Saint-Tropez

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Revision as of 21:42, 19 November 2013

Saint-Tropez, France

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	43°16.22′N, 06°38.00′E
	Photo gallery
	Local chartlet
Rooftops of St Tropez - Click for larger view

Saint-Tropez is situated on the Mediterranean coast of France in the gulf of the same name. The town was immortalised by the French film director Roger Vadim, who filmed many of the scenes in his film 'Et Dieu Créa la Femme' ('And God Created Woman') in and around the town, filling his lens with the as yet unknown Brigitte Bardot. The town's reputation for free and easy living, however, antedates Vadim's 1956 film by several decades. As early as the 1880's the French novelist Guy de Maupassant arrived here in his yacht to paint the town red, shortly followed by the leading neo-impressionist painter Paul Signac. Forced into Saint-Tropez by bad weather on a sailing trip, Signac loved the town so much be built a house here, which subsequently boasted a succession of famous artists as visitors, including Matisse and Seurat. The town's unspoilt character, relative isolation and the quality of its Mediterranean light attracted many other famous artists and writers over the years, including Jean Cocteau and Anais Nin. The impact of Vadim's film however, cast Saint-Tropez into the mainstream of Riviera tourism and the town has never been the same since. Today, it is the resort of those who wish to bathe in the town's former and somewhat faded glories. Even the beautiful people on the luxury motor yachts packed gunwhale to gunwhale in the tiny harbour are more often well-heeled charterers paying through the nose for a two-week taste of the lifestyle of the truly wealthy. For the yachtsman, Saint-Tropez is as good a place as anywhere to chill out and chuckle at the pretensions of those whose preparations to put to sea consist of a bikini wax and a good smear of coconut oil.

Charts

Imray

M15 Marseille to San Remo

British Admiralty

1998 Nice to Livorno incl. Gulf of Genoa

2246 Cap d'Antibes to Cap Ferrat

Radio Nets

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Local Weather

Saint-Tropez is mercifully free from the worst of the mistral, which tends to blow down towards Corsica from the Gulf of Lion. However, it can get up to F6-7 on this coast during a strong mistral. The usual diurnal wind during the summer is a light to fresh SW seabreeze, which blows from mid-morning until evening. Occasionally there will be a fresh land breeze during the night, but more often conditions are calm.

Sources for Weather forecasts:

• VHF
  • Continuous forecast on channel 23
  • Channel 80 (0803 – 1333 – 2003)
• NAVTEX - Cross La Garde (W)
• INTERNET
  • Meteo France (in French)
  • GMDSS Weather
  • Met Marine
  • Passageweather.com Passage Weather
  • eurometeo.com Meteomar
  • Weather Online
  • Tropez Windfinder

Approach and Navigation

Approach is safe from any direction. The 16m high, red-topped lighthouse Phare Rouge situated at the end of the breakwater will be seen from several miles off.

Check-in facilities (for Customs and Immigration)

If this is not a port of entry omit this section, otherwise submit details about facilities for checking in - location of immigration & customs, etc.

Berthing options

Yachts are strongly advised to call Port de Saint-Tropez on VHF channel 9 prior to entry. Visitors are usually directed to the first pontoon in the outer harbour.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

Port de Saint-Tropez offers 800 berths in two basins. Visiting yachts normally berth in the outer basin, on the first quay to the right of the entrance. The shelter here is less good than the inner basin, but adequate (yachts have ridden out a force 9 in here without problems). Water and electricity are available at all berths and fuel on the west side of the outer harbour. The inner harbour seems to be mainly reserved for local boats and, at the eastern end, 25 metre-plus gin palaces overshadow the colourful old houses lining the waterfront. It's both noisy and very public at this end of the basin and only for those who enjoy posing for the tourists who throng the quay at sunset.

Anchorages

Large yachts anchor out in the bay, although shelter is rather poor, with a two mile fetch in northerlies. If unable to berth in Saint-Tropez, it is better to go on to Cogolin or Port Grimaud further west unless conditions are very settled.

Offshore Islands

None

Yacht Repairs & Services

There is a small shipyard area in the harbour with a 40T crane and a scrubbing grid. Details from the capitainerie.

Marine Stores & Facilities

Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Water and electricity at all berths in the marina. The fuel station is on the west side of the outer basin. Opening hours in summer are 0800 to 2000.

Things to do ashore

Tourism

In spite of the effects of fifty years of tourism, the old town retains much of its character, with narrow, cobbled streets lined with old fishermen’s houses painted in ochres and pinks. There is a good walk up to the citadel, the main attraction of which is excellent views over Saint-Tropez and the bay. South of the old port is Place de Lices, with numerous cafes where you can sit for hours and watch the games of petanque played in the shade of the plane trees. If you're feeling energetic, there's another good walk east from the port around the coastal footpath as far as Plage de la Motte, which takes you past sumptuous villas overlooking the Golfe de Saint-Tropez. Back in town, the fine art collection in the Musée de l'Annonciade on place Georges-Grammont, just west of the port, includes several works by the famous artists who have frequented Saint-Tropez over the years. It's a good place to spend an hour or so on a rainy day.

Saint-Tropez

Art for sale, Vieux Port	Gin palaces, Vieux Port
Gaffers and fishing boats, St Tropez	Savarona anchored at St Topez

Grocery & Supply Stores

Supermarkets and a good vegetable market in the town.

Eateries

Numerous cafes and restaurants around the old port and in Place de Lices.

Internet/WiFi

Available?

Laundry

In the town

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Rental outlets in the town

Garbage Disposal

Bins around the marina. Skips near the capitainerie.

Transportation

Transportation (local and/or international)

Routes/Passages To/From

List popular passages/routes, timing, 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 partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

External Links

• Saint-Tropez

References & Publications

See France.

Personal Notes

We sailed past the anchored Savarona, the former state yacht of the Turkish president Ataturk, on arrival and walked past two parked Lamborghinis on our way to the capitainerie. Big, brash and expensive - that's Saint-Tropez. Like Marmite, you either love it or you hate it! - Atheneoflymington

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

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

• June 2002 --Atheneoflymington

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