When it comes to sailing, nowhere is the ‘north-south divide’ more apparent than in France. You can choose between two wonderful worlds - wandering from port to port along the rugged Brittany Coast in northern France, or heading south for the warmer climate and jet-set lifestyle of the glamorous Cote d’Azur.

The laid-back, rural charms of Brittany include pretty fishing ports and harbours, unspoilt villages, historic towns, and quayside markets selling a wealth of farm-fresh produce and fabulous seafood. In contrast, the film-star chic of the Riviera is reflected in its famous place names – Nice, Cannes St Tropez Antibes, Monte Carlo, Cap Ferrat. Even so, along its rocky coastline you’ll also find sandy coves and sheltered anchorages away from the crowds. You can seek out more challenging conditions in the north, for example, sailing round the windswept Breton Islands off Camaret out in the open Atlantic, than you are likely to encounter in the relatively sheltered Mediterranean waters, way down south. But whichever you choose, France as a sailing destination is quite simply ‘magnifique’!