Category Archives: Cannes

A day charter to Club 55 in St Tropez – what to expect, why it’s so popular. First in a series.

The beach at Club 55 as seen from the pierOur most requested charter worldwide is a day charter from either Cannes or Antibes to Club 55 on Pampelonne Beach, St Tropez. In fact, many people who come to the South of France view a charter to Club 55 as the most special day of their holiday or business trip.  In the next couple of blog entries, we will attempt to give you the inside scoop on the fun and events of a day trip to St Tropez.

First, some background. Club 55 was founded in, yes, 1955, to feed the cast during the filming of “And God Created Women”. Brigitte Bardot starred in this film, and ever since St Tropez, and Club 55 have been associated with celebrities and a laid back/hedonistic way of life.  Pampelonne beach (which is not actually in the town of St Tropez and best reached by boat) has since spawned many beach bars and restaurants and has become world renowned as a playground for the rich and famous.

Dining under the trees at Club 55 in St TropezClub 55 has evolved into a classy, but very laid back, beach restaurant that serves 1000 lunches a day during high season. Seen from the water, you’d hardly know what the fuss is all about – just some white beach umbrellas and a pier, much like many others on the beach.  But as you walk into the actual restaurant, under the canopy of leaves, it’s clear that the entire place is immaculately taken care of, has a subtle buzz, and that everything about it is class. We’ll return to this later, but we’ll discuss the charter first, as that’s how you get to the club!

Chartering to Club 55 from Cannes or Antibes

St Tropez is generally about 1 hour motoring from Cannes or Antibes, depending on the boat and weather conditions (a sailboat will take longer, of course). It is a beautiful charter – alternating between some of the most famous resort towns in the world, to spectacular cliffs, to quaint seaside towns. All with a backdrop of the French Alps.

Normally you would board your boat in the still air of the port between 9 and 10 am, in Cannes, Antibes, Golfe Juan or Mandelieu.  We don’t recommend a day trip from Monaco or Cap Ferrat unless you’re on a very fast boat, as the cruise takes up a lot of your day (Better to make it a two day trip, with a night in St Tropez old town!)
Normally you will cruise around the Lerin Islands to see the Monastery and Fortress where the Man with the Iron Mask was kept prisoner.  You will usually see many beautiful yachts moored between the islands enjoying the calm and the great views of the bay and mountains. If you want an early morning swim, this is the place, as the waters are clear and good for swimming.

A view of the old town and port of Cannes, French RivieraNext cruise the Bay of Cannes to see the famous Croisette and the 5 star hotels including the Martinez and Carlton. At the western end of the bay you will see the Palais des Festivals, where the Cannes Film Festival is held, and the quaint old port of Cannes.  If you want to snap a picture of yourselves walking the red carpet, your skipper can arrange for you to stop off the boat for a quick tour.  There are lots of designer shops here, so beware of being sidetracked, you have a lot to do still today!

Next entry – cruising to St Tropez along the Cote d’Azur.  Click here if you would like to see our Cannes to St Tropez video or see our page about Chartering a yacht to Club 55.

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Getting Berths for Static Charters at Cannes Events – this is the year!

Prior to this year, the big Cannes-based conferences such as the Cannes Film Festival and MIPIM always had far more people who wanted yachts in the port than there were spots available.  But that has changed this year – in fact over 40 yachts (out of 100) were canceled for MIPIM 2009 due to the difficult economic times.  And there are still slots available for the Cannes Film Festival in May.  So if you or your company have always wanted to participate in a key Cannes event, 2009 may be the best year to make that decision.

About Chartering a Yacht for a Conference,  Event or Celebration in Cannes
First some background. There are multiple ways of attending a conference in Cannes, depending on your goals for the show.  To make the biggest splash, normally a company would charter a yacht large enough to entertain 50 to 70 people, and apply for a berth spacFireworks above the bay during a celebration in Cannese alongside the Palais des Festivals.  This is called a “Static Charter” because the yacht doesn’t move, and these berths in Cannes are on the pier called “Jetee Edouard Albert”.  Many people who contact us about this type of charter assume that there is some cloak and dagger negotiation (with money changing hands) required to get these places.  This is not the case, in fact the process is straightforward, fair, and decided on a first come, first serve basis. So if you plan far enough ahead, you have just as much of a chance of getting a valuable slot as anyone else does.  Click here for additional information about Event Yacht Charters on the Boatbookings.com site.

Short of a full-blown static charter, there are several other alternatives for chartering a yacht during an event in Cannes.  The first is to simply charter a yacht in the port and use it for accommodation.  Often when hotels are full and charging double their normal price, you can find a nice sailboat or motor yacht to sleep 4 -8 people on, right next to the Palais. This is convenient, fun and very different from your normal hotel stay, and you also have use of the yacht during the day if you want to see the bay or entertain clients.

If you are looking to throw an event, instead of the same old hotel room or restaurant events, you can also charter a yacht to really show people a special time.  Normally, the yacht would be anchored in the bay, and you would ferry guests back and forth in the tender.  Because of strict maritime laws, there are only a few yachts that are licensed to run events like this – click here to see a selection of yachts for Events in Cannes for more than 20 people.

Again, because this is a down year for many of the shows in Cannes, you can find many more available yachts, often with prices that have been adjusted.  It’s the year that a charterer can really stand out of the crowd at any event in Cannes.  Please contact us if you are interested in an event charter in Cannes or see some of the great event boats that are available in Cannes.

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Tragedy at the Régates Royales in Cannes

Tragedy struck at the Régates Royales Trophée Panerai in Cannes on Tuesday when the Wilfred Tolhurst, owner and skipper of one of the 8 Metre class boats, Safir, died after a collision with 65 ft Rowdy.

Safir was trying to avoid the 35 tonne Rowdy who was competing in the Admiral’s Cup race, however disaster struck and Safir and Rowdy collided, dismasting Safir. Wilhurst was struck by the falling mast and despite the efforts of the Race Committee together with the CROSS Med and maritime safety crew (SNSM), nothing could be done to save Wilhurst’s life.

Enquiries are underway to try and determine the cause of the incident.The Yacht Club de Cannes as well as all of the event organisers and sponsers offer their deepest sympathies and support to the friends and family of the skipper.

Information courtesy of Yachting World, photo courtesy of Regates Royales official website.

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2008 Cannes boat show – SuperCat charter

Sunreef Catamaran Luxury catamaran charter will be even easier now thanks to fresh new designs of some of the most luxurious catamarans in the world. A 70ft Sunreef PowerCat was unveiled and although this model is privately owned, more are under construction and will be available for charter next year! This magnificent boat contained 5 luxury custom made cabins, with the same quality and style you would expect in any top hotel, ample living space both indoors and out. The flybridge has room for a jacuzzi and bar as well as an ample eating area.

This distinctive and stylish catamaran can be yours for a week in the Mediterranean next year, so book early to avoid disappointment! All the comfort of luxury charter at less than half the price of any equivalent super yacht, with hand picked crew for your unique crewed charter experience it is a recipe for great sailing holidays and unforgettable memories!

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