Re: Moving to South of France

[hpwhite]

Hi, I am looking at a possible move of my P36 to warmer climates within reasonable ease back to the UK by airline. Up on the wish list has to be cruising grounds with predomiently fairish calm seas. The south of France looks a reasonable first choice with an abundance of well presented marinas and facilities. I wondered if there is anyone who could kindly give me any advice / recommendations good or bad that can help me with this pursuit. Many thanks for anyone who can help me. Crew would be me and my partner and golden retriever dog.

[vasko]

I was at the same position about 2 years ago after careful investigation the only viable place in south France turn to be St Cyprien

basic facts about France :

1. If you are not willing to spend 10's of thousands of £ per year on berth or wait about 10 years with the same boat Cot D'Azure is not your place - the only way there is to actually buy a berth but it will cost huge amount as the people buy a berth there to secure mooring not for investment e.g. things are seriously overpriced - hundreds of thousands £ for 10 year lease

2.  The acceptable prices are around Gulf on Lyon  from Argeles to Marseilles , but from Canet to Marseilles is useless as you are far from any nice area for sailing and the winds are usually stronger - especially with motor boat. 

This leave the choice to only two harbours : Argeles and St Cyprien

personally I got in St Cyprien - as it is:

- a lot more safe in the winter months when I leave the boat on her own
- very nice holiday place
- huge marina with all usual amenities ( 2200 bouts) 
- good prices (I even managed to acquire a berth lease - which is the best place as after some years you can sell it )
- marina technical area is great ! and very good prices for lift out/in + all chandlers/sail-makers etc in a hand reach. 

now more details about St Cyprien:

SAILING AREA

- Very short trips ( 10nm or less) - Collioure, Port Vandres, Banyuls Sur Mere, Cerbere - all amazing nice natural harbours + number of anchorages

- Short Trips ( 20nm or less ) - Portbou, Colera, Llanca, Selva and teh famouse Port Lligat and  Cadaques and all caves around them with crystal clear water

- Mid trips  ( 30nm-60nm) - Rises, Eporia Brava, Santa Maguerita, L'Escala, Estartit, Iles Medes, Sa Riera, D'Aiguafreda, Sa Tuna, Fornells, Tamariu, Llafranc, Palamos, Blanes and all the nice places all the way to Barcelona

-  Good trips :  choose a nice flat sea and go for 120nm directly to Cot D'Azure( or 2-3 days  30-40 nm per day) stay a week there and back after that back

HOW TO GET THERE:

best option is to fly to Perpignian ( 15miles from the marina) - depends on the time of the year minimum 1 flights per day from London Stansted with Ryanair - very good prices - never too expensive, other options are Girona(60 miles) and Barcelona (120miles) - personally I leave car for 6 months at Perpignan Airport - ~300EUR for the whole period - and help a lot to have own car around the boat    

if you are interested to learn more - leave me a message on : [e-mail]  

BTW: can your boat fit in 11x4 berth ? as I may have some ideas...

[ianpowolny]

Hi there, we set off from Scotland last season to go to the Med but here we are sailing the Spanish Rias, The Five Fingers of God. We have been here a part of last season and will all of this season and overwinter here in Vigo. Sailing in the Rias is easy but you need to be aware of the weather and swell when passaging from one Ria to the other. The weather isn't as hot as the Med and the marina prices are 1/2 what we were paying in Oban and I hear a lot less than in the South of France. The food and wine, or should that be wine and food, are excellent whilst also being cheap. We have met so many people here from the Cork area it's a crazy. Some of them have been in the area for over 10 years.

Flights from Stanstead to Vigo are direct but we fly to Edinburgh which means a change at Madrid. You can also fly in to Coruna and Santiago.

See more at www.facebook.com/yachtaffinity. Also www.davilasport.es. A lot of the guys here speak English.

If this is of any interest I can go in to more detail.

Ian