Riviera Coast: Still Waters Day Tour

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One day charter

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8 hours

Flexible dates

France

Nice

Antibes

Cannes

Saint-Tropez

Port Grimaud

Hyères

Nice

About the tour

"L'Eclair" - a motor yacht about 65 feet with three cabins and three heads, suited for day use and short coastal runs without crowding. Large open decks, shade under canopy and twin-engine power give a steady ride in open water. A skipper and a stewardess are on board.

Possible route

Departure from the port of Golfe-Juan and an easy run along the coast toward the Lérins Islands.

First stop: Île Sainte-Marguerite. The shoreline here is pine and eucalyptus, the water is clear, the bottom is sand with flat rock plates. On the south side of the island the water is sheltered, so the boat can drop anchor and guests can swim straight off the stern.

Next, a short hop to Île Saint-Honorat, the smaller of the two islands. From the water you can see the monastery of the Lérins monks and a small chapel on the edge of the rocks. The bays around Saint-Honorat are calm and shallow with a sandy bottom and patches of seagrass. It is a good place for a quiet swim and a break in the shade of the pines.

After lunch the route continues along the coast toward Cap d’Antibes and Billionaires Bay (Baie des Milliardaires). This area sits out of the swell, the coastline is lined with private villas and gardens, and the water is deep and flat. It is an easy anchorage for a long swim and lunch on the aft deck with a view back to shore.

On the way back there is an optional last stop off Plage de la Garoupe. This is a sandy beach under low pines with clean, still water. Guests can take a final swim before returning to the port of Golfe-Juan.

Included: skipper, stewardess

Tour itinerary

Nice is the largest city on the French Riviera and a natural starting point for a coastal cruise. Everything is within reach — the marina, the old town, the market, cafés and restaurants. You get a sense of place quickly: this is clearly the South of France. Spend a day here before departure — not to pause, but to ease into the rhythm. The cruise doesn’t start at sea. It starts here.

Antibes is one of the largest yachting ports on the French Riviera, and a town with its own personality. The old center is lively, with a market, narrow streets, and a view of stone ramparts. The marina is vast — home to both 10-meter sailboats and superyachts. It’s a place where you can take care of essentials and still enjoy walking the town. A solid stop, and one worth staying for.

Cannes is the kind of port you end up staying in not because it’s big, but because it feels right. Mooring is easy, walking is pleasant, and there’s always something to eat. The old town sits up the hill, the waterfront is just steps away, and beaches are right by the docks. The city has life beyond the festival — and if it’s on your route, that’s more a bonus than a coincidence.

Saint-Tropez has the name, but arriving by boat, you see more than the reputation. The old harbor is compact, lined with cafés, a clocktower, and streets where people stroll without hurry. It’s quieter than expected — especially off-season. You can take a walk, have lunch, sit by the water, and remember why you’re here: the sea, the route, the summer. Only then do you realize — yes, this is Saint-Tropez.

Port Grimaud isn’t really a town — it’s a waterside model village built for boats. Canals, bridges, and moorings line pastel-colored houses, and everything is made to be reached by water. You can dock right inside, stroll the walkways, or sit down for coffee watching other boats drift by. Saint-Tropez is just around the corner, but the mood here is quieter, more relaxed, and refreshingly unpretentious.

Hyères is where the familiar Riviera gives way to something different — wider, quieter, and less built-up. The town itself sits inland, but the marina is large, accessible, and well-equipped. It’s a good point to head toward the Îles d’Or or Porquerolles, but Hyères is worth a day on its own: an old center, markets, palm trees, and a version of the South of France that feels less polished but more real.

Nice is the largest city on the French Riviera and a natural starting point for a coastal cruise. Everything is within reach — the marina, the old town, the market, cafés and restaurants. You get a sense of place quickly: this is clearly the South of France. Spend a day here before departure — not to pause, but to ease into the rhythm. The cruise doesn’t start at sea. It starts here.

Travel route

Boat & accommodation

Motor yacht Azimut 62 Evolution "L'Eclair 3"

Cabins

3

Places

6

Toilets

3

Year of construction

2007

Length, m

19.86

Equipment

Ice maker

Refrigerator

Water maker

Generator

Wi-Fi & Internet

Stand up paddle

Coffee maker

Air condition

Tour organizer

Maksim Smirnov

Experienced captain

Languages

English

Russian

Serbo-Croatian

About me

Maxim Smirnov
Yacht Skipper • Sailing Instructor • Racer

About me:
Sailing since childhood, yachting since my teens, and a life at sea.
I’m inspired by the adrenaline of race starts and the thrill of fighting for seconds, but nothing beats the pleasure of an unhurried cruise: when the sail catches the wind and there’s good food, easy conversation, and a crew you truly want to share the sea with.
I’m happy to share the helm, become part of the team, and help others feel the boat the way I do.

How I can help:
— Skipper for cruising and racing projects
— Instructor for beginner and advanced sailors
— Participant and organizer of corporate regattas and team-building events
— Preparing yacht crews and boats for racing

Key facts:
— Sailing since 1987; graduate of a St. Petersburg sports school (classes: Optimist, Cadet, 420, 470)
— Cruising yachting since 1994 (Quarter Ton class, Open 800, Raketa 970, and charter yachts)
— Independently built and skippered the yacht Flavis (32 ft, Raketa 970)
— 10+ years of teaching experience in yachting (IYT, ISSA)
— 10,000+ miles on offshore passages

Licenses and certificates:
— RYA Day Skipper (since 2012)
— ISSA YachtMaster Offshore (since 2016)
— GIMS, Ministry of Transport (sailing vessel skipper, since 2012)
— STCW-95, VHF, First Aid

Racing experience:
— Regattas on dinghies and sport yachts
— Podium finisher at the Russian Cup in Quarter Ton and Open 800 (GP26) classes
— Participant in ORC European Championships and Gotland Runt (AF Offshore Race, Sweden)
— Regattas in Turkey, the Baltics, Sweden, and Russia

Corporate projects:
— CG Sailing Cup (Montenegro, Croatia)
— Synergy Business Regatta (Montenegro)
— TechnoRegatta 100Captains 2024 (Montenegro)

Deliveries:
— Canary Islands – Madeira – Málaga (46 ft, skipper)
— Le Havre – Lisbon – Barcelona (53 ft, first mate)
— Malta – Canary Islands (53 ft, first mate)

The sea for me is work, sport, and a way of life.
And every new project is a chance to share this passion with a crew and make another journey unforgettable.