Nautical
Well-Known Member
Had a lovely (if hectic) five days in the South of France last week and weekend and really enjoyed it.
Ok so some will say the med is not all its cracked up to be and its easy to look at a short break through rose tinted glassed but it was such a welcome change from Solent or Irish sea boating. Still love UK boating but for other reasons but what took me quite by surprise is how well organised SoF boating is. Marina could'nt have been more helpful and charges were really quite reasonable compared to Hamble.
The guys at Aire DeBoom's at Port de la Rague were first class, waited on Saturday with the lift on standby for the boat to arrive late as French Plod had decided to be awkward and kept stopping the truck every three of four hours for a tea break. Even the VP engineer hung on to Pdi the engines and check everthing over for us.
Place was spotless and the engineering shop was like an operating theatre. Lady in reception was really helpful and could'nt do enough to make sure the boat would go in the water on Saturday so we could do all the Pdi checks and sea trials before the customer arrived with his family.
Anyway here are some piccies and I can highly recommend La Napoule and La Rague as a base for the SoF, it so handy to every where, Cannes, St Tropez, Monaco, Antibes etc and quite a bit cheaper.
This is the view of La Rague marina from the Castle at La Napoule.
Boat eventually arrived and after a wash was ready for dropping in.
New shiney props all fitted.
How many fuel berths in the Solent have this view?
Enterance to La Rague marina.
Quick whizz around to La Napoule to make sure she fitted onto the new berth ( a S/seeker Portofino 46 just squeezes in beside us).
First trip out to the Islands off Cannes with new owners family.
Milled about in the Island bay having a shuffty at all the sexy stuff.
Stopped off here just south of Antibes and gave the resturant a phone and they sent someone out to take us in for lunch.
Back on berth in the evening after a great day running the boat and handover.
And as if by magic the locals put on a fireworks display just to celebrate the final handing over of the boat and keys. Sat with a few glasses on the boat till late.
This is the view at night from the marina towards the Castle.
Early morning breakfasts were at this cafe overlooking the Marina.
Hotel at La Napoule which Learner and Britemp suggested, thanks guys, fabulous hotel and fantastic food.
All in all a great few days if a lot of hard work. Apologies if some see this as a promo thing but lots of people talk about the SoF and med boating and the various places and what they are like but some never get to see where we are talking about so thought it would be interesting for those that haven't to get a flavour of what it is like.
Ok so some will say the med is not all its cracked up to be and its easy to look at a short break through rose tinted glassed but it was such a welcome change from Solent or Irish sea boating. Still love UK boating but for other reasons but what took me quite by surprise is how well organised SoF boating is. Marina could'nt have been more helpful and charges were really quite reasonable compared to Hamble.
The guys at Aire DeBoom's at Port de la Rague were first class, waited on Saturday with the lift on standby for the boat to arrive late as French Plod had decided to be awkward and kept stopping the truck every three of four hours for a tea break. Even the VP engineer hung on to Pdi the engines and check everthing over for us.
Place was spotless and the engineering shop was like an operating theatre. Lady in reception was really helpful and could'nt do enough to make sure the boat would go in the water on Saturday so we could do all the Pdi checks and sea trials before the customer arrived with his family.
Anyway here are some piccies and I can highly recommend La Napoule and La Rague as a base for the SoF, it so handy to every where, Cannes, St Tropez, Monaco, Antibes etc and quite a bit cheaper.
This is the view of La Rague marina from the Castle at La Napoule.
Boat eventually arrived and after a wash was ready for dropping in.
New shiney props all fitted.
How many fuel berths in the Solent have this view?
Enterance to La Rague marina.
Quick whizz around to La Napoule to make sure she fitted onto the new berth ( a S/seeker Portofino 46 just squeezes in beside us).
First trip out to the Islands off Cannes with new owners family.
Milled about in the Island bay having a shuffty at all the sexy stuff.
Stopped off here just south of Antibes and gave the resturant a phone and they sent someone out to take us in for lunch.
Back on berth in the evening after a great day running the boat and handover.
And as if by magic the locals put on a fireworks display just to celebrate the final handing over of the boat and keys. Sat with a few glasses on the boat till late.
This is the view at night from the marina towards the Castle.
Early morning breakfasts were at this cafe overlooking the Marina.
Hotel at La Napoule which Learner and Britemp suggested, thanks guys, fabulous hotel and fantastic food.
All in all a great few days if a lot of hard work. Apologies if some see this as a promo thing but lots of people talk about the SoF and med boating and the various places and what they are like but some never get to see where we are talking about so thought it would be interesting for those that haven't to get a flavour of what it is like.
