Tips for sailing Calanque d'En-Vau and Calanque de Sormiou, France

[MermaidIndie]

I'm currently planning a circumnavigation and looking for stops along France In the Mediterranean when I came across the calanques of France particularly d'En-Vau and Calanque de Sormiou. Has anyone sailed in that area before? What were your experiences there



The crash of waves and salty air are the signs of freedom

[SwissMocha]

Hello Mermaid

I used to go climbing in the area, just beautiful stuff. And I remember boats anchoring in d'En Vau. Recently I was told by a friend, that it is no longer possible to do that, apparently they have banned it due to environmental protection. Hearsay though, you would have to look it up in a pilot book.


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[bil56]

you can follow this thread on the best forum in France !
naviguer dans les calanques ...

[leitgib]

in the above thread, they all basically say "don't go", which I kind of agree. You'll be much better off 50 to 100 miles further East, between Hyères and St-Tropez with all the islands around.

Check my blog here (in French, but no need to translate photos)
Un voyage en famille: Côte-d'Azur

Worth checking also a bit further SE, still in France though not everybody agrees, Corsica:
Un voyage en famille: Corse

Best Marina in the area, according to our experience: Le Lavandou.
Googlize also Porquerolles and Port-Cros.


Send me an email if you want specific info. Address on the blog.
p.

[MermaidIndie]

Thank you for the advice on the area, I think we're going to consider a different part of France


The crash of waves and salty air are the signs of freedom

[beauris]

don't it's quite unique if not very easy..largely worth it...actually the whole coast between marseille and st raphael is worth it..then a quick crossing to corsica an d then sardaigna...humm thinking of the coming summer..( i ll be somewhere around there as usual)

[terra57]

The French Riviera is very nice for good reason. There are plenty of protected anchorages, a marina nite or two in mid summer will not break the bank as in Italy and most importantly, once you are between San Tropez and Monaco, you are protected from most of the big weather makers that blow down the Rhone or thru the Gulf of Lyon.
Did I mention good food, good wine? Euro is way down this year...


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[monte]

That whole coastline is very nice. The callanques are unique but I wouldn't rate them highly as a destination. Nice to see but not so special to us. La ciotat just to the east was one of the nicest places we stopped for a week on the town quay for the cheapest berth rate we have come across (20eu/night for a 12m cat)
The whole coast from Spain to the Tuscany region of Italy is worthwhile cruising.