There are two types of wind in Bouches du Rhône: none or too much.
The week I spent working on Santana in Port St. Louis du Rhône in early November 2024 was the former—no wind at all. The days were sunny, warm, and felt like a wonderful late summer. Simply perfect weather to get everything ready. It was the calm before the storms that would soon roll through.
Memories of Stagnation in the South of France
I’ve felt stuck in the South of France before. A few years ago, I was fixing my first boat in Bandol, Provence. When the time came to leave, it was a gamble. I had no engine and needed the wind, but with a tiny wooden boat, I was always wary of having too much of it. I think that left me a bit traumatised.
More recently, in 2023, I found myself in Bandol once again—this time with Santana. I had planned to leave for Elba in December or January, but I had to postpone several times. The rare weather windows without 50-knot gusts were simply too short.
The Urge to Move Forward
Because of that experience I put a lot of pressure on us to finally leave the Gulf of Lion behind and make it to Costa Brava. I could feel a restlessness and a bit of anxiety raising, but… I wasn’t sailing on my own and Nikes presence on the boat calmed me down a lot.
I hope you enjoy, all the best, Floh