Acromer is an Association loi 1901 that promotes sailing on board livable sailboats. The aim is to gather people together to share time at sea on board a sailing boat. Whether it be for an introduction to sailing or simply a day out with pic nic and a swim around the Lérins Islands, the activities suit beginners and experienced sailors alike. All under the supervision of skippers who are experienced and passionate in what they do.

2- In detail- FAQ

To spice things up a bit I have presented this information as an interview. Let’s have Mickael the journalist, interviewing Antony, Acromer’s creator.

- What does Acromer do ?

- Acromer is an Association created in 2007 with the aim of sharing our passion for sailing on livable sailboats. Sailing gives you a unique sense of freedom and depends on the force of nature. However, for most of us, it remains an unattainable passtime. Acromer works to make this leisure activity accessible for everyone. Children, the young and the not-so-young, beginners wanting to get a taste for it or just coming along for the ride, to enjoy the sun and the sea.

We keep the organization as simple as possible. You just refer to the online calendar and sign up as you wish. There are no membership fees and the same daily rate is required from everyone. No more commitment than that!

- What types of outings can we do?

- Acromer suggests various types of outings. For the whole day or just the evening, a weekend or a one week practice course. Flipper is a 10 meters sailboat and can welcome 6 to 8 passengers. It sails around the Bay of Cannes, to Marseille or San Remo and of course to Corsica.

As well as this we organise holidays over several weeks in sunny climates. In this case, we will hire sailboats depending on the number of crew. Very good deal holidays!

- Great, so where did you sail to ?

- 2 weeks around Guadeloupe and its islands in a big catamaran, 2 weeks around the Balearic islands with a crossing from Cannes, 2 weeks in Croatia with two 40 foot sailboats, 2 weeks in the Grenadines on a luxury catamaran, to name but a few.

- What does a typical day on board look like ?

- We set off around 9 AM or 10 AM. This will be determined with the crew upon booking. Please arrive slightly before departure time, in order to get settled in.

After the security brief, we lift anchor and start the manoeuvres. Once out of the port, we set the sails and the engine gets turned off. You are welcome to participate in the manoeuvres with training if you wish. You can even steer the boat. Once we arrive at destination we drop anchor, swim or sunbathe, then enjoy the picnic. We head back at the end of the afternoon. We cannot be sure of the return time, as all will depend on the wind.

- How do we organise the meals for a day at sea ?

- Sur le principe du partage, chacun apporte de quoi pique-niquer. On y découvrira les spécialités régionales ou les plats préférés de chacun, inutile d’élaborer une grande organisation, ça se passe toujours bien.

We all share, everyone brings picnic meals. We will discover regional specialities or everyone’s favourite dish. No need for much planning, it’s always a pleasant moment.

- How is a weekend in St Tropez planned ?

- For a weekend in St Tropez it’s easy. We embark on the friday evening and spend the night around the Lérins Islands, if the whole crew is able to get away on Friday. Otherwise we leave saturday morning to arrive in the bay of St Tropez in the afternoon. Depending on the weather, we can stop for lunch in the bay of Agaye for example or at l’ile d’or.

In St Tropez we drop anchor in the Baie des Canebiers for the night. From here,we disembark with the annexe boat to walk along the footpath into St Tropez. A stroll around the port and a good restaurant and maybe some ice cream to complete the evening.

We head back along the footpath and take the dinghy boat back. Even more adventurous at night!

The next day we swim, have breakfast then head back to Mandelieu. Stopping for lunch and a swim on the way back. Depending on the winds, the spinnaker may go up.

- How do we organise the meals on board for a cruise of several days ?

- For a cruise of several days, we will set up an on-board kitty. Before we embark, we will all together shop for everything we need. These days, the supermarkets have “drives” which make life a lot easier!

- From what age are children welcome ?

- From experience, and so that the children make the most of the adventure, they need to be over 3 years old. So to anticipate the next question, the boat has more than the necessary security equipment. There are life jackets for all sizes and ages. Everything will be explained during the safety talk before we set off.

- What are the activities for children ?

- Normally the kids don’t get bored. A sailing outing is always an adventure for them and they let their imagination run wild with stories of Pirates of the Caribbean. When we are stopped at anchor, other than swimming and snorkelling, we can get out the fishing rod and tease the fish. If they are old enough, they may be interested in learning how to do the various sailors knots. The skipper will be happy to let them navigate , will teach them manoeuvres and all the necessary vocabulary to go with it.

- Will we get a chance to see the dolphins ?

- It is difficult to make an appointment (LOL), but we have previously come across a school of dolphins close to the coast. When that happens, everyone is delighted. Children and grown ups - everyone cherishes these souvenirs.

- At what time does the boat leave the port of Mandelieu ?

- We leave at 10h00 AM, so please come earlier. If the other members of the crew agree, we can depart a bit sooner or later.

- What is the maximum number of passengers ?

- For a day trip, its 7 / 8 people maximum. If it were for sleeping, the boat allows for 6 maximum (on occasion we can go up to 7 as it possible to be 3 persons in the rear cabin).

If the group were larger, we can arrange outings with several boats who we regularly partner with.

- What do we do in case of last minute bad weather ?

- If the weather is bad, the trip will be cancelled. But careful, the captain makes the decision the day before. In which case he will either call you or inform you on the actual day, depending on the situation.

The concept of bad weather is very relative. I want to avoid that people don't turn up because they judged the weather to be bad. This will penalise others that I would have turned down for lack of space. The weather forecast changes frequently. I know how to read the weather forecast of our region, so I will obviously not go out if the sea is rough or stormy. Acromer outings will always be enjoyable. You can trust me.

- What is included in the participation ?

- The participation is €40 per person per day. This does not include the kitty. This is the same participation fee if you sailing the weekend having embarked the previous evening. An evening outing is €25 if you want to sail out for the apéro at sunset or sea a firework display. These fees are straightforward and affordable by all. Please remember that this participation fee is fully used for the running of the Association and goes towards the upkeep of the boat

- Is the on-board kitty for the meals ?

- The on-board kitty is everything that is not included in the participation fee. Therefore it will be the shopping for the meals and the possible port or anchoring charges. This will only occur if we sail for a weekend or longer. For a day trip, I prefer that everyone contributes a picnic dish to share.

- How do we book ?

- By email or phone. Or you can fill in the form online. See the relevant pages of the website.

- Do we have to know how to swim ?

- No. But please let the skipper know before you set off.

- Where can we park ?

- There are many free parking spaces just by the port. Otherwise, you will have to pay to access the port, with the first 30 minutes being free of charge.

- How do I avoid being sea sick ?

- It’s very important to eat well the morning before departure. When sailing, avoid going down into the cabin, stay in the fresh air and keep your eye on the coastline or open horizon. If you start to feel queasy, you should lie on your back and close your eyes. If you have to be sick, please do so above board and not in the toilet.

- You can use little acupuncture elasticated bracelets that you can get in the pharmacy, or before departure take some tablets that prevent motion sickness.