Head W to St Raphael, meeting Adam and Georgi on the way
chrisandjane aboard Liveloula
Chris Cooke
Sat 11 Oct 2014 15:10
43:17.5N 6:50.0E Saturday 11 October West and franchise to rendezvous with Adam (Butt) and Georgi, then on to St Raphael Depart Port de Cap D`Ail 0745 Arrive Port de Santa Lucia, St Raphael 1845 34nm M8.25 S0.25 Thunderstorm, sunny afternoon Knock on office door to offer payment, no reply. Cast off, in light for a change. Low misty clouds over Nice. Brief thunderstorm – do 7knts with just genoa. Quickly blows thro – becalmed. Head into Mandelieu-La Napoule, about 4 miles W of Nice, to meet Adam (from Lympstone) and girlfriend Georgi who are working on massive sailing yacht Corto Martease. Boat sitting for a few days as owners have gone home, and skipper and crew are catching up with their families ashore. Franchise system in France is excellent – allows a couple of hours tied up free of charge. Adam has use of ships car, so drops Jane in town and takes Skip to Nice to get wifi 4G Orange router, so can get forecasts again (other than just on Kindle), and internet/emails. Need to book flights home now close to destination for winter layup. Motor on. See what think is home (with lighthouse above) of Corto Martease`s wealthy owners. Pretty coast. Plenty of room in S basin of marina, so go alongside pontoon just in from entrance. HM says fine for night. Good free showers – and all for only 13euros – such a pleasant change to expensive Italy. Nice bars (with Karlsbrau)/restaurants in marina complex. V still evening, but dew falls early. 24 degrees in cabin. Fire up new router and book flights home from Nice to Bristol |