05 Sep – Past Cannes to La Napoule

We started our journey from Antibes under motor to round the Cap D'Antibes, admiring the houses. The sea towards Cannes was awash with motorboats. Sails up we had a good sail to the cluster of islands just off Cannes - Ile Ste Marguerite, Ile Saint-Honorat and the two tiny islands Ilot de la Tradeliere and Ile Ste Ferriol. The first is the largest of these, with a fork clinging to its northern face and a restaurant on the shore near an excellent anchorage. We anchor for lunch. The large quantities of jelly-fish put us off swimming so we relax in the cockpit. Motorboats, and their wash, continue to be a feature. Amongst them we spy what looks to be a Citroen DS inspired motorboat - the light green boat in the photos, with rear 'wings' just like a DS.

We rang Cannes marina to enquire about mooring but it is shut for the Cannes Boat Show! We head over anyway for a look close-to. There are many yachts anchored off, which we inspect, before heading East towards La Napoule. This is a new marina in an East facing bay and looked beautiful with snow-capped mountains behind and blue sparkling sea in front. Alistair executes a great evolution to moor us in a difficult corner and we head for the bar. Then a walk to explore the castle at the entrance to the Marina and La Napoule. Away from the Marina there didn't seem to be much to see. The green motorboat from lunchtime was high and dry on the hard providing an opportunity for closer inspection. We later learned that the whole roof rises on hydraulic rams for boarding / disembarking. Check it out at Hodgdon Yachts.