mcanderson
Well-known member
Well after some consideration I thought I would start a thread on our move to the South of France(SoF). I have run a couple of threads on various issues, but things have fallen into place and this might well be helpful for others who are considering/thinking or just for a read. I will kick off with the process of getting a berth and the prep so far, and then if there is any interest I will follow through with the physical move of our boat.
The background-
For the past 7 or so years we have had an annual holiday between St Tropez and Beaulieu Sur Mer. We love the area and once we leave start planning on our next holiday back in area. For the past 5 years we have stayed in In a great hotel in St Jean Cap Ferrat and fallen more and more for the coast. By coincidence we bough our Beneteau 323 in 2008 and have had her in Edinburgh, but always dreamed of having her in France as a precursor to perhaps buying a property in the area with an eye on retirement. Retirement is more than 10 years away, but you have to start somewhere.
Four years ago I put our names down on both the Beaulieu Sur Mer and Villefrance Sur Mer marinas. For both we were told that the waiting list was around the 10 year mark. Every year I would go back to the port office and say hello and see if we had moved up the list. Results were never overly promising, but it was generally combined with a long lunch in a local restaurant, some wine and more dreaming.
I always keep a weather eye on berths for sale and was often tempted. However the reality of paying off the mortgage was always a bigger priority. I was also concerned about the lengths of leases left, 4 years for Beaulieu Sur Mer and 7 for St Jean Cap Ferrat as at 2014. So we waited.
Late in 2013 we were offered a berth for the winter, this was of no value. I cautiously asked if there was any chance of an annual berth. The response was not positive, so back to waiting. Two weeks before Christmas I got an email offering an annual berth! We had a week to make up our minds!! After an extraordinary financial committee meeting of the family financial coordination group (me, my wife and our Westie) we decided to go for it! Slight panic now set in as we need to get our boat ready for the move and away from our present marina by 1 Apr 14 as our contract was due at that stage.
Let me know if you would like part 2 - the preparation for the move.
The background-
For the past 7 or so years we have had an annual holiday between St Tropez and Beaulieu Sur Mer. We love the area and once we leave start planning on our next holiday back in area. For the past 5 years we have stayed in In a great hotel in St Jean Cap Ferrat and fallen more and more for the coast. By coincidence we bough our Beneteau 323 in 2008 and have had her in Edinburgh, but always dreamed of having her in France as a precursor to perhaps buying a property in the area with an eye on retirement. Retirement is more than 10 years away, but you have to start somewhere.
Four years ago I put our names down on both the Beaulieu Sur Mer and Villefrance Sur Mer marinas. For both we were told that the waiting list was around the 10 year mark. Every year I would go back to the port office and say hello and see if we had moved up the list. Results were never overly promising, but it was generally combined with a long lunch in a local restaurant, some wine and more dreaming.
I always keep a weather eye on berths for sale and was often tempted. However the reality of paying off the mortgage was always a bigger priority. I was also concerned about the lengths of leases left, 4 years for Beaulieu Sur Mer and 7 for St Jean Cap Ferrat as at 2014. So we waited.
Late in 2013 we were offered a berth for the winter, this was of no value. I cautiously asked if there was any chance of an annual berth. The response was not positive, so back to waiting. Two weeks before Christmas I got an email offering an annual berth! We had a week to make up our minds!! After an extraordinary financial committee meeting of the family financial coordination group (me, my wife and our Westie) we decided to go for it! Slight panic now set in as we need to get our boat ready for the move and away from our present marina by 1 Apr 14 as our contract was due at that stage.
Let me know if you would like part 2 - the preparation for the move.
