Inside

For any insurance needs, contact professionals at The Eric Blair Network. Brokers with over 30 years experience, offices in Monaco, France, UK and BVI. We offer quality service and tailor-made solutions. Don't forget, "We speak your language". Find out more...

Tooth Transport

Transport services all year round to and from the UK, Paris and most worldwide destinations. Full removals, part loads and single items. Packing and case making. Containerised security storage and local moves. Call Janine: France. Find out more...

The Riviera Times

The English language newspaper for the French and Italian Riviera and the Principality of Monaco. News, features, events and what's on throughout the region. Published monthly you'll find us at news stands, airports, and many outlets on the Riviera. Find out more...

Monaco Local Reference INFOrmation

Share |

Print |

Water Sports on the French Riviera

Windsufing, sailboarding, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, jetsurfing, scuba diving... if you want to do it on the Riviera's water, you'll find out more here.

Did you know: From Menton at the eastern side of the coast, to Fort Carré in Antibes, the beaches are pebble, (even the sandy private beaches of Nice are pebble beneath the "trucked in" sand). From that point on, to the western reaches, beaches are sand.

Emergencies

Call: 1616
For information on safety on the water: Click here
CROSS: Regional Operational Centres for Maritime Surveillance and Rescue (Centres Régionaux Opérationnels de Surveillance et de Sauvetage)
CROSS Mediterranean Tel: 04 94 61 71 10
CROSS Corsica Tel: 04 95 20 13 63
Emergency at sea: Channel 16 on VHF radio to reach a CROSS centre for help.

Sea Temperatures

Generally coldest in February, average 13.1°C and hottest in August at 25.2°C.

Average Air/Sea Temperatures

	Air	Sea
January	8.7°C	13.6°C
February	9.4°C	13.1°C
March	10.9°C	13.3°C
April	13.2°C	14.2°C
May	16.4°C	17.2°C
June	19.9°C	20.4°C
July	22.9°C	23.8°C
August	23.0°C	25.2°C
September	20.5°C	22.5°C
October	17.0°C	19.9°C
November	12.4°C	17.3°C
December	9.6°C	14.9°C

Using the Facilities

There are many Sailing Centres (Stations Voiles) along the coast, belonging to the France Station Nautique network. Here one can get advice, rent equipment and make reservations for the many water sports. A Pass Nautique Découverte, available from April to October allows reduced rates on many activities.

France Station Nautique
At: 17 rue Henri Bocquillon, 75015 Paris
Tel: 01 44 05 96 55
Fax: 01 44 05 95 93
e-mail
Website

Sailing and Windsurfing

The Mediterranean may not have great waves, but it has good windsurfing and sailing winds, particularly along the coast of the Estérel and the Lérins Islands, at Saint-Laurent du Var and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.

Ligue de Voile Côte d'Azur
Tel: 04 93 74 77 05
Fax: 04 93 74 68 87
e-mail
Website (in French)

Motorised Activities

These include jet-skiing, water-skiing, zodiac, parachute rides, wake-boarding; all activities requiring a motorboat. The driver of any craft with an engine more powerful than 6CV needs a licence. Details here.

Ligue Méditerranée Côte d'Azur de Ski Nautique
e-mail
Website (in French)

Canoe-Kayaking

Canoes, kayaks and rowing boats can be hired from a Station Voile.

Kayaking is best in Nice, Antibes, Mandelieu, St-Laurent-du-Var and Cannes. Rowing at Villefranche sur Mer, Mandelieu, Monaco and Menton.

For more information on where and when to go boating:

The Fédération Francaise de Canoë Kayak (in French) has general information on the sport in France.
For contact details for local canoe and kayaking clubs: Click here and choose a region
Ligue Côte d'Azur des Sociétés d'Aviron
Website
To find a local rowing club: Click here
The Valbonne COV (Club Omnisports de Valbonne) has an active programme of sea and river kayaking (as well as many other activities)
Tel: 04 92 94 33 43
Fax: 04 92 94 33 44
e-mail
Website