The Lerin Islands lie just two kilometres off the Cannes waterfront and are among the most accessible and rewarding anchorages on the French Riviera. Ile Sainte-Marguerite is the larger of the two main islands, with clear turquoise water, a forested interior and a seventeenth-century fortress that once held the Man in the Iron Mask. Ile Saint-Honorat is owned by a working Cistercian monastery that produces wine and honey on the island. A 40 metre charter yacht based in the Cannes area puts both islands within fifteen minutes, making the Lerins a natural focal point for morning water sports and afternoon sailing.
At 40 metres a charter yacht in this part of the Riviera carries five or six guest cabins, a crew of seven to nine and full water sports equipment for Mediterranean coastal waters. The fleet at this length in the South of France is strong, drawing from German, Italian and Dutch yards with consistently modern build specifications.
Weekly rates for a 40 metre yacht in the Cannes and Lerins Islands area run from approximately 80,000 to 140,000 euros in high season. The advance provisioning allowance covering fuel, provisions, port fees and extras adds 30 to 35 per cent. June and September offer excellent conditions with quieter anchorages than July and August.
From the Lerins Islands the Riviera circuit extends east toward Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Monaco, and west toward Golfe-Juan, Juan-les-Pins and Saint-Tropez.
