The Water and the Boats

 

 

Coastal rowing is growing exponentially in popularity, particularly in France and Italy, which have so many miles of beautiful coastlines. The boats are much wider, for stability, which makes them already the boat of choice in nordic countries. The great thing about this trip is the water. Mediterranean water is spectacularly beautiful, and by May, the water will be a balmy 62 degrees, quite safe, if refreshing, to jump into.

 

The boats are heavier than our sculls, and we will typically be beach launching. Our plans have an element of flexibility to them. Coastal rowing is more subject to weather, especially wind, and as such we have organized to row with several clubs along the coast rather than go from point to point.
We will be rowing coxed quads lent to us by the clubs, similar to the one pictured here. We will always be accompanied by either a coach or a security boat.

 

Our first two days, we will be hosted by a small club outside of Toulon that has the geographic ace of spades for rowers: access to both a protected bay and open sea from the same club. Their coach will give us a crash course in coastal rowing, as well as touring the bay of Toulon.

We will row approximately 20-25 km each day, starting early and ending in time for lunch, or if the weather is smiling, stopping for a picnic and then returning. Much of the areas we are rowing through are nationally protected water preserves.

 

The area is particularly well known for it's "calanques", narrow mini fjords into the calcareous cliffs: often hard to access from land, they are available only by hiking or boating, and we can do both!

 

 

The following pictures show some coastal competition...for inspiration only!: a cross between sailing, surfing and rowing!

Accommodations and Sustenance

We will be staying in small, comfortable but simple hotels close to our rowing venues, staying 2 days in each of three hotels, as well as a contemporary hotel overlooking the old port of Marseille

 

 

Some of the rooms...

                                          

 

On this trip, we will all be on the
MEDITERRANEAN diet...

Same day fish, from the waters we are rowing in, is the greatest luxury, but the cuisine of the south of France tastes even better when you are IN the south of France.

 

 

There are bi-weekly markets in all the towns
we will be staying in, though the fish market in Marseille is particularly vibrant.   

In addition, this is a wine growing region, whose rose and white wines spell summer for many people, and we will include an afternoon visit to a local winery. We will lunch locally to refuel in a civilised way after our row, or picnic by the sea, weather permitting.

                               

 

Location and Travel

We will start in the bay of Toulon, and work our way west along the coast to Marseille. Marseille is the third largest city in France and an international airport with connecting flights from Paris and other european capitals. There are also multiple intercity trains each day from Paris (3hours and 15 mn from Paris.) The connecting coastal train stops in Toulon.

We will provide all transportation during the trip, and can help organize your trip to our starting point, and your return to the airport or train station.

 

 

              

 

Our Schedule

	Sunday, May 5th: Meet at our first hotel in La Seyne sur mer, dinner together. We will meet with our hosts in the afternoon for some information, introductions, and a possible short row, weather and time permitting. No problem if your arrival is later. Monday May 6th: Morning coached row in the bay: introduction to coastal rowing techniques. Lunch in La Seyne. Optional afternoon visit to Toulon, possible expedition to the garden of Noailles. Tuesday May 7th: longer row to the island of les Embiez, weather permitting, or tour of the bay of Toulon. Toulon is the home of the french Navy, so there is the possibility of seeing some much bigger boats....on Tuesday afternoon we will transfer to our next hotel in Cadiere d'Azur. Wednesday 8th: We will travel to the club of La Ciotat, to row the bay to St Cyr sur mer, or to the club in Bandol, rowing to the fishing village of Sanary sur mer and return. Afternoon wandering the village of Cadiere d'azur, and using their spa. Dinner at our hotel in Cadiere d'Azur. Thursday 9th: Row with the club of Cassis to the calanques. Picnic at a calanque. Afternoon hiking near cassis, dinner at a fish restaurant on the port in Cassis. Friday 10th: Row with the club aviron de Marseille in the bay/port of Marseille, one of the largest commercial ports of France. Lunch in Marseille, optional visit to the santons de Charbonnel showroom, and the amazing new museum of Europe and the Mediterranean.Transfer to hotel and final dinner in the old port in Marseille saturday 11th: Breakfast and departure.

                                 

The details...

As anyone who has done camps with us in the past knows, we like to eat well and be comfortable. We take care of all the planning details for you. The cost is $3900 double occupancy, (single supplement $300), all inclusive of housing, meals, boats, transportation to rowing and side trips. We do not include your transportation to and from the airport or train station on the first day and the last, though we will certainly help facilitate it. The cost for a non-rower, sharing a rowers room, is $1500.

Payment schedule:
	Rower	Non rower (in rowers room)
Deposit (due on sign-up) :	$700.00	$300.00
First payment (due 3/1/2019)	$1600.00	$600.00
single supplement:(due 3/1/2019)	($300)
Final payment (due 04/1/2019)	$1600.00	$600.00

 

 

	Please reserve your space by using the deposit button below. If you are purchasing for a rower and a non rower, you have to put first one, then the other in the cart. It is not smart enough to do both at once!

Quantity	:
deposit	:	Rower Non rower

 

Please read our cancellation policy below before signing up, and please verify with us that the camp is set before purchasing air tickets. Because even waitlisted rowers cannot change plans at the last minute, and most of our costs are fixed and paid in advance, we encourage you to protect your trip with travel and medical insurance.

Cancellation Policy:

Your deposit saves your space until the first payment due date, and cannot be refunded.
If you need to cancel after the first payment has been made, we will attempt to find a replacement for your spot. If we can find a replacement, we will credit your first payment. If you need to cancel after the second payment it is not reimbursable. Please call us if you have any questions.

Please download the Waiver and send it to us before or with your final payment.

 

Non Rowers

 

There is plenty to do for non rowers, enough to tempt the rowers away from their boats: the Parc National des Calanques of the coast surrounding Marseille was created in 2012 to preserve the astounding beauty and wealth of the flora and fauna of the area. Three quarters of the park is covered by water, the remaining quarter is a remarkable geography of cliffs plunging through slots (calanques) to the sea, with hiking and biking paths.

This is a busy touristic area in the summer, with historic fishing ports and vineyards dotting the hills, and kayaking, diving and biking rentals in every town.There is a fine golf course in Bandol, as well as the Paul Ricard formula1 racecourse in the backcountry.