France, Côte d'Azur and the Hyères islands
Port de Bormes-les-Mimosas (La Favière) is the charter base of the western Côte d'Azur: Porquerolles and Port-Cros are 8 to 12 NM away, Saint-Tropez 20 NM, and the anchorages of the Îles d'Or give the French week that comes closest to Corsica without the crossing; the Mistral is the one thing to respect.
YACHT TYPES
Sailing yachts 32 to 46 ft and catamarans 38 to 45 ft at La Favière; motor boats and RIBs for day trips to the islands; crewed yachts from Toulon and Saint-Tropez.
A typical week from Bormes-les-Mimosas
Saturday to Saturday. The islands first, while the forecast is fresh, then the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, then back along the Maures coast.
Day 1, Bormes to Porquerolles (9 NM). Past Fort de Brégançon to the anchorage off Plage d'Argent or the port of Porquerolles (book the berth); the island is car-free, bikes to the beaches of Notre-Dame and the Langoustier.
Day 2, to Port-Cros (8 NM). The national park island: the small harbour of Port-Cros or the buoys at Port-Man on the east side, walks to the forts, no anchoring on the seagrass.
Day 3, to Cavalaire or Cap Nègre (12 NM). The Maures coast: the big bay of Cavalaire for a marina night, or the anchorage under Cap Nègre and Le Rayol.
Day 4, to Saint-Tropez (10 NM). Anchor in the bay of Les Canebiers and take the tender to the port for the evening; the harbour berth is for those who booked in March.
Day 5, to Pampelonne, then Le Lavandou (22 NM). A swim off the Pampelonne beaches in the morning, then the coast back west to Le Lavandou's port or the anchorage of Cavalière.
Day 6, to the Giens peninsula and Porquerolles (12 NM). The Tour Fondue side of Porquerolles or the bay of Notre-Dame for a last island night.
Day 7, to Bormes (9 NM). Back to La Favière for the afternoon check-in, with a stop at the Estagnol beach on the way.
Two weeks add the Lérins islands off Cannes and the Esterel, or the west: the Toulon roads, the Embiez and Bandol. See our Côte d'Azur itineraries.
Practical points for a Côte d'Azur charter
Licences and the national park
Bareboat requires a recognised sailing licence or ICC and a VHF certificate; French operators check both and the crew's experience. Port-Cros and Porquerolles are a national park: mooring on buoys in the regulated coves, no anchoring on the Posidonia, no jet skis, and the buoys and berths are booked online in season.
Wind and sea
Summer is an afternoon breeze from the east or south-east of 10 to 18 knots and calm nights. The Mistral from the north-west arrives with a clear sky and blows 25 to 40 knots for one to three days, strongest west of the Giens peninsula and in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez; the islands have a lee on their south sides, the harbours fill, and the plan waits. Check the forecast every evening; a Mistral day is a day for Porquerolles by bike.
Moorings and fees
Port berths for a 40 ft yacht run 60 to 150 euros a night in season at Porquerolles, Cavalaire and Le Lavandou, 250 to 500 euros in Saint-Tropez when there is one; park buoys 20 to 40 euros; anchorages outside the park free. La Favière is a municipal port with reasonable rates and fuel on the quay.
Getting there
Toulon-Hyères airport is 25 minutes from La Favière; Toulon TGV station 45 minutes; Marseille and Nice airports 1 h 30 either way. Provisioning: supermarkets in Bormes and Le Lavandou, market in Bormes on Wednesday, Le Lavandou on Thursday.
Is Saint-Tropez worth the berth?
Anchor in Les Canebiers and go in by tender: the evening is the same and the night costs nothing. The harbour is for a lunch stop when a berth frees up.
How likely is the Mistral?
In summer, one week in three sees a Mistral day or two. The islands and the Maures coast keep you sailing in a lee; the western legs are the ones to drop.
Can we do Corsica from Bormes?
Not in a week: Calvi is 100 NM. Two weeks with a settled forecast, or a Corsican base.
What does Seeksail need to advise us?
Dates, cabins, licence held, skipper or not, islands or Saint-Tropez as the priority, and we shortlist three yachts from La Favière or Hyères with a recommendation.
PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE
More destination-specific guides are being prepared.
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