South of France holiday? RIB or SIB?

[mitchc]

Good morning all,
We're currently planning our 2 week Easter break to the Marseille/Cannes are of the South of France.
We've never been before so it'll be a bit of adventure. We will be camping so are flexible as to where we stay but the dilemma is as follows:
Do we take the 6mtr/150hp RIB or the 3.2mtr/15hp SIB?
The RIB obviously gets towed behind the Landcruiser, whereas the SIB goes deflated in the back/on the roof once there.
Launching: whats the choice, can we just launch from a convenient beach (with the landowners permission of course) or are there lots of slipways?
Is it worth taking the RIB to explore further afield or can we drive to the location and then put the SIB in the water?
There's only going to be the two of us, so it’s over to the panel what’s the general consensus: RIB or SIB?

Thanks in advance for any advice/help/pointers on this.

[Mollers]

Having just completed a 2200m round trip, no way would I want to do it towing a rib . Take the sib.

[mick]

Take the rib it's all motorway easy drive and you will get more use out of your rib it gets quite rough on the med
We have taken a 4 m sib and not used it before now that's y we got a rib

[mitchc]

Haven't got a problem with driving there, with the land cruiser you just stick the cruise control on and forget the rib is there!
It's the launching and places to visit whilst we are there, will the rib give us more choices or restrict because of the lack of launching facilities. So far google hasn't really helped to much with a list of slipways
Any suggestions?

[Bushrider]

Originally Posted by Mollers

Having just completed a 2200m round trip, no way would I want to do it towing a rib . Take the sib.

I have a house at the Cote d Azur and I am quite often down there . Just yesterday I returned .
TAKE THE RIB .
You will damn the day when you show up there with the SIB and a bit of wind comes up ! Check in the net for "Mistral" !!
There are not many islands which give wind protection and the sea will hit you hard .
I tried with a 4.20m Bombard Aerotec + 20hp Honda but understood that I better go for a RIB .
That was last year in september when I bought from RogueWave a 5.4 SR .

Regards - Jürgen

[mick]

Originally Posted by mitchc

Haven't got a problem with driving there, with the land cruiser you just stick the cruise control on and forget the rib is there!
It's the launching and places to visit whilst we are there, will the rib give us more choices or restrict because of the lack of launching facilities. So far google hasn't really helped to much with a list of slipways
Any suggestions?

Where you going to stay there are lots of ports with slips and the rib will save a lot of driving round the coast road

[Boats&Outboards]

Why not google earth your destination it may prove helpful to a point, I often do it when I'm planning. Delivery/collection. Cannot beat it

Peter ~ Boatsandoutboards4sale ~ askboatsandoutboards4sale@sky.com ~ 07930 421007

[mitchc]

I have googled and surprisingly few slips ways come up...maybe it's the key words I'm using. I'll carry on trying different combinations....
As for where we plan to stay, that was going to be the next question!
This camp site has been recommended on other boaty forums:
Camping france var grimaud sud midi mediterranee saint tropez provence alpes cote d'azur tourisme vacances
but open to hear any other suggestions about campsites/slip ways.
Lots of the campsites that come up on google seem to be more for caravans rather than tents?
As for location, the islands just offshore from Hyeres look pretty so will probably try to stay on the mainland somewhere close to there...

Just been checking ferry prices and it's pretty reasonable so we will be taking the RIB.


thanks for the help so far....

[mick]

We stayed etoile d'argens near frejus takes tents its by a river where you can launch but there is a port near by as well which would be better if you ask at the sites they will tell you either
http://www.etoiledargens.com/

[Bushrider]

Originally Posted by mitchc

So far google hasn't really helped to much with a list of slipways
Any suggestions?

These are the slipways I found on Google Earth between Cassis & St Tropez .
I been always in Cogolin but want to try other places this year as well .

La Nartette
43°14'43.07"N / 5°21'55.86"E
Cassis
43°12'48.83"N / 5°32'13.62"E
La Ciotat
43°10'45.06"N / 5°36'43.97"E
Vaussier
43°10'48.28"N / 5°40'59.41"E
Slip ??
43°10'0.40"N / 5°41'38.86"E
Bandol
43° 7'48.55"N / 5°45'9.19"E
Cap Negre
43° 5'49.60"N / 5°48'41.82"E
near Hyeres
43° 5'15.56"N / 6° 4'44.55"E
Hyeres
43° 5'7.97"N / 6° 9'34.23"E
Le Lavandou
43° 7'26.42"N / 6°21'44.57"E
Cavalaire
43°10'15.20"N / 6°32'10.32"E
Cogolin
43°16'7.10"N / 6°35'7.50"E

[Bieny]

We use a 4m sib with a 40hp down there for 2 weeks every year. I keep it on the water in the local marina, it's about €65 a week in August (peak season). Saves all the launching hassle so we use it loads. Never found the sea/wind a problem in August but seen it very rough at Easter time!

[mitchc]

Originally Posted by Bushrider

These are the slipways I found on Google Earth between Cassis & St Tropez .
I been always in Cogolin but want to try other places this year as well .

Thank you oh Google Master, your student is very impressed!

Seriously though, you obviously have much better google skills than me or probably a bit more time...I've been v.busy with the Brazilians this week (don't ask!)!

Will have some more time this weekend so will dig deeper following the way of the master!

Re the weather, does any one know how many times does the Mistral strikes, is it guaranteed every year?

Once again thanks to everyone for their suggestion/help. Roll on April and the holiday

[Bushrider]

Hi ,
De rien
No worries - I was just looking for places where I can launch my Searider this year
I would appreciate if you give some feedback after your vacation !
As for the Mistral check here :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistral_(wind)
Last week the wind almost blew me away !

Cheers - Jürgen