France:Cannes
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Latest Information
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General
Motor craft (jet-skis, etc) are forbidden within a 300-metre coastal strip (including the islands), as well as the channels providing access to the shore and those reserved for highspeed nautical sports.
The speed of ships, boats and all craft is limited to 5 knots inside the channel between the islands of Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat, between the following alignments:
- Islets of La Tradelière/Saint-Féréol to the east,
- Pointe du Dragon (Isle of Sainte-Marguerite)
- Pointe Barbier (Isle of Saint-Honorat) to the west, and limited to 3 knots in authorized anchorage area for visiting craft.
The speed of ships, boats and all craft is limited to 10 knots within the part of the Bay of Cannes between the two following alignments:
- Fort Sainte-Marguerite (Isle of Sainte-Marguerite)/Palm Beach Casino on the east
- Fort du Batéguier (Isle of Sainte-Marguerite)/signal light at the entrance to the Port of Cannes on the west.
Customs
The Customs and Port Authorities are both situated in the building in the NE corner of the harbour of Port de Cannes.
Customs Tel: +33 (0)493 065606
Approaches, Routes and Navigation
Tidal information and currents
None, this is the Med, line of sight navigation is fine most of the time, but only as far as the tides are concerned, a chart is still essential, obviously
Charts
Weather
Prevailing winds in the spring blow from west to north and often turn easterly near Cannes. In the summer, westerlies are replaced by calmer breezes. The dominant winds are westerly in the spring and summer. These winds can be unpredictable and change quickly around the headlands. Dry, sunny weather is the rule
However, winds along the Mediterranean coast and Corsica are sometimes variable, the strongest wind being the mistral, a northerly wind which occurs regularly and often reaches gale force.
In the Mediterranean, there are several continuous weather reports, broadcast in both English and French, on VHF channels. Channel 24 for Corsica; Channel 25 for Provence; Channel 23 for the Cote d'Azur.
Major ports
Marinas and Anchorages
There is a good anchorage south of the breakwater in the NE corner of Golfe de la Napoule. The holding is firm in mud. In winds from the south, north of Ile St Margerite provides an alternative spot with moderately good holding.
Port Pierre Canto
La Croisette B.P. 118 06405 Cannes cedex Tel:+33 (0)492 188484 Fax:+33 (0)493 431703
- Crane, 10 tonnes
- Travel Hoist, 50 tonnes
- Fuel
- Showers, toilets are free
- Good chandlery
PORT DE CANNES MARINA
43°32'N 7°01'E
150 Allée Calypso 06210 Mandelieu la Napoule 33 (0)4 93 49 51 27 33 (0)4 93 49 16 50 marina.capitainerie@free.fr
This is a major marina and has ann the facilities imaginable, including repairs and shipyard. It is exceptionaly busy during the Cannes festival and during the Cannes Boat Show. If you can get a berth there during those times, would you consider donating some money to this site!? Only joking :-)
- Number of moorings - 1730
- Max. length 120m
- Radio Ch. 09
- Visitor berths - 100
- Max. draught 5 m.
- All Weather entrance
- Water on the pontoons
- Showers, toilets
- Hoist/ crane 50, 8 ton
- Electricity
Vieux Port
It's an ok port and the location, town wise, is good
Gare Maritime 06400 Cannes Tel:+ 33 (0)4 92 98 70 00 Fax:+ 33 (0)4 92 98 70 01
- VHF Channel 12 (preferred), 16
- Fuel
- 65 tonnes boat hoist.
Chandlers and Repair Facilities
Everything imaginable. But, do shop around, this is an international jet set territory, hence the prices. Also, brush up on your french and at least know the word for "price" and "estimate"!
Victuals (Food and Drink!)
Sailing Clubs
Yacht Club de Cannes
La Société des Régates de Cannes was founded in 1860 (president : Léopold BUCQUET), its office was on the Croisette on the actual Noga Hilton site. Under Edward Bret's presidency la Société des Régates de Cannes took its new name : Yacht Club de Cannes, at present time chaired by Mr Jacques Flori. The Yacht Club de Cannes is one of the oldest yacht club in France. It has enjoyed 140 years of nautical activities and regattas in Cannes. It consists of 600 members and is affiliated to the Fédération Française de Voile as well as to the Yacht Club de France.
The new buildings inaugurated in 1991 has a good location at the end of the Croisette where the small MYCCA harbour used to be. They were designed by the architect Claude GIRAUD who succeeded in giving the buildings a nautical look. The facilities are good and fulfill the Yacht Club's needs and is also up to scratch when it comes to welcoming participants of various events.
Port Palm Beach Pointe de la Croisette 06400 CANNES Tel : 04 -93 - 43 - 05 - 90 Fax : 04 - 93 - 43 - 28 - 87 Email : yccannes@wanadoo.fr
Regates Royales
Port Pointe Croisette 06400 CANNES cannesregates@wanadoo.fr Tel: (France) 04 93 43 48 99 Fax: (France) 04 93 43 95 85 http://www.regatesroyales.com/
Club Nautique de la Croisette
19 Av. du Camp, 06400 Cannes Tel:+33 (0)493 430940
Club nautique du Port de Cannes
37 Rue G.Clemenceau 06400 Cannes Tel:+33 (0)493 394939
Flotte des Dragon de Mediterranee
Tel:+33 (0)608 01 26 34 Fax:+33 (0)493 39 67 07 www.gailes.free.fr nautiscannes@aol.com
Societe Nautique of the Vermeille coast
Tel:04 68 82 04 78
Places and things to see
- Old town. The usual narrow winding streets filled with restaurants and souvenir shops. The view from the castle ruins at the top is excellent.
- Covered Market.
- Palais des Festivales. Ugly building. But the hub of the film festival.
- Port. Admire the yachts of the rich and possibly famous.
- Croisette.
- Beaches. The beaches are mostly private and cost upto 30 euros for a day's use (including sunbed and shade). The public beaches get exceptionally crouded and are found at the far east and west of town. If you want a quieter beach, a better optino is to go to the Îles de Lérins, see below. At night the beaches can be quite tranquil, watch out for occasional spectacular fireworks displays (see posters/ask at tourist info) in the bay, get to the beach early to get a good spot!
- Îles de Lérins. Two islands in the bay. Well worth visiting. Smaller is Ste Honorat which has a monastery and striking ruined castle. The monks sell a number of monastery made food/drink products such as wine which make for unique souvenirs. Larger is Ste Marguerite which also has a castle as well as shops, bars and restaurants. You should be able to find yourself a quiet cove with some shade from palm trees, consider buying a cheap snorkel before you go and swim around the rocky coves. A return ticket to either island is 5 euros with ferries departing every 30 minutes from 7 in the moring until about 6 at night - ask for a timetable.
Goog places to eat and drink
There are restaurants all along the seafront, but these provide the worst value. While the food is OK in most expect to pay over the odds. A street or two behind and you get a mroe reasonable deal. There are a few nice places in the backstreets behind Rue de Antibes, although most of the restaurants are on the west side, near the old town. There is a lovely street of expensive restaurants in the old town that is worth walking through at night, just for the atmosphere, even if you cant afford the 40-70 euro prices. Vegetarians have a bit of a rough time, in that most menus classify things as fish, meat and nothing else. Consider eating in some of the more Itallian places.
