on ch37 (iirc)
Places to go? From W to e starting Toulon: Porquerolles red dot bay, Point douanes just before you turn north to St trop bay, inside st trop bay, visit st trop town, then not much till Theoule, Cannes/Islands, all around Cap D'Antibes, Antibes town is MUST visit - the jewel of CDA, Villefranche (lovely town), Paloma beach E of Cap Ferrat, visit Beaulieu town there, and monaco

If weather doesn't allow you that far East get to Antibes then use the (fab) train to visit Monaco. If you need a car in Antibes for a supermarket run I have a new Clio on the quai that you are welcome to borrow

 

[jfm]

but dont go into St Trop,

I agree all your comments except that. If you wanna go to St Trop then do just that, esp in September, I'd say. Call the capitainerie and ask for a berth. Do not enter the port without asking on the radio; they prefer to be informed of your movements. They (and monaco) are one of the nicest capitaineries you'll come across Try for a bows-anchored berth on the right hand side of the entrance channel, outside capitainerie front door, but more likely you will be put in the new marina (ie swing a right as you enter), which is fine. You wont get a berth on the picture postcard old port quai; it's minimum 21m there

Another good place for overnight is inside Port Grimaud. Ask for a berth near the church

 

[Sans Bateau]

I didnt mean dont go to St Trop because its not a nice place!! We have been in there, also in Sept, no real reason not too, but we like so much St Maxime, its no contest for us. I think St Maxim has a little more personal charm than St Tropez.

PS, I think your offer of use of a car is very kind, its always a pain getting shopping back to the boat.

 

[Twister_Ken]

St trop bay, inside st trop bay, visit st trop town, then not much till Theoule

Well, that ignores Ste Maxime, Frejus, St Raphael, Rade d'Agay, some delightful little mini-calanques for lunch stops and Chez Moi.

Never mind, we prefer the crowds to stay away and to infest Strop and Cans instead.

And I'm not going to tell you about my fave new restaurant, a two minute walk from a marina that's 'not much'!

 

[Sans Bateau]

St Maxime, yes, Frejus, yes if that suntanned, short shorts wearing godess is still working in the captinaires office , St Raphael, a bit concrete? Rade d'Agay, yes lovely, except, bloody water skiers!

 

[jfm]

Well, that ignores Ste Maxime, Frejus, St Raphael, Rade d'Agay, some delightful little mini-calanques for lunch stops

Um yes sorry, you're right! I agree that ste Max is nice for a town visit but I don't rate Frejus at all. Bit of a dump imho. There are some nice little bays in the red rocks bit just before you get to the headland south of Theole, Miramar ish, but I don't know the names of them

 

[Sans Bateau]

Um yes sorry, you're right! I agree that ste Max is nice for a town visit but I don't rate Frejus at all. Bit of a dump imho. There are some nice little bays in the red rocks bit just before you get to the headland south of Theole, Miramar ish, but I don't know the names of them

Rade d'Agay, is the large bay after leaving St Raphael heading east.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Rade d'Agay, is the large bay after leaving St Raphael heading east.

And if you're into military history, Dramont beach, twixt St Raph and Agay, is where the Good Old US of A landed its troops when the soft underbelly of France was invaded in August '44. There's a landing craft parked amongst the pines in commemoration.

 

[RichardS]

And if you're into military history, Dramont beach, twixt St Raph and Agay, is where the Good Old US of A landed its troops when the soft underbelly of France was invaded in August '44. There's a landing craft parked amongst the pines in commemoration.

PEDANT WARNING SIREN!

I think that the "soft underbelly" actually referred to Sicily. By the time the allies got to SoF they were probably up to the "saggy moobs"!

SOUND THE ALL CLEAR!

Richard

 

[Twister_Ken]

PEDANT WARNING SIREN!

I think that the "soft underbelly" actually referred to Sicily. By the time the allies got to SoF they were probably up to the "saggy moobs"!

SOUND THE ALL CLEAR!

Richard

Pedant responds - you'll notice I said the soft underbelly OF FRANCE.

Damned cheeky young whippersnapper.

 

[RichardS]

....young.....

It's been a long time since that term was hurled in my direction!

Thank you!

Richard

 

[peterandjeanette]

Thanks for all the replies.
Several places now highlighted in my nice new pilot book.

John. (jfm) Will keep an eye out for you on our travels. Dying to get a peek at Match following your report in MBY.