Early Morning Departures and Open Water Sailing

We make an early escape from the Giens Peninsula to stay ahead of strong winds forecast for later in the day. The headland near Toulon is notorious for accelerating the breeze, and once in open water, the waves can quickly build—so timing is everything.

With a smooth passage behind us, we drop anchor off Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer and wait for the wind to turn before crossing the bay to La Ciotat. This charming French town welcomes us with a large harbour, winding old streets, and plenty of cafés, restaurants, and small shops to explore.

La Ciotat is a stop well worth making as we look for our next weather window to continue west along the Mediterranean coast.

Episode S03E33 Recorded: Late August 2025

Support Our Journey:
🔗 Check out www.sailinghelios.com for exclusive behind-the-scenes content
📸 Follow us on Instagram for updates: https://www.instagram.com/sailinghelios2023/
📸 Follow us on Facebook for updates: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sailinghelios

Chapters

00:00 Lifting Anchor at Giens Peninsula
00:53 Rugby memories
04:04 Coffee at sea
04:41 Is this a Bond villain liar?
05:32 Sailing downwind
07:33 We miss our spade anchor
10:21 Cleaning rust off the deck
12:06 Stormy weather
12:45 Short motor to La Ciotat
14:20 The beautiful town of La Ciotat
21:51 Waterbombers and Wind Foilers

4K Video

Support Sailing Helios

At WeBoating.com, we profoundly acknowledge the unwavering dedication that Sailing Helios invests in crafting each and every video or voyage. Their passion for delivering exceptional ocean content shines through every frame, and it's a labor of love that deserves your attention.

We invite you to watch their captivating videos here and actively engage with their content, including their social media links above. Liking, commenting, and sharing their work goes a long way in fueling their creative fire.

We're also inviting you to explore the gear, sponsorships, and boat partnerships highlighted in the "Early Morning Departures and Open Water Sailing" video description, or directly on YouTube. By engaging with these offerings or purchasing services and items, you directly support Sailing Helios, their collaborators, and the brands they're associated with.

To ensure you never miss an offshore update, consider visiting their official YouTube Channel to subscribe, like, and join their community directly.

If you have any feedback, corrections, or additional information about Sailing Helios or their videos, please use the comment form below to share your thoughts with us.

Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting the creators we cherish. Your time and support truly matter!

Latest Episodes from Sailing Helios

Explore the most recent voyages. Subscribe to the channel to never miss an update!

Showing 1-6 of 193 results
Italian coastal adventures: Ponza and Gaeta
Sailing Helios

Italian coastal adventures: Ponza and Gaeta

We’re back in Ponza after sailing across from Sardinia. The island is as pretty as we remembered — a colourful Italian seaside town with a long and surprising history — and we have a few quiet days before Richard’s youngest son, Oakley, joins us on his European holiday. The forecast, however, has ot...
Crossing the Tyrrhenian to Ponza – Soft Sailing Before Italian Summer Hits – Sailing Helios S04E21
Sailing Helios

Crossing the Tyrrhenian to Ponza – Soft Sailing Before Italian Summer Hits – Sailing Helios S04E21

It’s time to leave Sardinia and cross the Tyrrhenian Sea to the small Italian island of Ponza. This passage is pure soft sailing — light winds, gentle seas, and those quiet, beautiful hours at sea that make everything else feel worthwhile. Ponza may be small, but it carries a long and fascinating hi...
The Maddalenas’ Secret Beach You Can’t Photograph
Sailing Helios

The Maddalenas’ Secret Beach You Can’t Photograph

After a short hop along the Maddalenas, we tuck into a secluded anchorage and slow right down — a few days away from the hectic world, with nothing but calm water, warm sand, and no schedule. We swim, we paddle, and we kayak across to a beach where clothes are optional and cameras are off — so this...
What a Day in the Maddalenas Actually Looks Like | Sailing Helios S04E19
Sailing Helios

What a Day in the Maddalenas Actually Looks Like | Sailing Helios S04E19

Crystal-clear bays, a quick paddle to a quiet beach, and pizza on the mainland — this is what a day in the Maddalena National Park really looks like. We spend a relaxed day exploring one of Sardinia's most beautiful cruising grounds. The Maddalenas are known for their easy-access anchorages an...
Isola Piana Sunrise: The Best Way to Start a Sailing Day – S04E18
Sailing Helios

Isola Piana Sunrise: The Best Way to Start a Sailing Day – S04E18

We wake up to a calm, idyllic morning at Isola Piana on the northwest tip of Sardinia. We start sailing early, across the top of the island toward the Maddalena archipelago, where we’ll be meeting family in a few days. The quiet beginning soon turns into a fresh sea breeze and a cracking sail across...
We Left Without the Vang? Menorca to Sardinia Passage — 2 Days at Sea | S04E17
Sailing Helios

We Left Without the Vang? Menorca to Sardinia Passage — 2 Days at Sea | S04E17

We're leaving Menorca — with or without the vang part. 200 nautical miles stand between us and Sardinia. This is our longest passage yet: two days at sea, sailing from the Balearics to Sardinia. It's only a short hop compared to what's coming (hello, Atlantic), but it's the perfe...
Browse All Videos
WeBoating
Logo
Shopping cart