Marseille to St Tropez
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Wind, wind, wind, but now in the right direction so we are having a fabulous sail back along the coast. Eat your heart out to all our guests this year; we are finally sailing in fresh winds of 30 knots all day, every day.
Marseille wouldn't be complete if we didn't visit the baron islands just off the port. The magnificent Château d'If standing guard was the fictitious Prison to Alexandre Dumas' the Count of Monte Cristo (23 movies have since been made of this novel). Anchoring off this white stone rugged island the imagination runs wild, after a very good tour through the prison cells, where the movies are continuously shown. Leaving with the novel to read
understanding the hardships he would have gone through.
We have gone as far west as planned so now we are retracing our steps and revisiting our favourite places along the coast to Monaco before we cross to Corsica.
Spending two more days in the Calanques with Young Ian, it truly is a very beautiful place, but the wind is a menace. The Pilot book describes the Calanque Port Miou the best along this coast, well; here we have our worst night. All very secure tied to permanent moorings but we roll all night, nothing romantic tonight I can assure you.
By day Young Ian has me climbing the cliffs, diving and snorkelling but I draw the line at dare devil jumps from the cliffs to the water. The wind out side is looking good for a fast sail and I can see Ian eager to put up the sails, so off we go at 4pm, not intending to go very far. However, at 8pm and 40 miles away I call it a day and we take shelter on the eastern side of Presquile de Giens (a great sail hitting 12 knots with Andrea on the helm, and Young Ian way out the back surfing in the dinghy taking photos).
This is pink flamingo area and next morning not knowing where they where, we go on a wild goose chase in search of these beautiful birds. 3 hours later and only a melon in hand we return to the boat without seeing any flamingos, Ian is not amused.
The Islands of the Hyères are here and even though it's very windy we sail across to the National Park on the Island of Porquerolles; a beautiful green island and wonderful variety of trees even some Australian Eucalyptus trees. Nature at its best with walks and cycling but today the trails are closed due to high winds and that's a fire hazard. The most beautiful bay on the island is Notre Dame and tucking in close behind a point we get some shelter and swim in turquoise coloured water, but we soon have to get going, so once again all sails are up and we surf our way back under blue skies to
the main land for shelter.
Not wanting to miss the last island in this group we are up early and out to see Ile de Port Cros before the wind gets up. Port Man harbour at the eastern end with its Fort at the entrance is tranquil and full of boats. A long walk to the fort, a wasp sting and a swim with the jelly fish, it's all too much and would rather go sailing.
The beach at the Baie de Pampelonne behind St Tropez and made famous by Bridget Bardot is 30 miles away and by the time we get there the wind has died and once again the 2 Ian's are off to the beach bars. The latest and greatest bar is Nikki's (we just missed Paris Hilton) set back from the beach and you have to see it to believe it; outside set on huge white mattresses, matching umbrellas, loud music and a water fight with champagne beside the pool (it's not a place where a lot of clothing is worn). Ian is
glued to what ever and counting the bottles of champagne (I think). The Mistral is back with a vengeance, so back to the boat, and we have another one of those turbulent nights at anchor off St Tropez. 40 Knots all night and with 60 metres of chain out in 6 metres of water, I am very pleased with our big anchor as we don't move.
We spend the morning watching mini Wally yachts (playthings for the rich and famous) match racing around the harbour using super yachts as makers, and then a glitzy night in St Tropez with oneround of drinks at $70, but still a very beautiful place to be.