Witness the allure of France with sailyachts.com. Recognized as one of Europe’s leading sailing destinations, France has it all, from 900 gorgeous kilometers of golden coastline connected to the Mediterranean Sea to surreal islands like Corsica. Book your yacht rental in France with sailyachts.com to uncover the country’s elegant seaside metropolises, such as Nice, world-class coastal attractions such as Mont Saint-Michel, and idyllic sailing locations like the French Riviera.
Is France Good for Sailing?
Offering access to the Mediterranean Sea, the English Channel, and the Atlantic Ocean, France is a playground for sailors eager to get out into the open seas. That feeling of the salt breeze on your skin cruising through the Cote d’Azur is something every skipper dreams about. The sailing season in France begins in April, runs right through summer, and ends at the back end of October, providing boating enthusiasts like yourself plenty of months to pick from to head off on your expedition. France is a very attractive sailing destination because of its variety of options for different skill sets. Beginners will enjoy a nautical journey around the French Riviera, which has been known for its calm seas for most of the year. Experienced sailors may want to brave the challenge of the Bay of Biscay, a notorious gulf in the Atlantic Ocean famed for its rough sea conditions. Another reason France is loved so dearly among those in the sailing community is the wide range of destinations you can visit on your voyage, from La Rochelle in the west to Marseille in the south.
France Yacht Charters: At a Glance
Hiring a yacht charter in France with sailyachts.com will allow you to choose from our premier fleet of over 200 yachts. Over the years, we’ve assembled a catalogue of yachts, from modern catamarans, trendy monohulls and motorboats To help you choose, we’ve outlined our most popular options, which you can read more about below.
Top Yachts and Sailboats for Charter in France
Monohull
Discover the true beauty of France on one of our monohull yacht charters. These stable vessels are narrow, with a pinched bow and a deep keel, and they are priced between €2,000 to €6,000 per week, depending on availability. Monohulls are smaller than the likes of a catamaran and often are bumpier to ride, so they’re recommended for experienced sailors.
Catamaran
Treat yourself to an expedition around France on one of our catamarans, which provides remarkable comfort, fantastic fuel efficiency, unbeatable stability, and great space for larger groups. Our catamarans are hugely popular in France because of their ability to cruise through shallow waters, allowing passengers to get up close to hidden inlets and hidden sands. The price of a catamaran charter with sailyachts.com varies depending on the season and availability. For example, you can expect to pay between €2,500 and €9,000 per week for a bareboat charter during France’s high season. However, these figures can drop quite a bit in the shoulder seasons. If you want to hire a skippered charter, the fee could go up to €10,000 per week, especially if you want a high-spec catamaran model.
Motorboat
Reach your bucket list destinations in France fast on one of our motorboats, designed with state of the art engine system and an innovative hull layout. Particularly popular for extensive sails across the Mediterranean, motorboats are brilliant for getting where you want to be in luxury.
Gulet
Go back in time and hire one of our gulet boat charters to navigate the French waters. Gulets are traditional wooden vessels ; they’re usually between 20 and 30 meters in size and can have up to 10 cabins, depending on the model. What a way this would be to sail off the coast of France!
7-Day France Charter Sample
See some of France’s most ravishing sailing destinations as you drift through the turquoise seas of the French Riviera with sailyachts.com. This is one of our exciting sample itineraries you could be embarking on on your next sailing trip:
- Day 1 – Head to Monaco’s most extravagant district of Monte Carlo to start your sailing expedition. Gaze at the towering buildings and admire the azure blue seas from afar before checking in for your yacht rental at 17:00 pm. You can check in early if you wish for an added fee. Before you board, you’ll join the yacht provider to go through everything ahead of your first day at sea.
- Day 2 – Set sail for the seaside treasure of Nice and soak up breathtaking vistas of the picturesque French Riviera. Throughout Nice, you’ll find the adorable Old Town, ancient architecture, and peaceful hillsides where you can enjoy a tranquil panorama of the ocean.
- Day 3 – Press on with your maritime voyage to one of the Riviera’s cutest towns, Antibes, located at the midpoint between Nice and Cannes. There, you can drop by the Fort Carré, walk around the Port Vauban marina, and relax on the Plage du Ponteil.
- Day 4 – No sailing trip to the French Riviera is complete without a stop at Cannes, popular among the rich and famous for its grandeur. Spend your time walking along the Promenade de la Croisette and dining in one of the many upmarket Michelin-star restaurants.
- Day 5 – The fun out in the ocean continues on day 5 of your sailing expedition with sailyachts.com. Today is the day you visit Saint Tropez, a popular resort town brimming with glitz and glamour. There’s so much to do here, from walks around the cute Old Quarter of La Ponche to shopping in one of the many boutiques for some Tropezian gifts.
- Day 6 – One of the less visited spots on our France yacht trip itinerary is the untouched town of Hyères. While you leave your vessel at the port until 17:00 pm for your provider to inspect it, you can seek out vestiges of the past at the Olbia Archaeological Site and enjoy a coastal walk by the tranquil Plage de la Courtade.
- Day 7 – Sadly, day 7 is when your sailing adventure with sailyachts.com comes to a close. Check off your boat at 10:00 am in Monte Carlo and scratch off some of your remaining highlights, like soaking up the fauna of Jardin Exotique and learning about some marine science at the Oceanographic Museum.
Best Sailing Destinations – Where to Charter a Yacht in France?
Sailyachts.com is an expert when it comes to sailing around France. See below for some of the destinations we can take you to.
Nice
Set on France’s southern coast, Nice is one of the French Riviera’s must-see cities, with an endless coastline and unbeatable restaurants serving some of the country’s finest delicacies and exquisite architectural delights, including Cimiez Monastery.
Cannes
Cruise with sailyachts.com to the city of stars, Cannes. Here, you can feel like a true VIP by walking along the classy La Croisette or releasing your inner beach bum at Palm Beach. If you’re here in September, you’ll be able to attend the Cannes yachting festival.
Saint Tropez
Experience the true beauty of the French Riviera in Saint Tropez by getting out in nature at Le Sentier du Littoral, Cap d’Antibes, having some fun at the Azur Park, or trying to dabble in the notorious nightlife scene.
Marseille
On the west side of the French Riviera is the city of Marseille, popular among sailors for its Old Port and outstanding cathedrals such as Cathédrale Basilique Sainte-Marie-Majeure and the bay of Vallon des Auffes.
Normandy
In the north of France, you’ll find the delightful Normandy region, loved for its fishing ports exploding with a character like St Vaast la Hougue and adorable towns like Barfleur.
Where Should I Start My France Yacht Charter?
Chartering a yacht in France is possible in numerous port cities nationwide, big and small. Most people who charter our yachts select their route and then decide where to charter the yacht based on how close it is to the starting point. Do you need some inspiration on where to begin your coastal expedition in France? We’ve included some of the best sailing destinations below. The French Riviera – Also known as Côte d’Azur, the French Riviera is a stretch of coastline that runs from the east of Marseille to the border with Italy to a town called Menton. The Gulf of Lion – The Gulf of Lion is a stretch of sea in southern France that begins at the port city of Toulan and ends in the town of Cerbère, which sits directly beside the border with Spain. Marseille to Corsica – The French island of Corsica sits off the west coast of Italy. Marseille to Corsica is a popular sailing route. It begins in Marseille, and you must sail across the Mediterranean before reaching Corsica.
How Much Does It Cost to Charter a Sailing Yacht in France?
At Sailyachts.com, we price our private boat charters in France based on several factors. The point at which you would like to depart in France will impact how much your yacht charter will cost. Most first-time sailors will want to charter from places like Nice or Cannes, but these locations have a high price tag. If you set off from up the north of the country somewhere like Normandy, you’ll be able to find a cheaper rental. Boat sizes and styles are also big pricing factors in France. Monohulls, catamarans, motorboats, and gullets are the most popular options we have available, but they’re all priced differently, especially when you factor in the sizes and models. For example, catamarans are much more expensive than monohulls, but you could spend more on a large high-spec monohull than a small low-spec catamaran. Once you’ve chosen the size and model of the yacht charter you want, you need to pick the type of charter that suits your sail. We offer three options: bareboat charters without a captain or crew, skippered charters with a captain, or crewed charters with a captain and crew. Bareboat charters are the cheapest of the three; however, we recommend them only if you have sailing experience. Skippered charters are the priciest option, but you’ll have a professional crew on board who knows the French waters like the back of their hands. The final price of your yacht rental can be influenced by the season you choose to sail in. France’s high sailing season falls between May and September; these months are the busiest, so rental prices are at their highest. Luckily, the shoulder months (April and October) in France still get lovely weather, so sailing is still possible around then, and it’s much cheaper than the high season. Just remember that France experiences a “mistral” every year during winter and spring. The word “mistral” describes a powerful north-westerly wind from the Rhône Valley, greatly affecting the sea conditions.
How Different Yacht Charter Options in France Affect the Price
Sailyachts.com offers three different yacht options in France to our customers, including:
Bareboat Charters
With our bareboat charters, your reservation doesn’t come with a skipper or crew; you’re in charge of the boat, including navigation. we highly recommend you have some sort of experience if you’re hitting the open ocean. Sailing for the first time is no easy task, and France isn’t the easiest place to learn since there’s always a lot of traffic coming and going, especially in the south of the country. Sailyachts.com’s bareboat package starts at €3,500 per week during the low season, but in the high season, this figure can drastically increase as the demand for our vessels is high, so you should book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Skippered Charter
If you’re uncomfortable sailing on your own, you can opt for our skippered charter option, which comes with a captain to sail the boat. You can tell your captain about the places in France you want to see, including scenic bays and coves, and they can take you there without you having to do anything. Skippered charters cost around an extra €220 per day, along with the boat rental fee.
Crewed Charter
Book a crewed yacht charter in France to make your experience with sailyachts.com fully all-inclusive. Your rental yacht will be equipped with a whole team of nautical experts, including cleaners, a chef, and a captain, on board to be in charge of the day-to-day running of things while you totally unwind. Sailyachts.com’s crewed charters in France cost between €5,000 and €20,000. Bear in mind these figures aren’t concrete because the duration of your rental will determine the final price, as it costs €170 per crew member every day.
Who Can Benefit From Sail Yachts Charters?
We provide yachts for rent in France for sailors of all skill sets, including experienced and beginners. Our mission is for our customers to see as much of France by sea as possible on their terms. Enjoy your favorite oceanic activities with sailyachts.com; we’ll put together a bespoke plan for you and your party and include all your bucket list destinations and activities. How about swimming at the serene Mala Beach or fishing around Lorient? Whatever you have planned for your sailing excursion in France, we can make it happen.
Conclusion: Why Sail With Us?
If you want to hire a yacht charter in France, sailyachts.com is here to serve you. We have over 200 boats with accommodation available in France to hire, and our team can advise you on choosing the best option for your ocean-wide adventure. Start planning your sailing trip around France today by getting in touch with sailyachts.com. Whether you need advice on the type of boat to hire or want us to plan an itinerary for you, we’re here to help.