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Nautilus Yachting > Yacht Charter > France Yacht Charter
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Explore the varied sailing areas found in France on a yacht charter in Brittany, or on the French Riviera.
A yacht charter in France offers something for everyone. Whether your idea of a perfect sailing holiday is leisurely meandering from bustling seaside towns to raw and natural islands and traditional villages on the French Riviera; relishing the exhilarating sailing, fantastic food and charming offshore islands of Brittany, we can arrange your summer sailing holiday in France.
Explore the charming Breton coastline on a yacht charter holiday in Southern Brittany in France. Brittany offers a charming cruising area with a very scenic coastline for more experienced sailors who have a knowledge of tides. Yachts are based at La Trinite sur Mer and Port Crouesty.
A bareboat holiday on the French Riviera offers total freedom to explore this beautiful coastline at your leisure. Head to the bustling towns of St Tropez and Marseille for some people watching, great dining and plenty of shopping or get away from it all exploring the Calanques National Park and the islands just off the coast.
Choose from an extensive range of yachts and catamarans for your yacht charter in France, sailing from bases in Brittany, Corsica and the French Riviera.
The best time to visit the south of France is between April and October or from the Spring through to Autumn when generally the weather is warm and pleasant.
The climate in France is hot and dry in the south with average summer temperatures of 30ºC.
In May-June and September-October it is a little quieter and temperatures can still reach 25-28ºC. Rain is more common in April and October.
The south of France is home to a beautiful strectch of coastline which is ideal for yacht charters in France.
There are many great places to visit in the south of France including:
Embiez Archipelago - the Provence islands are a haven for sailors, sun-worshipers and snorkellers. The island of Embiez is a wild and rocky island surrounded by crystal clear waters and covered in an incredibly diverse array of flora. An ideal destination to explore when on a sailing holiday in France. The other Provence islands of Frioul and Porquerolles are also tranquil havens which are great to explore.
St Tropez - soak up the glitz and glamour in St Tropez. It is well worth spending a couple of hours wandering the narrow streets to discover all the hidden shops and restaurants or take it easy with a aperitif in one of the harbourside cafes to easily spend a few hours chatting and people watching!
Old Port of Marseille - the focal point of Marseille for over 2000 years, the old port continues to be a favourite spot for both locals and tourists.
On the south coast of France the tidal conditions are much less than in other areas of France with only a 30cm range. During the summer months you may find thermal winds bringing up to 15kn and in the south there can be the strong Mistral winds blowing from the north and into the Mediterranean.
The cost of your yacht charter depends on several factors:
The type and size of the yacht you book will dictate the price. A 1 week charter on a 2 - 3 cabin monohull starts around £1000 in low season whereas 1 week on a luxury catamaran with a skipper in high season could be upwards of £10,000. These are the 2 extremes of the scale for a 1 week charter and we offer plenty of choices in between.
1 week is a popular choice amongst our sailors and makes the perfect getaway however, a longer charter will give you more time to explore all the south of France has to offer. Custom bareboat bookings can be tailored to your timescale.
Lower-priced yacht charters are available in the off-season of April, May, September and October with prices starting to rise in June before peaking in July and August.
Don't have any sailing experience? No problem! We offer skippered yacht charters in France so you can choose the yacht that best suits your group and add a professional skipper to your charter so that you can enjoy the yachting lifestyle without the stress.
In the peak summer months in the south of France space is of a premium in the popular harbours and marinas so pre-booking your moorings is highly recommended.
Marinas start at around £50 per night but vary depending on the size of the boat.
For bareboat charters in France you will need RYA Day Skipper or ICC qualification.
The most common itinerary and sailing trip is for 7 days.
The south of France experiences warm summers with temperatures averaging 28-30oC.
Many yachts have fans onboard to keep you cool when below deck and the majority of our clients find this to be sufficient.
Some yachts (usually the larger yachts/catamarans) also provide air conditioning. Our experienced team can advise you on which yachts have air conditioning if this is a priority for you.
The best time to visit Corsica for a sailing holiday is from May to September. The peak summer season of June, July and August is an ideal time to visit for great sailing conditions.
Corsica is one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean with almost 1000km of coastline and 200 beaches. On your yacht charter in Corsica you can visit the UNESCO Golf of Porto, Scandola Nature Reserve, impressive Bonifacio or beautiful Lavezzi islands as well as snorkelling at La Tonnara beach or why not go off the beaten track in the Agriates desert.
Corsica has ideal weather for a summer yacht charter. Summer air temperatures average around 30ºC and sea temperatures around 23ºC. Refreshing sea breezes are common.
With winds averaging force 3-5 and a mixture of harbours and anchorages, Corsica makes for a great sailing holiday for intermediate sailors.
Minimal tidal range of 10-15cm. On the western side of Corsica you may find strong westerly winds of force 3-6. At the southern end of the island the Bonifacio straits see accelerated westerly wind due to land effects/funneling. In the north of the island you will find predominantly SW winds.
1 week is a popular choice amongst our sailors and makes the perfect getaway however, a longer charter will give you more time to explore all that Corsica has to offer.
Don't have any sailing experience? No problem! We offer skippered yacht charters in Corsica so you can choose the yacht that best suits your group and add a professional skipper to your charter so that you can enjoy the yachting lifestyle without the stress.
There are 14 marinas on the island and these can be very popular in peak season so pre-booking is strongly recommended. Prices start at around €50 per night and vary depending on the size of your yacht.
For bareboat charters in Corsica you will need RYA Day Skipper or ICC qualification.
A 1 week itinerary is ideal to explore the island of Corsica and its many beaches or on a 2 week yacht charter you could sail across the Bonifacio straits to Sardinia and enjoy the 7 beautiful unique islands of the Maddalena national park.
Corsica experiences warm summers with temperatures averaging 28-30oC.
The sailing season in Brittany and Normandy runs from May to September.
In Brittany there is a warm subtropical climate. In summer, the south coast benefits from the Azores High. It brings early sunny weather and subtropical temperatures with it. The wind mainly blows moderately from the southwest.
There are many places to explore on a yacht charter in Brittany. Some options to consider are the Bay of Quiberon, the largest Bretton island of Belle-lle, the ancient port cities of Audierne and Quimper or the inland sea of Morbihan.
In Brittany you will find average daytime summer temperatures of around 20ºC. Evenings will be cooler but still very pleasant.
Light winds in the summer Force 2-4, although Spring is more variable with westerlies up to Force 6. This stretch of the coast has large tides (up to 11m at springs) and strong currents. This sailing area is ideal in May, June and September.
The type and size of the yacht you book will dictate the price. A 1 week charter on a 2 - 3 cabin monohull starts around £1000 in low season whereas 1 week on a 5 cabin monohull with a skipper in high season could be upwards of £8000. These are the 2 extremes of the scale for a 1 week charter and we offer plenty of choices in between.
1 week is a popular choice amongst our sailors and makes the perfect getaway in Brittany.
Don't have any sailing experience? No problem! We offer skippered yacht charters in Brittany so you can choose the yacht that best suits your group and add a professional skipper to your charter so that you can enjoy the yachting lifestyle without the stress.
Marinas in Brittany start at around €35 a night depending on the size of yacht and time of year.
For bareboat yacht charters in Brittany you will need RYA Day Skipper or ICC qualification. You should be coastal skipper standard and have considerable skippering experience.
A 1 week itinerary is ideal to explore Brittany.
With average summer temperatures of 20ºC, most clients find that air conditioning is not necessary on a yacht charter in Brittany.
If you have your next bareboat yacht charter or flotilla holiday booked, your thoughts may now be turning to what to pack! Whether you are heading to the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean or jetting off to sail in the warm breezes of the Caribbean, we have a few suggestions for you for useful items to pack for your next sailing holiday.
We took a look at the destinations which are currently top of the list and have been surprised by a few of the entries! Tried and tested favourites for your yacht charters stand alongside a few newcomers, keeping things interesting and allowing a few lesser-known sailing areas to have their place in the limelight.
For those of you who jetted off at the beginning of the summer or for those who wanted to ‘wait and see’, September and October offer fantastic sailing conditions in many areas and a chance to explore without the intense heat and crowds of summer.
Call our knowledgeable sailing specialists for the latest advice and recommendations on the sailing areas most suited to you.
Arrange a call back from one of our specialists (Mon-Fri: 0900-1730).
