South of France – Côte d'Azur and Calanques

This page was translated automatically from German. View the original

Sailing area:
The Côte d'Azur combines Mediterranean landscapes with a history spanning millennia. Between Nice and Marseille, rocky headlands, small islands, sheltered bays and historic port towns alternate. Away from the well-known celebrity spots, sailors find a surprising amount of nature here and numerous anchorages in crystal-clear water.
Particularly appealing are the islands off Hyères, often described as the last near-pristine islands on the French Mediterranean coast. Pine forests reach down to the water, walking trails lead across the islands, and in the sheltered bays the sea shimmers in every shade of blue and turquoise.
To the west, the white limestone cliffs of the Calanques dominate the scene. The deeply incised bays between Cassis and Marseille are among the most spectacular coastal landscapes in the Mediterranean and offer striking anchorages against a unique natural backdrop.

Voyage:
The idea of this voyage is to take it easy. The total distance to Marseille is only around 140 nautical miles. This gives us ample time to discover the many beautiful anchorages, small islands and the famous harbour and seaside towns along the Côte d'Azur.
Most days we'll sail only a few hours in the morning, so we can reach a beautiful bay in good time for an extended swimming stop. Swimming, snorkelling, relaxing or simply enjoying the scenery – before we call into one of the many historic harbours in the evening.
We start in the old port of Nice, right in the heart of the city's colourful quarter. After provisioning, we cast off and set course for Antibes with its old fortifications and beautiful beaches. The next day we explore the Îles de Lérins off Cannes. Whilst the water invites us to swim and snorkel during the day, we spend our evenings in lively harbour towns with Mediterranean flair. Antibes, Saint-Tropez, Toulon or Cassis – each place has its own distinct character.
The real appeal of this voyage, however, lies in the corners that are hard to reach from land. The Îles d'Hyères, for example. Here, pine forests, turquoise bays and car-free paths define the scene. The islands are among the most beautiful natural areas in the western Mediterranean and offer numerous opportunities for swimming stops and short explorations ashore.
Further west we follow the Provençal coast towards Cassis. We pass Cap Blanc, the summer residence of French presidents, anchor at the beautiful Île des Embiez, Paul Ricard's island. Yes, that's the inventor of pastis. A few miles further lies the artists' colony of Sanary-sur-Mer, where Bertolt Brecht also used to unwind.
Ahead of us now lie the impressive Calanques – fjord-like limestone bays with crystal-clear water, which are among the highlights of this voyage. Here we'll spend as much time as possible at anchor, enjoying the spectacular landscape.
Probably our last stop will be the Île de Frioul, just off Marseille, which offers more impressive limestone cliffs, small turquoise bays and a characterful harbour. From there it's only a few nautical miles into the old port of Marseille.
After around ten varied days of sailing, our trip ends in France's oldest city. Marseille forms the fitting conclusion to a voyage that combines nature, history and relaxed sailing in a special

Vessel:
SY ANNA is a Bavaria Cruiser 45 (built 2013) and undeniably one of the best models Bavaria has ever built. Solid, fast, comfortable and with extras such as a watermaker, Code Zero (108m²) and ample refrigeration and battery capacity, she is perfect for long sailing voyages.
The hull design is by Bruce Farr, whilst BMW Designworks were responsible for deck layout and interior architecture. The result is a well-balanced yacht with very good sailing characteristics and great comfort on board – a vessel that is simply a pleasure to sail.