Cruising Can Be Strenuous
The French Riviera as seen yesterday from the decks of the luxury superyacht Big City
Imagine having to get up at 7 am on a Sunday morning just to sail from Villefranche sur Mer along the coastline of the French Riviera. Life as a travel writer specialising in the luxury lifestyles of the super rich aboard super yachts can be tough at times but someone has to do it.
The Quantum Zero Speed stabilizer system fitted to Big City kicked into action when Captain Barry Bramhill flicked the switch at 0730. Until that time our yacht had been lazily rolling gently to the long swell reminding one just how wonderful it is to be lulled asleep in a king size bed in the master stateroom of a luxury yacht. Instantly she was rock steady and breakfast of fresh fruit just squeezed juice and fresh French croissants was served on the aft deck.
We motored along the coast flitting into and out of the port of Antibes to see the wonderful array of mega yachts that line the docks of the IYCA and then onto Juan les Pins. We anchored off the Eden Roc Hotel for a sumptuous lunch and then took the yachts Intrepid tender into the marinas of Port Gallice, Camille Rayon and then whisking across the water at 50 knots towards Cannes.
Big City’s tender is called Small Town and her skipper for our voyage was the ever efficient Alex who lets her fly across the wave tops. Our mother ship had meanwhile found herself a comfortable anchorage in between the islands off Cannes where we spent the night. After taking the photo above we enjoyed another superb dinner from the talented chef, Michael and served, as usual, by the quietly efficient chief stewardess Pamela. Big City is a 43 metre yacht built last year by Trinity Yachts and available for charter from the International Yacht Collection.
It can sometimes be a crummy life this luxury travel writing business, but then again, someone has to do it!