From April 20 to 30, 2023, Jules and five of his friends went to rent a boat on the French Riviera to participate in the famous inter-university regatta, the Spi Dauphine.
Here's a look back at their 10-day sail aboard a Dufour 390 GL from Port-Pin-Rolland, where they sailed along the entire coastline to Italy.
A navigation between friends
Jules, a sailing enthusiast, particularly in Brittany, decided to leave with his friends, members of the ESSCA Angers sailing association.
Created in 1981, the Spi Dauphine is a sailing race that takes place every year in the Mediterranean in April. It brings together some forty teams, each representing their respective schools. During seven days of sailing, they were able to participate in this race, which took place between Monaco and Menton during this 2023 edition.
The INVICTUS, their Dufour sailboat, was built in 2021. It had 3 cabins that could accommodate up to 8 people. Having already sailed on a Dufour, Jules was well aware that it was not the most efficient boat for a regatta, especially because of its self-tacking genoa. Nevertheless, it distinguished itself by its comfort with the crew.
"The comfort of the boat was top notch, I had never sailed on a boat so comfortable until now!"
In addition, thanks to its young age, the technical equipment of the boat was impeccable and state-of-the-art.
"The boat's engine served us well during the two convoys, it was superb, I was surprised by its perfect condition and low fuel consumption."
The itinerary of Jules
- Day 1: Port-Pin-Rolland → Hyères ( Baie du Nail ) ( 12 miles nautiques, 1 hour)
- Day 2: Hyères → Menton ( 90 miles nautiques, 10 hours)
- Day 3 à 8: Régate entre Menton et Monaco
- Day 9: Menton → Sanremo → Menton ( 30 miles nautiques, 3 hours)
- Day 10: Menton → Port-Pin-Rolland (90 miles nautiques, 10 hours)
The Spi Dauphine regatta
During the regatta, the crew sailed around the buoys located between Monaco and Menton. They sailed for several hours a day and all took turns at the helm so that everyone could benefit from the sailing experience.
"I took the helm in the harbors, during the high winds and at the start of the regattas but the rest of the time, everyone sailed. They all loved skippering, loved the week and want us to cruise again as soon as possible!"
"Thanks to its weight, the boat behaved very well in the waves. This made us feel safe because it moved relatively little and made our week comfortable. "
The sailing conditions varied greatly during their week, with the weather changing frequently.
"The sailing conditions were very different than in the Atlantic and the weather forecast was unreliable. Some days we had no wind and had to use the engine during convoys, others we could have 35 knot winds."
During their week in Menton, the crew also enjoyed the area, its anchorages and its beautiful towns.
"One day, we didn't participate in the regatta due to lack of wind, so we went to anchor at Cap Martin, very close to Monaco where we bathed."
“Every evening after the race, we anchored at the port of Menton Garavan with the 40 other participating yachts. It was not the most beautiful Mediterranean port but for organizational reasons it was the most convenient. My friends walked around the old town of Menton, which I already knew, and they found it very pretty.”
The crew's favorite anchorage
"We made a very nice anchorage in the bay of Toulon, the bay of Niel in Hyères. It protects well from the west, north and east winds. It is not very deep and has a sandy bottom ideal for holding the anchor."
On the evening of their departure from Port-Pin-Rolland, the crew decided to make a wild anchorage outside the bay to avoid the long trip out of port the next morning. After hesitating to anchor in Porquerolles, they chose to drop anchor 4 kilometers off the Hyères coast.
"The sunrise the next morning during the navigation was a highlight among friends!"
Usually, Jules uses the Navionics app to find out where they are allowed to anchor and then goes to google maps to see if the scenery is attractive.
Their best memory
Sanremo
"On Sunday we went to Italy for lunch in Sanremo, a very nice little town just a few minutes from Menton. There we had a pizza in the restaurant Al Sessantuno which is very good, the waiter was very nice and the pizzas good!"
In the harbor, they were able to tie up in a specially created spot for short-term moorings, free of charge during their stay.
"You just had to stop by the harbor master's office to register the boat and the skipper. "
Sanremo is a town on the west coast of Italy, just a few miles from Menton, France. It is known for its pleasant climate, Belle Époque architecture and lush gardens. The city is located on the Italian Riviera, offering beautiful beaches and spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea.
Thanks
A big thank you to Jules for her feedback! To all the crew, thank you for sending us the pictures, which allow us to share some memories of your navigation !