Catamaran Charter France
France's sailing grounds span three distinct coastlines — the Atlantic Vendée, the sun-baked Côte d'Azur, and the wind-scoured straits of Corsica — each rewarding a catamaran's shallow draft and wide deck with anchorages and passages that monohulls regularly have to forego.
Catamarans Available in France
Browse our selection of catamarans available for charter in France.
Bareboat Sailing Yacht Hanse 345
Hanse 435 · 2012
From
€1k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Lagoon 410
Lagoon 410
From
€2k/week
SUN LOFT 47
Sun Loft 47 · 2020
From
€2k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Mahe 36
Mahe 36 · 2007
From
€2k/week
Luxury Crewed Catamaran Fountaine Pajot Helia 44
Fountaine Pajot Helia 44 · 2017
From
€2k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Lagoon 380
Lagoon 380 · 2012
From
€3k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Lagoon 400
Lagoon 400 · 2010
From
€3k/week
Bareboat Catamaran KIA ORA
Lipari 41 · 2013
From
$3k/week
Bareboat Catamaran DOUBLE TROUBLE
Lagoon 42 · 2018
From
€3k/week
Bareboat Catamaran LIPARI 41
Lipari 41 · 2012
From
€3k/week
Bareboat Catamaran MANATEE
Lagoon 380 · 2013
From
€3k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Lipari 41
Lipari 41 · 2010
From
€3k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Lagoon 400
Lagoon 400 · 2009
From
€3k/week
Bareboat Catamaran AVENTURA
Lagoon 42 · 2021
From
€3k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Lipari 41
Lipari 41 · 2014
From
€4k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Lagoon 400
Lagoon 400 · 2014
From
€4k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Nautitech 40 Open
Nautitech 40 Open · 2014
From
€4k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Lagoon 380
Lagoon 380 · 2011
From
€4k/week
Bareboat Catamaran WHITE CHADAL
Lagoon 42 · 2022
From
€4k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Fountaine Pajot Helia 44
Fountaine Pajot Helia 44 · 2013
From
€4k/week
Bareboat Catamaran LES JUMEAUX
Lagoon 46 · 2019
From
€4k/week
Bareboat Catamaran LAGOON 450
Lagoon 450 · 2010
From
€4k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Fountaine Pajot Helia 44
Fountaine Pajot Helia 44 · 2013
From
€4k/week
Bareboat Catamaran Lagoon 39
Lagoon 39 · 2014
From
€4k/week
Other Vessel Types in France
Chartering a catamaran in France is less a single decision than a choice between three entirely different sailing universes. The Côte d'Azur places you within easy reach of the Lérins Islands and the rocky inlets of the Var coast; Brittany and the Vendée deliver true Atlantic sailing with tidal planning, strong currents through the Raz de Sein, and the satisfaction of arriving in ports that feel genuinely working and unspoiled; Corsica and the Strait of Bonifacio offer some of the most technically engaging passages in the western Mediterranean, with the Libeccio and Tramontane winds making passage planning a genuine exercise in seamanship.
A French catamaran charter carries a practical advantage beyond stability: France's Riviera anchorages and Corsican calanques are often too shallow or too exposed for deep-keeled monohulls, and the space aboard a modern cruising cat — a Lagoon 50, a Fountaine Pajot Maestro 44, or a Bali 4.3 — means a week at sea with family or a group of friends does not require any compromise on comfort. With more than sixty catamarans available through SelectYachts, from compact bareboat options to fully crewed luxury platforms accommodating up to 56 guests, the range suits everyone from competent bareboat crews to those expecting a private chef and daily provisioning from Provençal markets.
Why Charter in Catamaran charter in France
France is one of the few countries in Europe where world-class sailing infrastructure and genuinely diverse sailing terrain coexist. Port-Camargue is the largest marina complex in Europe, and ports such as Antibes, Cogolin-Grimaud, Ajaccio, and Brest operate to standards of provisioning and technical support that reward charterers who want to extend passages rather than cut them short due to logistics. Fuel, water, ice, and fresh provisions from local suppliers are rarely more than a short walk from any berth.
The cuisine alone justifies the geography. A catamaran's wide cockpit table becomes the setting for bouillabaisse sourced in Marseille, charcuterie from the Corsican interior, Breton oysters opened at anchor in the Golfe du Morbihan, and rosé poured from estates within cycling distance of Saint-Tropez. French maritime culture means that even working fishing ports treat visiting yachts with a matter-of-fact professionalism that makes going ashore feel like part of the voyage rather than a logistical interruption.
For those focused on Corsica and Sardinia in a single charter, France provides a legally straightforward base: Corsica is French territory, so no additional cruising permits are required for the crossing, and the island's protected marine parks — particularly around the Réserve Naturelle des Bouches de Bonifacio — provide anchoring within sight of some of the most geologically dramatic coastline in the Mediterranean basin.
Catamaran charter in France Highlights
Îles d'Hyères (Porquerolles, Port-Cros, Le Levant) — Three islands within easy reach of Toulon marina offering protected anchorages, a national park with no road traffic on Porquerolles, and some of the clearest Mediterranean water on the French coast.
Golfe du Morbihan, Brittany — An inland tidal sea accessed through a narrow entrance at Port-Navalo where currents run up to 8 knots at springs; inside, over 40 islands and islets, world-class oyster beds at Locmariaquer, and megaliths at Carnac reachable by dinghy.
Réserve Naturelle de Scandola, Corsica — A UNESCO-listed coastal reserve accessible only by sea, with volcanic red rock formations, osprey colonies, and anchoring in clear water of 20m visibility; no landing permitted, which keeps it exceptional.
Bonifacio, southern Corsica — A fortified medieval town perched on white limestone cliffs at the mouth of a deep natural harbour, with the Strait of Bonifacio's variable winds making departure a genuine navigational event requiring attention to the forecast.
Calanques de Cassis — Narrow limestone inlets east of Marseille accessible by catamaran to those who arrive early; the Calanque d'En-Vau in particular rewards an early departure from Cassis or La Ciotat with near-solitude before 10am.
Saint-Tropez and the Var coast — Less about the town itself and more about the arc of anchorages from Pampelonne Bay south toward Cap Camarat and Cavalaire-sur-Mer, where a catamaran's shallow draft opens options that deeper-keeled yachts cannot access.
Îles de Glénan, Brittany — A low-lying Atlantic archipelago 20 miles south of Concarneau with a lagoon-like central anchorage of Caribbean-clear turquoise water that consistently surprises first-time visitors expecting grey Atlantic conditions.
When to Sail
The sailing season in France runs from late April through October, with the Mediterranean coast offering reliably warm and settled conditions from June to September and the Atlantic coast demanding more attention to weather windows year-round but rewarding those who time it well with dramatic scenery and far fewer crowds.
High Season (Jun-Sep)
On the Côte d'Azur and around Corsica, the summer Mistral — most frequent in spring and autumn but possible any month — is the variable to watch. When it is absent, light thermal breezes fill in from the south by mid-morning, making for comfortable daysailing between anchorages. July and August bring the most settled weather but also the most boat traffic: anchorages off Porquerolles and Lavandou fill by noon on weekends. On the Atlantic coast, June and September are preferable to August for crew comfort; the Raz de Sein and Chenal du Four demand careful tidal timing regardless of month. Water temperatures reach 24-26°C in the Mediterranean by August.
Shoulder Season (May, Oct)
May and October are consistently underestimated by charterers. May on the French Riviera offers full sunshine, uncrowded anchorages, and the Cannes Film Festival as a backdrop if your itinerary runs north of the Lérins. October in Corsica still delivers warm enough water for swimming and wind patterns that are more consistent than mid-summer. On the Atlantic coast, May in the Morbihan coincides with the Gulf beginning to wake up after winter and sees far fewer charter boats than July. Provisioning and marina availability improve significantly in both shoulder months, and charter rates reflect this meaningfully.
Choosing the Right Yacht
A catamaran is, in many respects, the default-correct choice for French Mediterranean sailing. The shallow draft of models such as the Lagoon 42 and Bali 4.3 — typically under 1.3 metres — opens anchorages in the Calanques and around the Îles d'Hyères that simply exclude keelboats drawing more than 2 metres. The wide cockpit and flybridge layout common to French-built catamarans (Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot, and Nautitech are all built in the Bordeaux and Vendée regions and designed with Mediterranean charter in mind) makes long lunch stops at anchor a genuinely social experience rather than a cramped one. For groups of six to ten guests, a Lagoon 50 or Nautitech Voyager 53 offers cabin configurations with private heads in each cabin, which removes the single biggest source of friction on a week-long group charter.
Seven Days in Southern Corsica and the Bouches de Bonifacio
A suggested week-long charter route
Board and provision in Ajaccio, Corsica's compact capital with a covered market worth two hours of your morning for charcuterie, brocciu, and local wine. Depart early afternoon southwest toward the Calanque de Piana for an overnight anchorage beneath the UNESCO-listed volcanic cliffs of Les Calanches.
Sail south down the Golfe de Sagone and round the Capu Rossu headland toward Girolata, a village with no road access where the only provisioning is from the single restaurant on the quay. Swim in the afternoon in water clear enough to see the anchor from the trampoline.
An early start to transit through the edge of the Scandola Reserve before the day-trip boats arrive, anchoring to snorkel the volcanic underwater landscape. Continue south to overnight at Propriano in the Golfe de Valinco — a working town with a serious fish market and excellent provisioning.
Round the Capu di Muro and make for the Îles Lavezzi, a cluster of granite islands midway through the Strait of Bonifacio where the Libeccio wind accelerates unpredictably. With good timing and a settled forecast, anchor between the islands in transparent water above white sand — one of the most remote-feeling anchorages in French waters.
Enter Bonifacio harbour in the morning and take a berth at the marina du Vieux Port beneath the cliff-top citadel. The approach through the narrow channel is navigated at idle speed. The afternoon is best spent on foot in the upper town; the evening in one of the harbour restaurants serving Corsican-caught fish.
Depart Bonifacio for the Golfe de Santa Manza east of the city — a sheltered bay with reliable holding and fewer boats than the popular beaches to the west. Snorkel, kayak, and use the catamaran's deck as the base for the afternoon. Option to motor to the village of Pianottoli-Caldarello for dinner ashore.
Final passage north along the east coast of Corsica, a straightforward reach if the Tramontane is cooperative, with a last swim stop at the Golfe de Valinco or an anchorage near Campomoro before returning north to Ajaccio for end-of-charter formalities and disembarkation.
Local Tips
- •Corsican anchorages require reservation in summer: since 2020, many protected bays including parts of Scandola and the Lavezzi islands operate a system of mooring buoys with daily fees and online booking through the relevant marine park authority. Arriving without a reservation in July or August often means being turned away by the park wardens.
- •French fuel pontoons close at 18.00 in most ports and are often closed on Sunday afternoons; plan fuel stops accordingly, particularly on the Atlantic coast where distances between marinas are greater than on the Riviera.
- •Tidal planning is non-negotiable in Brittany: the Raz de Sein sees 4-6 metre tidal ranges and currents exceeding 6 knots at springs through the Chenal du Four. The SHOM tide tables and Admiralty almanac tidal stream data should be consulted for every passage, not just the headline ones. Arrival at Port-Kerel or Audierne on the wrong tide can mean a 4-5 hour wait at anchor.
- •Provisioning in Antibes and Ajaccio is consistently cited by experienced charterers as the best in their respective regions. Ajaccio's covered market on the Place du Marché opens at 07.00 and is effectively finished by 12.00; Antibes hosts one of the finest covered markets on the Riviera and is within 15 minutes' walk of both the Port Vauban megayacht quays and the smaller Quai Rambaud.
- •French maritime authorities (Affaires Maritimes) require all bareboat charterers to carry proof of competence; an ICC or an RYA Coastal Skipper certificate with a tidal endorsement is standard. The Corsican reserve areas also require a VHF radio licence for the skipper. Confirm documentation requirements with your broker well in advance of departure.
- •Rosé from the Provence AOC — specifically from estates in the Var department between Hyères and Saint-Raphaël — is logistically easier to source than you might expect: several cooperatives around Bormes-les-Mimosas and Pierrefeu-du-Var will deliver to Port de Miramar or Le Lavandou marina if ordered 48 hours in advance, which is a considerably more cost-effective approach than buying retail at marina chandlers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a special licence or permit to sail a catamaran in French waters+
Which French region is best for a first-time catamaran charter+
What is the typical weekly charter cost for a catamaran in France+
Can I charter a catamaran large enough for a corporate group or event+
How far in advance should I book a catamaran charter in France for summer+
Are French catamarans available with a skipper if I do not want to sail myself+
Speak with a SelectYachts charter manager to match the right catamaran to your French itinerary, crew size, and schedule.
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