Live Aboard Life – We Found an Affordable Winter Mooring on the French Mediterranean Coast

Live Aboard Life – We Found an Affordable Winter Mooring on the French Mediterranean Coast

We’re still waiting for a flipping birth. But if you look at certain places over there, there’s loads. Yeah. But they said on Monday, haven’t they? Yeah. And check. We’re still waiting. Here’s Big Lump here. Look. Here’s Big Alf. Oh, well done. You’re not camera shy, are you? The camera. He does. You’re a good boy, aren’t you, Alf? Right. That was a skid. Hey, what’s that about? He just slid on the seat then. So yeah, still waiting. But well, we want to stay till if we can’t get a winter birth, we want to stay till the end of end of October. End of October, beginning of November because there’s a boat show here. There is. Yeah. And then that also gets us our n we’ve been 90 days. Yeah. Out of Shenan. out. Well, the rest of Shen. Yeah. Uh so maybe we’ll go to Rosses. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe for three months. Yeah. So that’s November, December, January. No, because we’d be we’d leave here on the 4th of November. So 4th of November. So November, December, January, January, that’s three months. So the end of January it’ll be. No, fourth till the 4th of February it’ be roughly. Yeah. Yeah. Which means then we can come back up here. Do another 3 months here and then Yeah. Yeah, that’s true. Yeah, that makes sense. Where’s Where’s Alons? He’s not jumping off the front of the boat or something. He did jump off onto the pontoon once, didn’t he? Or twice. Twice. Once. It’s only been off. Oh, was it only once? Yeah. But he frightened I think he frightened himself cuz he couldn’t get back on. Well, we’re wearing shorts and t-shirts at the moment. A lot of these locals are in jeans, jackets, flipping heck. Good boy. Who’s a good boy? Who’s a good boy? Yes. So, you’ll notice up there, we’ve taken all the crap that was on there. All the lines that were on the lazy bag that the guy had before, and they’ve all gone, which is such a tidy mask now. Like a tidy mask, don’t we, darling? We do. You just got to get And then this this sail bag is going to be taken off and Caroline’s going to make a stack pack. Aren’t you, darling? Well, here, which is what I was going to do originally, but Mr. Atinson there wanted a bag and now he’s got a bag. He don’t want a bag. Yeah. Yeah. It’s a beautiful evening. We look right around there. I really like it here. You know, I’ I’d like to stay, but I don’t want to stay here. Well, you probably won’t stay here. You if we’ve got if we get a birth, you’ll probably be moved further in. Yeah, I know. Here’s a lovely marina, isn’t it? Yeah. Don’t bother me being here. What’s the difference? It’s 10 minutes walk up to where you want to be. The dogs love the cat treats, don’t they? Yeah. Alfie is looking around, but he’s got a paw out. Just he’s just covering his covering his ass, isn’t it? Just in case. Bases. Yeah. Somebody falling in his little tail going. I know. I don’t mind it if when it’s summer and she wags a tail. Or when it’s winter it’s freezing, isn’t it? When she wags the tail, she she causes a drift. She’s not awake very much. Let’s be honest. No. No, she’s not, is she? Good morning everybody. Hi. It’s a beautiful morning. Um 26° forecast today. Yeah, it’s a beautiful day. Yeah, we’re over the moon. Yeah, we have finally got our winter birth. Yeah, perseverance has paid off. We’ve sat here and we’ve waited and we’ve waited. Yeah. Um so yeah, started yesterday. Yeah, we’re on this pontoon here, which is the visitors pontoon at the moment. We’re going to be here till um first week in November on the visitors pontoon. Yeah, because there is a boat show. Yeah. So, which will be interesting in itself. Yeah. And then after the boat show, we’re going to be moved further into the marina, aren’t we? Which is more protected. So, yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. We’re We’re absolutely over the moon, aren’t we? We are. Yes. Um and it’s not it’s not as expensive as we thought it was going to be. What was it? Two €25,000 to 6 months. For 6 months. Yeah. Um and then €68 a month for water and electric. So really not bad at all. It’s very good. Yeah. Very good. So yeah, that’s all sorted. Yeah. So we’re going out to celebrate with lunch. So, we thought we’d give you a walk around the marina. Absolutely. Yeah. And it’s a big marina. It is massive marina. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. It’s very nice. Off we go. Yeah. Oniva. Over to you, Tone. Okay. So, as they say in French, let’s go on. We only van. Oh, my back. That’s me standing on one of the ropes. Yeah. You don’t have to film a big fat backside as I’m getting. No, you don’t have to agree with me. Cuz the marina is amazing. It’s massive. And there’s dingies over there. It’s one of the things they do with school young lads. Yeah. School kids do sailing. Yeah. So we go over the little pond bridge. So there the bins there, the main office is there, sacan’s there. But the only thing is is if you go further in, you’re miles away from the capitan area, aren’t you? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Cuz there’s there’s this and it’s right on the end of the marina. Yeah. We’re hoping we might have that spot there, aren’t we? Absolutely. Yeah. Yep. Hopefully. Next to that blue boat. Yeah. Yeah. There’s a lot more boats coming, isn’t there? There is. Yeah. Yeah. You can see more boats here. It is an amazing marina. Yeah. It’s massive. I think somebody’s got that other end one that we thought we might fancy. Yeah. We’ll see. Of course. Looks like a block of cheese, doesn’t it? Yeah. Swiss cheese. Yeah, it’s weather’s great today. It was less nice yesterday, wasn’t it? Well, it’s forecast to be great for ages. Yeah. Yeah. It’s just a really nice temperature. I fancy going looking at this. Yeah. Just for to have a nose. Caroline wants to look at this. I know it’s How much is it? It’s 50 grand. 50 grand. Yeah. Yeah. It’s got sliding doors. A lot of living space. Not because we’re going to buy it. I just fancy seeing what one’s what it’s like. Yeah. That space has gone there. What’s this corn? Oh, no. There’s one there. There’s still one there. Yeah, there’s a space there. And this is We have to be sort of in this area because we’ve got a deep a deep ke, haven’t we? deep draft. We’ve got two points. That’s an ML. Yeah. Super. Yeah. So, there’s that one and there’s that one over there. Yeah. Yeah. But then if we end up right up here, then um we’re closer to town and shopping and buses and stuff, aren’t we? So, yeah. Yeah. It swings and roundabouts. Really? It is. Really? Yeah. We can’t be down here cuz this is too shallow here. for us. Yeah, I know. Yeah. The very small boats are all here cuz they don’t have a big keel, but we have a big keel. Yeah. Yes. There’s lots of nice apartments. Well, well, I don’t know about nice. Look all right on the outside. You don’t know what they’re like on the inside. No, I’ve seen nicer. Yeah. And over there as well. That would be a Yeah. Just as nicer view sort of thing, would it? I think the ones on this side are a better view though. They’re facing that. So those those over there. Yeah. Yeah. So we’re very sort of handy for the uh boatyard and everything, aren’t we? Yeah. It’s like 5 10 minute walking stuff. That’s it. Cuz we we’re going to have to do a lot of work on the boat. We’ve got to do something over winter. We can’t just sit there and of course vegetate. Yeah. We’re going to go walk around here and have some lunch and then uh I’m going to go to the gym this afternoon. Are you? Yeah. I don’t think you will be going to the gym. Oh, will he? By the No, by the time you’ve had some lunch and you’ve had a beer and you’ve walked and you’ve got back, you’ll be like, “Oh, I don’t know cuz I’ve got to get the bus.” and then go to the gym and then get the bus back which will make it god knows what time. Exactly. And your enthusiasm will have gone by then. Close up. I’m sure that big lump. It’s for sale. It’s very bright. It is 50 footer. What’s that? Generator or something. Oh, this this is the boat. They’ve moved it right out here. Bloody deal. This boat’s had a right. It’s had its keel taken off cuz it’s obviously hit something, ain’t it? Has. Yeah, you can see. Yeah, that’s the ke. If you come around here, h you’ll probably see it better. Yeah. Yeah. It’s had a right whack that it Hey, sorry. It’s had a right whack on it. Yeah. Yeah. You can see the damage on the front of that keel there. The keel off. Yeah. Must be 60 foot. That bet. It’s an insurance job back. There a new ke there and everything, isn’t there? Yeah. Oh, need the key, don’t we? Um, yeah. Need the keys to get out. To get out. Get out. Get out. key fob on there is out. There you go. We walk down here. Make sure that’s shut. All right. Salon Nortique. Yeah. One second. Let’s see. Peas in there. And also this is for the boat show. Should we do we take one now or? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. 25th salon notique. 25th Salon Nortique. Yeah. So, that’s the boat show. It is. This fell here is well dressed, isn’t he? He’s got a bit of designer on him, has he? Beautiful. French chic. Designer chic. It’s got his mask off. Is Oh, that’s the one that Is it the one that his mask broke? That must be. Yeah, probably. Yeah, that’s definitely French chic, is that? Don’t be awful. Not going to lie. That’s where I went to do the washing. Oh, is it? Yeah. Oh, you did your washing there? Yeah. Oh, I see. Yeah. Right. So, where’s this other thing then? What? Where the teak is? I’ll show you. Oh. Car parks. Underground car parks. More apartments. There’s washing machines there. Dryers. Washers and dryers. Yeah, that’s where Caroline did the washing. Toilets and showers are here if we end up down here. All right. Oh, those toilets and showers. Yeah. Do you not remember from last year when we came for that short time? Yeah. Um, le onlay. Oh, yeah. There’s a Onlay car there. English plates on. French car. It’s got English. Well, it’s Peugeot, isn’t it? It’s Peugeot. It’s French made. Yeah. So, where’s this guy that makes the tea? It’s down here. Oh, he doesn’t make teak. How can you make te? No, no, no. But he has teik. He has teik. Yeah. So, we we need a bit of teak for the back of the boat, don’t we? Yeah, we’ve got a bit missing. It’s only a little bit. Watch your back, honey. Oh, yeah. Can’t come in now. He’s the boat broker. Hey, he’s the broker. Yeah. Here. Oh, I see. Yeah. All little bits of te lock look there. Cuz that’s what we need. That’s what I mean. So, it might be worth just getting the measurements and going in and seeing cuz we just need a piece like that, don’t we? Yeah. Like that. Right. Yeah. So, yeah. Well worth coming down to see him, I would think. Yeah. Then this is where all the restaurants start, isn’t it? And Yeah, it is. All the clothes. There’s a few restaurants down where we are. Yeah, there’s brokers there. But this is like the main town sort of bit now, isn’t it? Yep. And you got the big wheel over there. Yeah. Mojo. Bonjour. There’s a few places here like isn’t there? Yeah. Well, this is for the big big boats, isn’t it? Up here. Yeah, I suppose so. Yeah. Well, during the height of summer, there was nothing here, was there? No, there wasn’t. There’s one here for sale. Yeah. That’s got three spread, isers, that mass. Yeah, but it’s a massive boat, isn’t it? You would think it would have. I don’t think it’s massive. Well, it’s big. Yeah, probably a 60 or a 55. Probably tell you on the back anyway. Normally does. There’s brokers and there’s diving shops and diving schools. Oh, this place is open where we got the Is it? Yeah. Yeah. Oh, no, it’s not. It’s just people sat there. Oh, no. It’s open. Is it right? Yeah, it’s a 64 footer. That How do I know? It says it on the side. There’s there. Yeah. You’re not bothered with it. No. Okay. Oh, that’s that y’all, isn’t it? So, yeah. It’s a lovely boat. Is that lovely shape? Y yol. Y because the yaw the mizen mast is behind the rudder. If it’s in front of the rudder, it’s a catch. There you go. So there you go. Every day is a day at school. Absolutely. What’s the menu here? That’s tart to birth fil be all right if it could really fish burgers €23 for a burger you must be joking. Yeah, exactly. We’re having a laugh. No, I don’t mind paying for a decent burger, but €23 is ridiculous. It is. This is new. This has only just opened, hasn’t it? What is it? Bags of lavender. Bags of lavender. Yeah. Have to keep the mozzies away. Hopefully there won’t be any more mozzies. I know. There’s not been that many actually this year. No, it’s been all right really, hasn’t it? Yeah. They don’t like the window mozzies, doesn’t it? No. Berserk’s had loads though. Had to um spray it. Yeah. Some What is it? Deni fever and all that. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. What’s up, Mr. Happy? Yeah. We could end up up here, couldn’t we? Yeah. That’s where we were last time we stayed behind the tourist office. Yeah. Yeah. We weren’t far away from there, was we? Which should be quite good there cuz your bus is just through there. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. Your camera. Yeah. Bus. You just walk up there. You just walk up there for the bus. Yeah, you can walk through there and you’ve got the office there. That’s not the office, honey. That’s tourist information. That’s a lovely boat there. Look, that catch. Yeah. Another catch there. Seems like all the catches are down here. Oh, that’s a what is it? That um what do they call it? Naughty cat. So is that where you get stuck in a back room on a naughty cat? Yeah. Naughty cat. Aandra. Oh shis. Yeah. For sale as well. It’s a center. I say it’s a center copic. It’s got back bedroom. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And the fter bits as well. They’re big engines. Yeah. 400 horse 800 horsepower for a little boat like that. What that’s not moved for a while. No. You look Look at the growth on the bottom of that. Got like a forest on it. Oh, yeah. We were down here, weren’t we? Yeah. Stern two. No, we were side on. Your memor is atrocious. I know it is really. We’ve been in so many marinas, aren’t we? We’re down here. And there’s loads of birth there. Well, we might end up here. There’s loads here. Look. Yeah. So, we might end up here. One, two, three, four, five, six. And there’s some over there as well. That’s where we were last time. There. Yeah. On Fend. No, not on the end. Here. Oh, here. On end. Yeah. Well, that’s the last pontoon, isn’t it? So, it’s on end. That’s where we were. Just here. Just here. Yeah. So, we might end up here. You never know. Which isn’t a bad view if you end up here again. It’s lovely. Yeah. It’s a really nice view, isn’t it? Cuz we were bowed to last time we came in here. Yeah. And we were slide on. Yep. Yeah. So we could That’s That’s like 50 foot that in it at least. I don’t know. Or 45 at le Oh, it’s a 50 footer. Is that Look at the size of winches. So that’s a 50footer. So we’d be all right here. It looks about the same size as ours. Yeah. Well, we were are all right here cuz we were here last time. So exactly. And ours was a 48, wasn’t it? Yeah. Yeah, they just slide up and down these pontoons with the Well, there’s only half a meter of tide, but obviously if there’s a lot of wash or swell, they just move up and down. So yeah, being here wouldn’t be bad, would it? Who? Being up this end wouldn’t be bad. Yeah, it’d be nice. Well, it’s more protected really than up there. Well, yeah, it is. Yeah. See, that’s a 42 there. Look, that one. Yeah. Center cockpit benone. That’s the same color as our canvas. No, no, ours is slightly darker than that. Yeah, but it was probably the same color. Yeah, it’s just faded. Yeah. Like we checked in at the marina, didn’t we? Marina office. Yeah. And then they sent us down here. Well, yeah. They came down with us and Yeah. made orders, didn’t they? Yeah. Yeah. It’s very quiet today, isn’t it? Yeah. Surprising really, you know, such nice weather. Yeah, that’s a big boy. Is that Cyrus, isn’t it? There’s a couple of them here. Motorachs, motorboats, whatever you want to call them. See, there’s a boat there proudly flying the French trickle. That’s a bit of a tatter flag, isn’t it? Yeah. Yeah. Why is it every other country fights the flag proudly? Yet you can’t if you in England in the UK. I know. It’s ridiculous. You should be proud, shouldn’t you? Well, you should be able to fly the flag of your country without being seen as something sinister. Exactly. You see, that might be nice that pizzeria and what have you, but I refuse to sit on chairs that have no back on them. Yeah. Yeah. Shop there called Why Not. Yeah. What we call it in French. Pqua. Why not? So, they’ve got these jile they call them, don’t they? Yeah. Vests. Yeah. Locked closed, isn’t there? It was heaving. What was it? Saturday we came down. Yeah, it was heaving. I think it’ll be just weekends now to be honest. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Obviously for some of them m it’s they have got some nice clothes. Some some So do you want to stop here? Well, we’ll see. Cuz they do burgers here, don’t they? Well, I don’t necessarily want a burger. Oh, right. Right. I’m just not paying if there was I’m not paying €23 for one. No, no. Wheats menu ople maxi burger pizza. Let’s have a bit of a wander along. All right. There’s no prices though, is it? No. Which sounds a bit dodgy. Really? Doesn’t sound dodgy. He’s tattooist. Yeah. That’s quiet there, isn’t it? That’s normally heaving. There’s a young seagull there shouting like mad. Give me some attention. Well, there is some people in. Yeah, but not It’s usually heaving, isn’t it? Yeah. And it’s just drinks, isn’t it? Yeah, it is. It’s not food. Do we get something to eat, couldn’t we? Yeah. Hankas Marvin. Need some Frank crepes. Go from glass. That’s all they do there. Mayflower. Oh, I can’t remember his name. What? Oh, he is Romania Dumos. Who? Remain Roma Dumas. Dumas. He’s an amazing driver cuz he broke the record in America going up the hill. He’s an amazing driver, right? It was the VW electric car. Oh, some nice shirts and stuff in there, isn’t there? Yeah. Probably not to fit me like some too big. Give a h. No, but I need like 10 XL, don’t I? No, you don’t. Do you want to stay here or go down the little snick by the other bit of marina? There’s a few restaurants down there, isn’t there? Is there? Well, we can stop here if you want. Well, let’s see what’s on the menu. All right. It’s a busy old restaurant there. Yeah. Look on the other side so we’re not disturbing them. Excuse me. Okay. Oh, they do salads and stuff, pizzas, rosatoes. Got a bit of everything. Yeah. You want to go here then? Yeah. Actually, what do you want to be in or out? Exterior. Mercy. Mercy. Mercy. [Music] So, what have you got, darling? I’ve got choritos pizza and I’ve got some fries coming as well. It’s very nice pizza. Yeah. Yeah. And I’ve got a burger. A Texan burger. Look at the size of that. Looks really good. Bit salad. Bit of wilted salad. Some chips and a bit of salad. Cheers, D. Cheers, honey.

Live aboard life on a sailing yacht, can be difficult when it comes to finding an affordable Winter Mooring, in the French Mediterranean. Well after a lot of waiting on various lists, we sailed into Cap d’Agde, in the South of France and we waited and waited and our perserverance has paid off. We have our Winter mooring confirmed in Cap d’Agde, South of France
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