Sailing yacht hire in Mandelieu, bareboat or skippered

Mandelieu-la-Napoule sits at the head of the Gulf of La Napoule, between the Esterel hills and the Bay of Cannes. There is no charter base in the town itself: for sailboat hire in Mandelieu, most boats leave from Golfe-Juan (13 km) or Saint-Raphaël (19 km), bareboat, with a skipper or fully crewed. A week's bareboat hire starts at around €2,000 in low season (2027 median prices).

Where do sailing boats depart from near Mandelieu?

Mandelieu has seven marinas, including the port of La Napoule, the port of La Rague and Cannes Marina, but charter boats in the area mainly depart from Golfe-Juan to the east, 13 km away, where most monohulls are based, and from Saint-Raphaël to the west, 19 km away, where most catamarans are based. Other boats depart from the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, from Marines de Cogolin (41 km) and Port Grimaud (44 km). You can widen your choice further with sailing yacht hire in Cannes or sailing yacht hire in Antibes.

How much does sailboat hire in Mandelieu cost?

A week's bareboat hire of a 3-cabin monohull under 40 ft near Mandelieu costs around €2,200 in April or October and €3,800 in July and August (2027 median prices). The table below shows the median weekly price departing from Golfe-Juan for monohulls and from Saint-Raphaël for catamarans. Prices vary depending on the dates, the model, the year of build and the boat's equipment. Late May is slightly more expensive than the rest of the low season.

Included in the price: hire of the boat with its navigation and safety equipment.

Not included in the price: the compulsory pack (end-of-charter cleaning, dinghy with outboard and its fuel, €360 to €560 per week depending on the boat), insurance, skipper (around €2,450 per week) or host, fuel for the boat, mooring fees in the marinas you stop at and provisioning. A security deposit is also required at check-in: €3,000 to €4,000 for a monohull and up to €5,000 for a catamaran.

For a luxury sailing yacht or a large crewed catamaran, prices vary widely depending on the boat and the time of year: they start at around €12,000 per week. Lina, our crewed charter specialist, will send you a tailored selection.

We recommend taking out our cancellation insurance, which covers every member of the crew, whereas individual insurance or the cover provided by your bank card only protects the cardholder. Security deposit insurance is also highly recommended, and charter companies make it compulsory when a professional skipper is on board: in busy harbours like those on the French Riviera, a bump against the quay happens quickly, and this insurance lets you recover a large part of your deposit if the boat is damaged.

Which boat and which hire option?

Types of sailing boat available near Mandelieu

• The monohull sailing yacht: the most common and most affordable choice. Most are 37 to 47 ft monohulls such as the Dufour 37, Sun Odyssey 380 or Dufour 41, sleeping 4 to 8 people. They slip easily into the narrow anchorages of the Esterel and give you a real feel for sailing as they heel.
• The sailing catamaran: from 40 to 50 feet, it offers more space and stability than a monohull, with generous living areas and up to 6 cabins. It suits families and large groups who spend a lot of time at anchor.
• The luxury sailing yacht: monohulls and large catamarans from 18 to over 27 metres, only available with a professional crew. They are popular on the Riviera.

Hire options

• Bareboat sailing yacht hire: one of your crew skippers the boat and you plan your own route along the coast. This option requires sailing experience.
• Skippered sailing yacht hire: a professional skipper handles the sailing and the harbour manoeuvres, which can be tricky on the French Riviera in summer, and chooses anchorages to suit the wind. You can also add a host, who takes care of meals and keeping the boat tidy. The skipper and the host each need their own cabin, so allow for this when choosing your boat.
• Crewed sailing yacht hire: included on luxury sailing yachts and available on some large catamarans, the crew is made up of a skipper, a host and, on most boats, a chef. You simply decide where to stop.

Do you need a licence to hire a sailing boat in Mandelieu?

French law does not require a licence to skipper a sailing boat, whether a monohull or a catamaran and whatever its size (a licence is only compulsory for motorboats over 6 hp). Charter companies, however, set their own requirements, and for most boats departing from Golfe-Juan and Saint-Raphaël, the skipper must provide:

• a sailing CV detailing their experience (passages sailed, types and sizes of boat, role on board), to fill in from your online account when you book;
• a boating licence, for example an ICC or an RYA Day Skipper certificate (or equivalent);
• a valid passport.

Requirements vary from one charter company to another and are listed for each boat. Some large catamarans are also only available with a professional skipper.

Can you hire a sailing boat in Mandelieu without a licence?

Yes, with a skipper. Most charter companies in the area ask the skipper for a licence, so if nobody in your group holds one, skippered hire is the simplest solution.

When to go and what winds to expect

The sailing season runs from April to October. In July and August, air temperatures often exceed 27°C and the sea reaches 22 to 24°C, but anchorages and harbours are very busy. June and September offer the best balance: the water is already pleasant (20°C in June, 22°C in September), temperatures are mild and the Lérins Islands are less crowded.

Here are the average temperatures recorded in recent years in the Bay of Cannes:

Winds and sailing conditions around Mandelieu

The Gulf of La Napoule is a sheltered stretch of water, well protected by the Esterel hills. In summer, sailing here is relaxed, with a thermal breeze that picks up in the early afternoon and dies down in the evening.

Three winds are worth keeping an eye on: the mistral, from the north-west, which often arrives weakened in this area but can kick up a short, steep sea offshore; the easterly wind, which brings swell and cloud and makes some anchorages uncomfortable; and the libeccio, a less frequent but sometimes strong south-westerly. Check the Météo-France marine forecast every morning before choosing your anchorage for the night.

A few rules apply along the coast: speed is limited to 5 knots within 300 metres of the shore, marked swimming areas are off-limits to boats, and the protected seagrass meadows (posidonia), which are widespread around the Lérins Islands, should be avoided when anchoring: drop anchor on sand and use the designated mooring areas. In July and August, remember to book your harbour berths several days ahead, especially in Cannes, Antibes and Saint-Tropez.

Where to sail from Mandelieu?

In a week from Mandelieu you can reach the Lérins Islands, the Esterel coast, Cap d'Antibes and Monaco, or the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, and enjoy everything that sailing yacht hire on the French Riviera has to offer. The table shows approximate distances by sea from Golfe-Juan:

• The Gulf of La Napoule and the Lérins Islands, just opposite. The archipelago is made up of two islands: Sainte-Marguerite, with its Fort Royal, where the Man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned, and Saint-Honorat, still home to a community of Cistercian monks. The Plateau du Milieu anchorage between the two islands offers shallow water sheltered from the open sea.
• The Esterel coast to the west. Red porphyry cliffs drop straight into turquoise water. The coves of Théoule-sur-Mer, the bay of Agay and the Île d'Or off Cap Dramont offer unspoilt anchorages close to Saint-Raphaël.
• Cap d'Antibes and the Riviera to the east. After Golfe-Juan and Juan-les-Pins, you round Cap d'Antibes and its villas before reaching the Baie des Anges, the bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer and then Monaco.
• The Gulf of Saint-Tropez and the Hyères Islands further south-west. On a one-week charter, you can sail as far as Pampelonne beach, Saint-Tropez and Port Grimaud, or even Port-Cros and Porquerolles if the weather allows.

Sailing boat hire in Mandelieu: FAQ

How much does a skipper cost in Mandelieu?

A professional skipper costs around €2,450 per week, on top of the boat hire. The skipper needs their own cabin on board.

Can you hire a sailing boat for a few days?

Charters in the area usually run for a week, especially in high season. Shorter trips are available on request, depending on each charter company's availability.

How do you get to Mandelieu-la-Napoule and the charter bases?

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE), served by many flights from London and major European cities, is around 30 km from Mandelieu. From the airport, it takes about 30 minutes by car to Golfe-Juan and about an hour to Saint-Raphaël. By train, Mandelieu-la-Napoule station is on the Marseille-Ventimiglia coastal line, which also serves Golfe-Juan and Saint-Raphaël, and Cannes station, a few minutes away, has direct TGV services from Paris.

Can you sail to Corsica from Mandelieu?

Calvi is around a hundred nautical miles away, a crossing of 15 to 20 hours. It is possible for an experienced crew, on a suitable boat and in good weather, but a week is short for the round trip. The charter company must also explicitly allow this passage: to discover the 'Isle of Beauty', sailing yacht hire in Corsica is often the more comfortable option.

Do you need to book your sailing boat well in advance?

For July and August, we recommend booking during the previous winter, ideally by January or February: recent monohulls and catamarans on the French Riviera are snapped up quickly. Out of season, a few weeks' notice is usually enough, with more choice and lower prices.

How do I book my sailing boat in Mandelieu?

After you request a quote, a Filovent adviser will call you to discuss your dates, your crew and your sailing experience. They will then email you a selection of suitable sailing boats, with the exact departure port and the documents required. Once you have made your choice, paying a 50% deposit from your online account confirms the booking and secures the boat. The balance is due 12 to 6 weeks before departure, depending on the charter company. If you cancel more than 90 days before departure, the deposit is retained; within 90 days, the full charter price is payable.

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