Yacht Charter France
Sailing France offers so much variety. Sail the Atlantic coast from our base at La Trinité-sur-Mer in Brittany to Quiberon Bay and the Gulf of Morbihan. Or sail from our La Rochelle base and explore the islands in the Pertuis d'Antioche Strait, known for their charming fishing villages and delicious local produce.
What’s on this pageHighlights
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Cruising area diversity
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Glamorous French Riviera
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Leading yachting centre
Sailing Holiday French Riviera
Those who love chic restaurants, high-end boutiques and sipping champagne while watching the sophisticated crowd need to head to the French Riviera on their yacht charter France. Sail from our bases in Marseille and Saint Mandrier sur Mer, where you can mingle with the rich and famous, or get away and sail some of France’s finest destinations and beaches.
Nature lovers can head to the wild coast of Corsica and explore its unique biodiversity. Sail the UNESCO Gulf of Porto with its red rocky coast, or the Gulf of Girolata with the impressive Scandola Nature Reserve. You can also sail the Strait of Bonifacio and its uninhabited islands.
If you wish to extend your yacht charter in France, don’t miss the pink granite coast, which includes St Malo, the Bréhat archipelago, and the Seven Islands National Nature Reserve near Perros-Guirec.
You don’t need a sailing license to sail France, but good experience is recommended. Alternatively, you can hire a skipper. Read our guide to sailing qualifications for more information.
Yacht Charter France
Choose your favorite destination in this region
Côte d’Azur
From Marseilles, vist the French Riviera’s glamorous ports and beaches.
Corsica
From ‘the scented island’, sail 300mi of spectacular rocky coastline.
Best things to do in France
French Riviera
Sail from Marseille to Nice and explore fashionable ports, such as St. Tropez and Cannes, relax on wonderful beaches and dine in fine restaurants. You can sail beyond the Riviera and onto Corsica too.
Îles d’Hyères (Îles d’Or) archipelago, Côte d’Azur
Sail the Golden Islands and hike on Port-Cros, a national park with a bird sanctuary where you could spot whales and dolphins. Bohemian Levant is beautiful, but be warned as a part of it is reserved for naturists. Enjoy Porquerolles’ sandy beaches and clear waters.
Scandola Nature Reserve, Corsica
There are so many things to do in France, including a visit to its first national park, which has 2,000 hectares of protected waters and land with rich biodiversity. Its protection has led to the growth of red coral at shallow depths rarely seen in the Mediterranean. Please respect the ecology while visiting the caves, arches and beaches.
Strait of Bonifacio, Corsica
Dividing the Tyrrhenian and Mediterranean Seas, this vast nature reserve is between Corsica and Sardinia. Sail from our bases at Ajaccio and Propriano and see rich flora and fauna and explore the uninhabited Lavezzi archipelago.
St Malo, Brittany
Walk the impressive walls of this attractive, fortified town with its narrow, cobbled streets, or stroll the wide, sandy beaches. You can walk across the sands to two islands at low tide but don’t get caught out.
Ponant Islands
Sail from our base at La Trinité-sur-Mer on a yacht charter and enjoy scenic bays, rivers, ports and the Ponant Islands, such as Île aux Moines. Sample the famous local seafood, perhaps with a glass or two of the fruity local Muscadet.
La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime
Take in the impressive old towers of the main port, try local dishes at family restaurants or browse the shops. Sail the Pertuis d’Antioche Strait between Île d’Oléron and d Île de Ré with the walled city of UNESCO-protected Saint-Martin-de-Ré.
When is the best time to visit France?
The best time to visit France is between spring and fall when the weather is warm and pleasant.
The climate in France is hot and dry in the south, with average summer temperatures of 86ºF. On the west coast, August can reach 64ºF in Brittany with similar sea temperatures.
The shoulder seasons of May-June and September-October are quieter and temperatures can reach 78ºF. Rain is more common in April and October.
Sailing conditions for a France yacht charter
Sailing conditions in France vary. The tides are less than 30cm in the south, while there are very fast tidal ranges in Brittany with a large variation along the coast. La Rochelle’s wind direction can change depending on the pressure systems over the Atlantic Ocean.
France wind systems
The wind systems in France include the mistral, which can blow at any time of year along the French Riviera sometimes lasting a day or a few days at a time.
What are the mooring fees in France?
The mooring fees in France depend on where you are sailing. In summer, it can get busy and you are advised to get there early or book in advance where you can.
In Brittany, it is not possible to reserve berths ahead of your charter, so arrive early afternoon in peak season during July and August. You will find many ports along the coast with mooring buoys and pontoons, as well as anchorages on the coasts and islands.
French Riviera mooring fees vary depending on whether you are using marinas or town quays. The more you sail eastside, the more expensive it is. In summer, it can get crowded and booking for berths in advance is necessary.
There are many anchorages available to keep mooring costs low all along the coast between Marseille and Nice, but these are popular in peak season.
Corsica mooring fees vary depending on the season and whether you are using marinas or town quays. In summer, it can get crowded and booking for berths in advance is necessary, especially in Porto Vecchio and Bonifacio.
There are many anchorages available to keep mooring costs low all along Corsica’s western coast between Calvi and Propriano, but these are popular in peak season.
Useful information for yacht charters in France
What language is spoken in France?
The official language of France is French.
What is the currency in France?
The currency in France is the Euro.
How do I get to France?
You can get to France by flying direct to Paris and then getting a connecting flight, as there are few flights direct to regional airports in France from the United States.
For Brittany, fly to Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE) airport or Airport Rennes Bretagne (RNS). La Rochelle has a local airport with connecting flights from Paris.
Toulon Hyères Airport (TLN) or Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) are ideal for St Mandrier sur Mer or Marseille. For Corsica, fly via Paris to Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte Airport (AJA). From North America, you can fly direct to Marseille, Nice (from New York) or Nantes (from Montreal).
What is the Wi-Fi like in France?
The Wi-Fi in France is good and you should be able to connect in local bars and restaurants. Some of the smaller islands may not have good connection speeds.
Sailing around France with Dream Yacht Charter
Yacht charter France
Find your dream yacht with our France boat charters and explore the Mediterranean or Atlantic.
Skippered charters France
Enjoy a sailing holiday in France and let us find a skipper to sail your yacht for you, perfect for those who can’t sail.
Cabin charters France
Enjoy Corsica’s Scandola Nature Reserve with our sailing holidays in France. Relax and enjoy the view while our skipper sails you around the island and our hostess prepares all your meals.
Crewed charters France
Hire a private luxury yacht with your own crew to show you the best of Corsica’s Scandola Nature Reserve. Design your dream menu and itinerary and we’ll take care of the rest. It’s the ultimate sailing experience.
France yacht charter itinerary
If you are planning your yacht charter in France, we have itinerary suggestions for Brittany, Charente-Maritime, the Cote d’Azur and the north and south of Corsica.
Make the most of your holiday and get to know the local sailing area with our local knowledge and tips.
Downloads
Corsica, Ajaccio, Port De Plaisance Charles Ornano
Bar Menu Bareboat
xlsx 26.08 KB
Base Guide Bareboat
pdf 508.53 KB
Base Guide Cabin
pdf 479.76 KB
Iteneraries Bareboat
pdf 418.48 KB
Preference List Crewed
pdf 100.91 KB
Sailing Resume Bareboat
doc 87.50 KB
Special Diets Cabin
docx 77.45 KB
Corsica, Ajaccio, Port Tino Rossi
Bar Menu Bareboat
xlsx 26.08 KB
Base Guide Bareboat
pdf 508.53 KB
Base Guide Cabin
pdf 479.76 KB
Iteneraries Bareboat
pdf 418.48 KB
Preference List Crewed
pdf 100.91 KB
Sailing Resume Bareboat
doc 87.50 KB
Special Diets Cabin
docx 77.45 KB
Corsica, Propriano
Bar Menu Bareboat
pdf 472.38 KB
Base Guide Bareboat
pdf 452.97 KB
Iteneraries Bareboat
pdf 418.48 KB
Preference List Crewed
pdf 100.91 KB
Provisioning List Bareboat
xls 73.50 KB
Sailing Resume Bareboat
doc 87.50 KB
Transfer Rates Bareboat
pdf 168.31 KB
Cote D'Azur, Marseille Marina Vieux Port
Base Guide Bareboat
pdf 551.16 KB
Sailing Resume Bareboat
doc 51.00 KB
Cote D'Azur, Port Pin Rolland
Base Guide Bareboat
pdf 562.48 KB
Car Parks Bareboat
pdf 434.49 KB
Covid19 Procedure Bareboat
pdf 445.61 KB
Itinerary From P P Rto M R S Bareboat
pdf 58.56 KB
Itinerary From P P Rto St Tropez Bareboat
pdf 107.44 KB
Itinerary Bareboat
pdf 62.54 KB
Sailing Resume Bareboat
doc 51.00 KB
FAQ
See all our FAQsWhat is the cancellation policy for Sail Share?
We highly recommend you arrange travel insurance in case you need to cancel for an unexpected reason to cover non-refundable deposits.
Our Sail Share cabin cancellation fees are:
- More than 90 days before original embarkation date: 25% of the charter fee
- 89 – 60 days before original embarkation date: 50% of the charter fee
- 59 – 30 days before original embarkation date: 75% of the charter fee
- Fewer than 29 days before original embarkation date: 100% of the charter fee
How flexible is the itinerary for a Sail Share charter?
Our yacht itineraries are designed by our destination experts and are set to showcase the best of the destination’s highlights. They are set and not flexible, even if you book all the cabins.
What happens if the weather changes while sailing on a Sail Share charter?
The skipper may decide to change the itinerary if there is bad weather.
Can I choose which cabin I want when I book a Sail Share?
Choose a double cabin with shared bath, or private bath for an additional fee.
Are there child or age restrictions for Sail Share?
Minimum Age: 16 years old
Get inspired! #MyDreamYacht
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Absolutely amazing! Fred + Isabelle were so accommodating and did so much for us. Isabelle’s food was incredible. Thanks so much!
Laura
Exumas CabinExcellent. Very professional and great service!
Thomas
Antigua BareboatJust what we needed coming out of a year of lockdown, to see new places and connect with nature. Highly recommended for your next sailing adventure!
Johan
St. Martin BareboatExcellent cruise and very good stay. Skipper attentive, very pleasant and very professional.
Maxime
Guadeloupe SkipperedJust returned from another fantastic sailing week at your base in Pula and I would like to thank everyone involved for making this possible on such short notice and without any problems.
Mathias
Croatia BareboatThe marina itself is a perfect starting point with great facilities! The Lagoon 42 was in good condition and the skipper was amazing and very knowledgeable of the area.”
Jonathan
Spain SkipperedWhat an AMAZING experience. We’ve just returned from a week long skippered charter from Corfu, sailing around the beautiful islands of the Ionian. Paxos, Antipaxos and Corfu Old Town were beautiful and the secluded bays we had the pleasure of visiting thanks to our local skipper, Nicholas, were simply overwhelming. Fly and flops are no longer for us – we’ll be chartering with DYC for the foreseeable future.
David
Greece SkipperedOur group of 10 had an AMAZING time in French Polynesia from May 21-28, 2022! The food was amazing, our captain and chef, husband and wife: Henry and Mehee (sp), were incredible and the whole experience on board was a dream! We can’t wait to book another trip through DYC
Katie
Tahiti Crewed PremiumDYC provided a great sailing experience for my extended family on 2 monos out of Scrub Island. The boats were in great shape and preformed perfectly and the staff were friendly and helpful. Having worked for a number of charter companies over the years DYC is one of the best.
Charlie
British Virgin Islands BareboatBaja is my favorite place now. There was something for everyone: sailed under northerlies with mostly calm evenings, snorkeled, fished, bummed it on the sandy beaches, enchanted by pelicans feeding, greeted by the barking sea lions and explored the Ispiritu Santo island geology. DYC La Paz base provided competent professional support with a well provisioned and maintained boat. We were nourished well by an onboard cook arranged with DYC freeing us all for more play. A vacation and an adventure connected with nature.
Taiyoko
Mexico Crewed PremiumAll staff were fantastic and made our trip very memorable. Incredibly friendly and welcoming, the food was amazing. The service throughout the trip was always first class!
Tommy
Thailand CabinAbsolutely recommended. Perfect service and set up. Will charter again and will recommend Dream Yacht Charter anytime.
Zahradnik
Turkey BareboatI just returned from 3 weeks of amazing sailing with my family on one of your catamarans in Sardinia. I would like to express my thanks to our skipper Simone and Daniela, our hostess.
Giles
Sardinia BareboatFor a first cruise as a skipper, the Mediterranean is great. The Dream Yacht Charter service is too!
Thomas
France BareboatWe had an incredible trip and actually got engaged on the first night of our sail! We will certainly be back one day. Thank you for getting us ready for our charter. We were definitely beginners but he gave us a very thorough but very easy to follow training and it gave us a lot of confidence.
George
AustraliaThe on board experience was way beyond our expectations. Isabelle provided exceptional three course meals. We could not believe her creativity and delicious meals. Thomas was an excellent skipper. He was always on the lookout for our needs. Thanks guys!” Spira, New Caledonia bareboat with crew charter
Spira
New Caledonia BareboatYet again another fantastic sail with another great crew. Thanks again to a great captain and cook. Was totally fantastic.
Connie
Seychelles Easy CrewedIt’s always a pleasure sailing with DYC in the UK. Great team, great boats, great sailing. Very flexible and work hard to make your trip a success. Many thanks.
Derek
Brittany CabinUnforgettable spots to snorkel and beaches. Very experienced crew. Highly recommend.
Simone
No Country Selected Bareboat Cabin
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