Around 9:30 a.m., Captain Cailler and the sailor Raphaël are waiting for their passengers in the port of Hyères. Swap the din of a motor boat for the tranquility of a sailboat: this is the bet that Stéphane, the captain, known as “the skipper”, has taken on. With the Espace mer nautical centre, he offers outings around the Golden Islands aboard his sailboat.
Several slots are available: the “early riser” outing in the morning, the “idleness” in the afternoon, and the full day. In groups of around 10 people, hoist the mainsail to explore the most beautiful landscapes of the harbor and the Hyères coast.
“More charm than classic boats”
Embark on the Brigantin, it’s sailing with the winds on a traditional ship steeped in history. Built in Les Sables d’Olonne in 1940, it was a tuna boat before it ended up in the hands of the current skipper. Captain Cailler would never exchange his sailboat for a more recent boat: “I have always been passionate about this kind of boats. I find that they have more charm than classic boats“, he asserts.
Stéphane acquired it in 2011 and restored it. “I bought the hull in 2011, then I put masts back on it as I went along. Now it belongs to Espace mer, with which I joined forces in 2015. The boat has been re-rigged to offer a new activity.“
Far from the hustle and bustle of motorboats, the Brigantin offers boaters a peaceful ride. This is what Arnaud, Séverine and Paul came to look for, on vacation: “I’ve wanted to do this outing for ten years, but each time it was postponed due to wind, water, weather, etc. It’s really a pleasure to finally be able to get on board “, confides Arnaud.
Another eye on the coasts of Hyères
If the captain wanted to organize outings aboard an old sailboat, it was for “propose another rhythm” than that of taxi boats: “It’s a boat for lovers of the sea, he says, it’s useless to buy one if it’s not out of passion.” This passion, Stéphane transmits it to his passengers throughout the trip. He tells the story of his ship, anecdotes about the surroundings, and knows the coast like the back of his hand. Passengers will even have the chance to give a shot helping the crew to hoist the sails or drop anchor.
The route taken by the boat depends on several factors such as the swell or the wind: “It depends mainly on the weather, but also a little on our mood. What changes from a classic boat trip is that when you turn off the engine, it’s really calm. We wanted a different rhythm: less impactful, with fewer people and more time. In addition, compared to a more modern sailboat, ours moves much less. It’s less anxiety-provoking.“
On board, the crew has everything they need to explore the land and the sea. Kayaks, paddles, flippers, masks, snorkels and wetsuits are available for boaters.
Know+
From 4 years old.
From the port of Hyères, until August 31.
Different tariffs
according to slots.
Such. 04 94 01 84 50.
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