Antibes

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Revision as of 21:53, 18 January 2010

Antibes

Antibes marina
Click for larger view

Background

Antibes, together with its associated area of Juan les Pins and the Cap d'Antibes peninsula, is arguably the wealthiest enclave along the whole Cote d'Azur, with some of the most imposing and beautifully sited villas. Formerly host to such luminaries as Pablo Picasso and Graham Greene, residents would probably agree with Greene that Antibes is one of the few towns in the Cote d'Azur which has not completely lost its soul. Apart from the large marina, the town attractions include a Picasso Museum, an excellent covered market and a Romanesque cathedral with a beautiful mediaeval altarpiece. For the energetic, there are also some wonderful walks around the Cap d'Antibes peninsula. For dedicated beach bunnies, there are reportedly a total of 48 beaches within easy reach of Antibes and Juan les Pins. There is a huge but busy marina in Port Vauban, the old harbour of Antibes, and another, smaller marina at Port Gallice near Juan les Pins on the west side of the Cap d'Antibes peninsula.

Charts

Submit the chart details that are required for safe navigation.

Radio Nets

Also see Cruiser's Nets

Weather

Local weather conditions?

Sources for Weather forecasts:

Approach and Navigation

On the approach to Port Vauban, Fort Carre, the large fort on the hill above the port, is very conspicuous. Closer in, the port beacon marking the end of the breakwater will be easily identified. Entry to the port is from due north.

Check-in facilities

Port Vauban marina
Click for larger view

Call Port Vauban marina on channel 9 to negotiate a berth before entering the harbour. The capitainerie can be contacted also by telephone: +33 (0) 492 91 60 00 or via e-mail: [email protected]. The capitainerie itself is situated on a projecting spur to the left about 300 meters from the entrance, past the megayacht berths of the International Yacht Club, at the entrance to the inner harbour and close to the fuel berth. Some yachts report that the staff here are occasionally less than helpful; to compound matters, it can be a very long walk round to the capitainerie, depending on where visiting yachts are slotted in.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

Port Vauban has a total of 2400 berths, spread around the hemisphere of the old port. Although one of the largest marinas along this coast, berths are still hard to come by at some periods in July and August, and an early arrival is advised unless you have reserved a berth (see above). There are no designated visitors' berths and the capitainerie will slot you in wherever there is space (which can be a long way from the facilities, which are at the capitainerie).

On the west side of the Cap d'Antibes peninsula, near the town of Juan les Pins, there is a further marina, Port Gallice (details needed).

Anchorages

Depending on wind direction, there are anchorages on both sides of the Cap d'Antibes, in the Golfe Juan on the west side, or in the Anse de la Garoupe and Anse de la Salis on the east side. The anchorages can be weedy, however, and it is important to ensure your anchor is through the weed before venturing ashore.

Offshore Islands

None.

Tourism & things to do ashore

One of Antibes' chief attractions is the 16th century Chateau Grimaldi, in which Pablo Picasso stayed for six months in 1946, creating numerous paintings and drawings as well as ceramics. On departing, he left all his work in the castle, which the municipality then turned into the Picasso Museum. Today, it represents one of the finest collections of the artist's work. Next to the museum is the cathedral, which contains a beautiful mediaeval altarpiece surrounded by intricately painted scenes. Also worth visiting for the view from the ramparts is the Vauban-designed Fort Carre, on the spur of Saint-Roch overlooking the port. An absolute must is a stroll along the megayacht berths of the International Yacht Club of Antibes at the north side of the harbour, where you will see jaw-droppingly palatial superyachts as big as deep sea ferries. If your wife is with you, make sure you handcuff her to you before setting out ...

Gallery

Town beach, Antibes

Old town, Antibes

Provencal market, Antibes

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel berth next to the capitainerie. Water and electricity all all berths.

Laundry

Grocery & Supply Stores

Good grocery shops in the town. Excellent traditional Provencale covered market every morning in Cours Massena.

Eateries

• L'Elephant Bleu, a Thai restaurant in the street just insider the ramparts overlooking the port, was very good in 2002 - s/y Athene of Lymington.

Internet/WiFi

Available?

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Marine Stores & Facilities

As arguably the leading yachting centre along the Cote d'Azur, Antibes is well supplied with all marine services, including chandlery, sailmakers, stainless steel fabrication, paint works etc (details needed)

Repairs

Two yards in Port Vauban, where boats of up to 45 tons can be lifted. All repairs can be undertaken. The yards are on the south side of the outer harbour, opposite the megayacht moorings.

Garbage Disposal

Bins around the marina and at the capitainerie.

Transportation

Transportation (local and/or international)

Routes/Passages To/From

Popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

References & Publications

Publications, Guides, etc.

Cruiser's Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on the Cruiser Log Forum

External Links

Links to relevant websites.

Personal Notes

We laid up for the winter of 2002-03 in Antibes and found we could access virtually everything we needed from the several chandleries and marine suppliers in the town. However, we wished we had lifted out at the larger of the two yards, which had a travel hoist. We used the smaller one, Chantier Carotini, lifting out with an alarmingly creaky crane - s/y Athene of Lymington.

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:

• July 2002 --Atheneoflymington 21:26, 18 January 2010 (UTC)

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