Navigation #12: La Ciotat-Bandol, 4th biggest Marina in the Mediterranean sea

With perfect weather and just the right wind at our backs, we set sail for Bandol the 4th largest yatching marina in the Mediterranean, a charming coastal town only 8 nautical miles from our starting point.
The short distance promised a quick and enjoyable trip, and the Mediterranean sparkled under a clear sky, inviting us to savor every moment on the water.

For this leg, we opted to hoist only the genoa, the boat’s large foresail, which caught the breeze beautifully.
We hit a thrilling peak speed of 8 knots, slicing through the gentle waves with ease.

The entire journey took just 1 hour and 26 minutes, a testament to the ideal conditions and our crew’s growing confidence. It was one of those sails where everything felt effortless, and the sea seemed to be on our side.

Nico’s dad joined us for the trip, his enthusiasm for sailing as infectious as ever. Meanwhile, Nico’s mom, still wary of the sea after our choppy lunch in the creek, chose to stay behind at their camper van in La Ciotat, likely enjoying a quiet afternoon with a good book and a view of the coast. 

When we arrived at Bandol’s marina, Nico executed a flawless docking maneuver—a major triumph, especially given the tight spot we were assigned. It was a marked improvement from some of our earlier docking adventures.

We had ice cream at Bandol to celebrate the end of the navigation. 

We then took Nico’s dad to Bandol’s train station so he could head back to La Ciotat. To make his journey easier, I lent him my e-scooter, for the last leg of the trip back to the camper van.