Mediterranean campsites with SIB launch?

[searider12]

Hi all, we have an aerotec 420 with a 25HP - wondering (probably for 2025) about driving to the med somewhere with the kids and camping with it. Anyone here have experience of that? Do they ask for ICC? Are they funny about launching at all? Would be a shame to arrive and find that I can't use it! Thanks

[smallribber]

Originally Posted by searider12

Hi all, we have an aerotec 420 with a 25HP - wondering (probably for 2025) about driving to the med somewhere with the kids and camping with it. Anyone here have experience of that? Do they ask for ICC? Are they funny about launching at all? Would be a shame to arrive and find that I can't use it! Thanks

Was wondering the same

[tinker]

I have launched my old zodiac FR with a 15hp and launch wheels from a slipway in northern France and no one said anything, asked any questions or asked for a fee. This was about 10 years ago though. The north coast is very tidal and a fair bit of the north west as well. Some great campsites on beaches though but never stopped on one.

[searider12]

Etoile d'argens keeps coming up in my searches...but still looks a few k away from the sea

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by searider12

Hi all, we have an aerotec 420 with a 25HP - wondering (probably for 2025) about driving to the med somewhere with the kids and camping with it. Anyone here have experience of that? Do they ask for ICC? Are they funny about launching at all? Would be a shame to arrive and find that I can't use it! Thanks

I've never failed to launch either the RIB or SIB in France/Italy/Spain/Portugal/Croatia. Generally I find that it's much easier, less bureaucratic, cheaper (usually free, can't remember the last time I paid to launch "over the water" tbh) than here in the UK. I have never been asked for documentation before launching, I have been checked a few times by the French whilst out at sea & once at the campsite, but that's just the French being French. That said, there's no excuse for not having all the requisite paperwork, the first time you don't have it, is the time you'll be asked for it. We usually do a bit of research first on our target area to see what the posibilities are, google earth is good for spotting slips & car parks. Marinas tend to be very helpful, but the price & facilities can vary. Some are free/dirt cheap, others can be spendy.
The Med is a bit Meh! TBH, very little in the way of life, & the nice bits tend to be reserved for the tres riche. The Atlantic coast is better IMHO, the Islands around La Rochelle, Ille de Oleron, Ille de Re, Noirmoutier etc are excellent small boat areas. The Gulf of Morbihan is definitely worth considering. Further afield, Portugal would be my goto, drive past the Algarve (fat brits eating fish & chips watching Sky sports) towards Lagos/Portimao, then onwards to Sagres & Peniche, Setubal. You won't be disappointed.

[searider12]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I've never failed to launch either the RIB or SIB in France/Italy/Spain/Portugal/Croatia. Generally I find that it's much easier, less bureaucratic, cheaper (usually free, can't remember the last time I paid to launch "over the water" tbh) than here in the UK. I have never been asked for documentation before launching, I have been checked a few times by the French whilst out at sea & once at the campsite, but that's just the French being French. That said, there's no excuse for not having all the requisite paperwork, the first time you don't have it, is the time you'll be asked for it. We usually do a bit of research first on our target area to see what the posibilities are, google earth is good for spotting slips & car parks. Marinas tend to be very helpful, but the price & facilities can vary. Some are free/dirt cheap, others can be spendy.
The Med is a bit Meh! TBH, very little in the way of life, & the nice bits tend to be reserved for the tres riche. The Atlantic coast is better IMHO, the Islands around La Rochelle, Ille de Oleron, Ille de Re, Noirmoutier etc are excellent small boat areas. The Gulf of Morbihan is definitely worth considering. Further afield, Portugal would be my goto, drive past the Algarve (fat brits eating fish & chips watching Sky sports) towards Lagos/Portimao, then onwards to Sagres & Peniche, Setubal. You won't be disappointed.

Thanks - what do you mean when you say 'all the requisite paperwork' - is that ICC and insurance?

[Pikey Dave]

Yup, there’s a thread on the forum that covers boating abroad quite extensively, the search function should find it.

[tinker]

Originally Posted by searider12

Thanks - what do you mean when you say 'all the requisite paperwork' - is that ICC and insurance?

Having gone through some if it thats my conclusion, although the ICC seems to be an good.option rather than a definite requirement. The boat coming from the UK means it avoids some of the other requirements.

I'm more interested in actual campsites with direct access to either a slip or better still a jetty. Have 2 weeks holiday from next Saturday and the UK weather looks bad, tempted to book a ferry and head south / south west.

Has anyone actually stayed on a campsite, in france, with decent boating facilities?

[Jung at Heart]

Originally Posted by searider12

wondering (probably for 2025) about driving to the med somewhere with the kids and camping with it. Anyone here have experience of that?

Not France but close enough.

A couple of years ago we took our RIB down to the Costa Brava and camped at Nautic Almata https://almata.com/en

This is a large, good quality site which is geared up for boating, there is a slipway on site and moorings within a few metres of the the pitches, there were a variety of boats including SIBS & RIBS.

We booked a mooring for the stay which may be a requirement although there was no one monitoring the slipway and I imagine you can just launch and recover whenever you want but the the mooring was money well spent.

The moorings are a two minute run to a junction where you turn one way on to a river or the other way straoight in to the Med (Bay of Roses), the scenery is spectacular, there is a marina at Roses with fuel and there are numerous trips to be had along the coast to beaches, bays, caves etc.

A cruise around Empuriabrava was a worthwile to see how the other half live, there were places to moor up for a drink there too.

We had one of our best holidays here and would go back, the campsite has all of the usual swimming pools, beach, bars, restaurants etc.

It's a family campsite so may not be for everyone, were we were pitched with families from Nederlands and Germany who were there for a month or more, the site is packed, however, we booked a large pitch in an area next to the moorings and had enough space that we didn't feel crowded.

Well worth the extra driving in my experience.

[tinker]

Super write up and the campsite looks ideal, thanks.

[Jung at Heart]

Originally Posted by tinker

Super write up and the campsite looks ideal, thanks.

Thanks, if you need any other info i'm happy to share our experience. Please ignore the typos in my previous post, i can't see how to edit it!

[Pikey Dave]

Again, not France, but Italy. We had a very nice week here last year. Very easy access to the sea, excellent campsite which took the ACSI card. Interesting boating area, with access to the Cinque Terra if you fancy a day out. The campsite restaurant was exceptionally good & very reasonably priced. Very few Brits, mostly Dutch/German/French. Huge site with loads of space.

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Again, not France, but Italy. We had a very nice week here last year. Very easy access to the sea, excellent campsite which took the ACSI card. Interesting boating area, with access to the Cinque Terra if you fancy a day out. The campsite restaurant was exceptionally good & very reasonably priced. Very few Brits, mostly Dutch/German/French. Huge site with loads of space.

Hi Dave, what's the name of the site? What town/village is it near?

[Pikey Dave]

Hi Steve, it’s Marina 3B near La Spezia. If you click on the link in my post it will take you to it.

[Steve509926]

Cheers Dave, can't see a link though. Really fancy 3 - 4 weeks through Italy down to Croatia next year

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Cheers Dave, can't see a link though. Really fancy 3 - 4 weeks through Italy down to Croatia next year

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/...v1wc?entry=ttu

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/...v1wc?entry=ttu