2016-08-18 Plage de la Courtade, Ile de Porquerolles to Calanque de Morgiou, Provence, France

Fort Ste Agathe overlooking Plage de la Courtade and the main town, Port de Porquerolles

Plage de la Courtade, beside the main town had many yachts mooring overnight

From Le Pradeau, where the ferries arrive, diving trips from here on 2 shipwrecks are very popular

From Le Pradeau, where the ferries arrive, diving trips from here on 2 shipwrecks nearby are very popular

Ile du Grand Ribaud north west off the coast of Ile de Porquerolles

We leave the Iles d’Hyeres and continue west along the coast

Approaching the harbour of Toulon which is the 2nd largest naval base in France

Approaching the large harbour of Toulon which has the 2nd largest naval base in France. Toulon with a population of under 200,000 is dominated by Mt Faron and boasts one of the most perfect Mediterranean climates in France

We motored into the large naval and commercial harbour however we decided to continue along the coast

We motored into the naval and commercial harbour which is one of the largest natural harbours in the Mediterranean. We decided to continue along the coast as we preferred to anchor out rather than go into a marina again

Nearby are the communication towers and lighthouse on Cap Cepet

Just outside the port are sophisticated looking communication towers and also a lighthouse on Cap Cepet

We then pass some amazing striated cliffs

The amazing Cap Bec de l'Aigle by the town od La Ciotat

The equally as amazing, yet quite different cliffs of Cap Bec de l’Aigle by the town of La Ciotat

Cassis a popular small tourist town which is situated close to the Calanques

Cassis a popular small tourist town which is situated close to Les Calanques

The spectacular high red cliffs of Cap Canaille east of Cassis

The wind has increased dramatically and the sea has become very confused

The wind had increased dramatically and the sea had become very confused

We approach the amazing coast with numerous calanques which are narrow inlets with steep sided limestone cliffs

At the entrance to the easternmost calanque called Port Miou, bathers make the most of the incredibe limestone slabs

We approach the entrance to the easternmost calanque called Port Miou where bathers make the most of the incredible natural limestone slabs

Entering Port Miou

Visiting yachts can pick up moorings at the the entance to the calanque and then tie a line ashore to one of the rings on the cliffs

Further in the calanque there are two yacht clubs who administer the area

Very few spaces are available here today

We turn around in the narrow calanque and return to the entrance

With no spaces available near the entrance we head out towards the entrance

Unfortunately with no spaces available near the entrance we head back out

Looking back to the quite unique anchorage

As we leave Port Miou we see ancient dwellings carved into the limestone.....and rowers

As we leave Port Miou we see the remains of ancient dwellings carved into the limestone……..and a team of rowers!!!

We pass kyakers braving the rough conditions as we continue to the next calanque

We enter the narrow Calanque d'En Vau and decide to continue

We enter the narrow Port Pin and then Calanque d’En Vau (pictured) however decide to continue as with the weather conditions and the narrowness of the calanques we thought it might be a little tight and uncomfortable for the Tangaroa