Wake up time - the yachting season has begun

The boats that stay on the Mediterranean for winter are the ones that we tend to get to know when we do our magazine distribution rounds on a monthly basis. Up and down the French and Italian Riviera we are greeted with familiar faces.  

The 45m glistening white yachts in Port Canto Cannes, the two sister ships side by side on the quay in Nice, the beautiful blue voilier in Antibes, the crew training vessel in Imperia. Pretty much without fail we can be certain that the same yachts will be there until the end of April and that the crew and captains have time to chat on our rounds. 

A week before the Cannes Film Festival and it is all change. The large yachts are back, lined with crew waiting for stand by. As we arrive in Port Canto, those sleepy five yachts are now the buzzing 20. Fine Wines from throughout the world are being delivered, uniforms are being sorted for new crew members, magnificent flowers are being delivered and the endless mounds of laundry are being dealt with. It is all engines go to say the least. Drop into Imperia and those boats that have been training new ambitious crew are being scrubbed down ready for the first charter of the season. Go to Vieux Port de Cannes and those same newly-trained crew are dock-walking, hoping to get their first break on a yacht which will whisk them away to see the world.  

Like many in the service side of the yachting industry, it is now when our phones don't stop ringing. Frantic calls for assistance with a delivery to a yacht in Cap d'Ail who is leaving for Cannes to pick up guests in less than two hours. Pick up and storage of goods for a yacht that was meant to have arrived in Monaco this morning but is now stuck in La Ciotat waiting for the weather to die down. Last minute calls from clients who hope it is not too late to get their marketing materials onboard the yachts before the season really kicks off.  

Yes it is official, the sun has come out on the Côte d'Azur and the yachts are back to play, full steam ahead for what is hopefully to be another long and successful yachting season. 

Sarah Morton is co-owner of Superyacht Distribution and Superyacht Deliveries:www.superyacht-distribution.com

For placement of your magazine, brochure or flyer throughout the Mediterranean or assistance with deliveries, clearance and storage of goods, contact us on +33 (0)6 89 123 570 or info@superyacht-distribution.com.