Mooring in Marseille

[Moody]

Our friends are currently making their way through France to the Med, and en route have heard a few horror stories about costly marinas in the Marseille area.

They have asked us to dig around and see if we can find any info on what's available (preferably near the airport).

Does any one have any advice to offer on where to go, where to avoid, and any indicative costings.

Thanks

Neil

 

[EME]

Marseilles isnt expensive iirc ... which airport do you mean ??

 

[BobnLesley]

As EME says, Marseille, indeed Med France generally is (or at least was - June 2005) very reasonable compared to UK or the adjacent NE Spain/Italian coasts. We stopped off at the CNL marina (first on right once you enter the inner harbour) and it was about €20 or 25/night (<10m) I believe the SNM berths further up were similarly priced. Alternatively, the harbour at Sausset le Pins about 10M west of Marseille was only about €10 or 15/night and very friendly helpful - we left our yacht there whilst we flew back to UK for a few days from Marseille airport - about an hour by bus, change at marseille main bus station.

 

[jfm]

The rental payments aren't high, no worse than solent say. But availbility is tight. Right now they probably have space but as we get nearer July they wont. There is the big main marina in Marseille than another big one on the outlying island, which you have to get to by waterbus, and that one has more availability cos it is more hassle to get to

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

The island is Frioul. It's an ex Navy base that's recently been opened to Joe Public. A few cheap houses and a few cheap restaurants. The only good thing is that it seems fairly easy to get a berth even in high summer but I would'nt fancy staying for longer than a couple of days
We managed to find a berth in the Vieux Port in Marseille in high season but it was a bit by accident (second yacht club on the right) and the port is total bedlam

 

[DavidJ]

Not sure from your posting if your friends are looking for a semi-permanent place or a couple of night stopovers. We have had relatively few problems in finding stopovers as long as you arrive mid afternoon (before the yachties!). Phoning ahead is generally a waste of time because the easy answer is always "full". They will be full by the end of the day anyway.
A semi-permanent mooring is big big problem. The common tale from this forum (and my experience) is to dump yourself somewhere and just keep asking, but you have to be there. The only costs I can give are northern Med Spain 4000 euros/yr or about 45 euros/night peak season for a 12 footer.
Hope all this helps.