The Côte d'Azur, generally identified in English as the French Riviera is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France. It also consists of the sovereign state of Monaco. It has no officially recognised boundaries but is generally regarded as to extend from either the French town Menton or the Italian border in the east to Saint Tropez, Hyères or even Cassis in the west.
The French Riviera is a significant yachting and cruising location with a number of marinas along its coast. The climate, cuisine and sophistication of the French River make it 1 of the most favorite yachting destinations in the globe. According to the Côte d'Azur Economic Development Agency, every year the Riviera hosts 50% of the world's superyacht fleet, with 90% of all superyachts visiting the region's coast at least when in their lifetime. Monaco, Antibes, Cannes and St Tropez are well known ports for these mega yachts.
The Côte d'Azur covers 560 miles of coastline and is house to a mix of sand and shingle beaches. Good is the areas largest city and household to the Good Côte d'Azur Airport. Well known yachting destinations and coastal resorts from W to E include things like Cassis, La Ciotat, Bandol, Sanary-sur-Mer, Six-Fours-les-Plages, Toulon, Hyères, Îles d'Hyères - Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Île du Levant, Le Lavandou, Cavalaire-sur-Mer, Saint-Tropez, Sainte-Maxime, Fréjus, Saint-Raphaël, Les Adrets-de-l'Estérel, Théoule-sur-Mer, Mandelieu and La Napoule, Îles de Lérins - Île Sainte-Marguerite and Île Saint-Honorat, Cannes, Golfe-Juan, Juan-les-Pins, Antibes, Villeneuve-Loubet, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Saint-Laurent-du-Var, Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Tanneron, Beaulieu-sur-Mer, Èze, Cap d'Ail, Monaco, Monte-Carlo, Beausoleil, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and Menton.
What You Need to have - Knowledge & Qualifications - For bareboat charters the skipper of the boat is required to have an ICC certificate or equivalent.
Charter Season - The French Riviera charter season commonly runs from April to the end of October. July and August are the hottest months and tend to have the lightest winds and also the largest crowds. This is also the high season for yacht charter. Other beneficial times to charter your yacht are on either side of the high season, April-May and September-October, the temperatures are much more comfy and there is not the overcrowding that can be experienced for the duration of July and August.
History of the Region - The Côte d'Azur has been inhabited due to the fact prehistoric times. In the 7th century BC, Greek sailors began to go to and create trading posts along the Côte d'Azur. Roman towns, monuments and amphitheatres were built along the Côte d'Azur and a large number of still survive, such as the amphitheatre and baths at Cimiez, above Good, and the amphitheatre, Roman walls and other remains at Fréjus. The fall of the Western Roman Empire in the first half of the 5th century was followed by invasions of Provence by the Visigoths, the Burgundians and the Ostrogoths. There was then a lengthy period of wars, which in turn led to further invasions by the Saracens and the Normans in the 9th century. Provence retained its formal independence till 1480 and became component of France in 1486.
Till the finish of the 18th century, the region later identified as the Côte d'Azur was a remote and impoverished region, known largely for fishing, olive groves and the production of flowers for perfume (manufactured in Grasse). A new phase began when the coast became a fashionable health resort for the British upper class in the late 18th century.
Climate - The Côte d'Azur has a Mediterranean climate, with sunny, hot, dry summers and mild winters. Temperatures are moderated by the Mediterranean days of frost are rare in the winter and in summer the maximum rarely exceeds 30°C. Strong winds such as the Mistral, a cold dry wind from the northwest or from the east, are yet another characteristic, especially in the winter.
Time Distinction - UTC +1
How to Get There - Good Cote d'Azur is the nearest airport. It is the third busiest airport in France and is utilised by various airlines providing a mix of year round and seasonal flights. Main carriers consist of Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Air Berlin, Air France, Alitalia, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, EasyJet, KLM, Lufthansa, Ryanair and SAS Scandinavian Airlines. By rail the TGV Sud Est service takes 5.5 hours from Paris to Nice.
Currency - Euro
Language - French. English is spoken widely
Food & Drink - Provencal cusine is the result of the warm, dry Mediterranean climate. Basic ingredients are olives and olive oil, garlic, sardines, rockfish, sea urchins and octopus, lamb and goat, chickpeas and nearby fruits. The outstanding majority of the wines created in Provence are rosés. The most characteristic grape is mourvèdre, applied most famously in the red wines of Bandol. Cassis is the only location in Provence recognized for its white wines.
Recommended 1 week Itinerary- Antibes - Îles de Lerins - La Napoule - Cannes - Good - Monaco - Antibes
Day 1 - Join the boat at Antibes in Port Vauban, the largest yacht harbour in Europe. Visit The Naval Museum of Napoleon, housed in a 17th century stone fort and tower, this museum presents a collection of Napoleonic memorabilia, paintings and naval models The Exflora Park is a five hectare garden open to the public. Next to the substantial olive grove, there are distinctive types of Mediterranean gardens. Fountains and ponds stretch along the terrace, producing a waterway 500m long Garoupe Lighthouse delivers one of the best views in the region from its lofty hilltop. To get here, you have to walk about one kilometre up the Chemin de Calvaire from the Plage de la Salis. It makes for a nice half-day stroll.
Day 2 - Antibes - Îles de Lerins - 7miles. Firstly head West towards Cap d'Antibes. Right after a little sailing, anchor for lunch Anse de la Garoupe or at the end of the Cap, in Anse de l'argent faux which is sheltered from a westerly wind. In the afternoon head for the Îles de Lerins across from Cannes. Île de Saint Marguerite, the largest, has nice creeks to explore as well as its fort and museum to pay a visit to. There is a lovely promenade on the Île de Saint Honorat with a 4th century monastery. Overnight, based on the wind direction, anchor in between the two island, taking care to steer clear of any reefs that are to be found around these islands.
Day three - Îles de Lerins - La Napoule - 5 miles. Sail across the Golfe de la Napoule towards the harbour of La Napoule. It is identified for the Château de la Napoule, a fortified castle of the 14th century on the edge of the harbour.
Day four - La Napoule - Cannes - 5 miles. Cannes is a brief sail to the E. It has two harbours. One is the old port recommended for its charm and its proximity to the old town and all the shops and restaurants. Port Canto, at the extreme east of the town, is the second harbour. Even though some distance from the town centre it is close to the casino and offers the facilities of a modern marina. La Croisette is the waterfront avenue with palm trees, picturesque beaches, restaurants, cafés and boutiques. The fortified tower and Chapel of St Anne residence the Musée de la Castre. Other museums include things like the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire de Provence, Musée de la Castre, Musée de la Marine, Musée de la Photographie and Musée International de la Parfumerie.
Day 5 - Cannes - Nice - 20 miles. A good sail the the east and the city of Nice. Fine consuming can be located in the old town or around the harbour of Nice. Or spend the night at anchor in the famous bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer, protected from all winds except southerlies. Go to The Château, Monument aux Morts, Cours Saleya is almost certainly the most standard square of the town, with its everyday flower market place. There are excellent restaurants serving typical Nicois cuisine, markets and several pubs. Jardin botanique de la Ville de Good, a municipal botanical garden open every day with out charge. Musee Massena, Marché aux Fleurs, Grand Hôtel Impérial, Fort of Mont Alban
Day 6 - Nice - Monaco - 7 miles. Head East towards Monaco. Smaller boats must go inside the harbour of Fontvieille, on the West side of the "Rock" of Monaco, as Monaco harbour does not accept yachts less than 20m. Monaco proposes quite a few intriguing locations to visit such as the Oceanographic Museum and the Altering of the Guards in front of the Palace. The casino is of course a need to see.
Day 7 - Monaco - Antibes - 16 miles. Head west and back to Antibes. Anchor for lunch at St Jean Cap Ferrat in one of its bays based on the wind direction.
Day 8 - Disembark
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