The Côte d'Azur
Sat 22nd - Sat 29th June 2024
Overview
The Côte d’Azur is a new destination for Sundowners. Avoiding the time of year when the French all head for the South of France we’ll be able to take in the atmosphere of the French Riviera without the crowds.
Starting from Marseille our itinerary will take us to the spectacular Îles d’Hyères offshore islands also known as Îles d’Or (the Golden Islands) which are a group of four Mediterranean islands in the Var region of Southeastern France.
Our passage will take in the National Parks on this part of the French coast. We will not be visiting glitzy resorts like St Tropez, Monte-Carlo and Cannes but of course you can explore them before or after the trip if you wish.
Îles d’Hyères Archipelago
Three of these islands Île de Porquerolles, Île de Port Cros and Île de Bagaud are part of Port-Cros National Park. Created in 1963 this National Park is among the oldest national parks and the first marine park in France. The historic heritage of this National Mediterranean park is huge and is the result of Roman remains , about thirty shipwrecks and about twenty military forts.
Île de Porquerolles
By following one of the many pathways that cross the island Île de Porquerolles is a hiking paradise and bicycles are also available to hire to get around the island. Rugged shorelines, beautiful scenery and exceptional beaches make the island a lovely place to explore. The beaches are sandy with turquoise blue sea to the front and backed by pine forests.
Porquerolles village is also a pleasure to explore and is centred around a large square with a church. Restaurants can be found in the village where you can enjoy one of the highly rated local wines produced from grapes grown on the island.
Île de Port Cros
Port Cros is equally beautiful, and is a designated French National Park (the National Park of Port-Cros) and the most rugged and unspoiled of the three islands. You must stay on the marked paths when exploring the island – and don’t even think about smoking or picking a flower! The Port area is small but pretty, with palm trees along the promenade.
The Calanques of Marseille
The Calanques National Park is a protected and highly regulated area, stretching over 20 km. Nestled between Marseille and Cassis, the Calanques cliffs are a natural wonder of unique and breathtaking scenery. On this part of the coast there are 26 Calanques of various sizes with pebble and fine sandy beaches, and miniature fjords with turquoise waters.
A Calanque is a unique kind of geological formation made of limestone. They are big rocky coves forming a steep and narrow valley inland and are mostly found around the Mediterranean sea.
Marseille
In some ways Marseille is like Naples with a vibrant street life. With the second largest population in France, Marseille offers big city vibes by the sea. It shirked its reputation for being dirty and dangerous, and now offers trendy restaurants, world-class museums and stylish boutiques. Worth an overnight stopover before boarding the yacht. Things to do in Marseille: www.marseille-tourisme.com/en/travel-trade/marseille-for-your-customers/itinerary-suggestions/itinerary-suggestion/
Weather
The weather and sea in June are consistently warm with an average of 26°- 28°C while the sea is an inviting 22°C.
Sailing
The winds are predominantly caused by thermals and are gentle to moderate, usually coming from the northwest. The daily distances are around 20-25 nm so not too demanding. We will spend some nights in charming French ports and others at anchor.
Important Trip Information
Embarkation: 1700 onwards on Sat 22 June 2024
Set sail: 1000 on Sun 23 June 2024
Arrival back in Marseille: 1800 on Fri 28 June 2024
Disembark: 0900 on Sat 29 June 2024
The Sundowners member price of the trip for the yacht charter is £625 which includes the following:
Basic Yacht Charter
Not included in the sailing event price are:
flights, transfers, outboards, personal insurance, yacht insurance victualling, meals ashore, diesel, bed linen, end cleaning, mooring fees and any personal expenditure.
£75 for end cleaning, bed linen, outboard and yacht insurance will be collected at the same time as the final payment of the event fee.
Note: Restaurant prices are generally around 20-50€ for starter plus main, then wine etc on top. We are unlikely to dine out every night.
The Club’s standard terms and conditions apply. In summary:
- Paying your deposit commits you to the trip and to paying all payments as and when required.
- If you withdraw from an event you are still liable for the full cost unless a replacement participant is found.
- If a replacement is found there will be an admin charge made for the change of participant.
- You agree to bear the shared cost of any security deposit loss levied by the charter company for loss or damages.
Additionally you should be aware of the Club’s Covid Policy and the requirements for participation in the event.
The full cost of the deposit is 4000€ per boat.
HOW TO GET THERE
Getting to Marseille
Air: BA & EasyJet offer flights for about £100 return (+ bags). Flight time 2 hrs.
Train: If you take the Eurostar to Paris, it is then only 3hr 15 mins by TGV to Marseille.
Car: Take your time to enjoy France on the way. It’s 700 miles from Calais to Marseille.
Do not book flights/ferries/trains until advised to do so by the event organiser.
Payment Schedule
| Payment | Due Date | Amount |
|---|---|---|
|
Deposit |
Immediately |
£250 |
|
Mid Payment |
26th January 2024 |
£200 |
|
Final Payment |
15th April 2024 |
£175 |
|
|
Total Cost |
£625 |