boat hire in La Grande-Motte · Beneteau — Oceanis 281 (1996)

Beautiful 1996 Oceanis 281 sailboat in excellent, meticulously maintained condition. Spacious, comfortable, and a pleasure to sail. With its year-round berth in La Grande Motte, you can fully enjoy beautiful days sailing and evenings in one of the most renowned ports in the Western Mediterranean. But if you prefer longer voyages, then in just a few hours you can reach Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer or Sète, two charming ports that have retained their authenticity. And if you really want to cover some miles, then head to Notre-Dame de la Garde (the "Bonne Mère"). Depart early in the morning to arrive at the Old Port of Marseille at the end of the day. If you prefer tranquility, then head to the Frioul archipelago with its views of Notre-Dame de la Garde and the Château d'If. From there, you'll be just a stone's throw from the Calanques of Cassis (Sormiou, Morgiou, En Vau, Bec de l'Aigle, etc.). A week that will make you forget your everyday worries and feel like you've been away for two weeks. I rent it out for a maximum of 4 people. - Large, spacious, bright, and airy aft cabin (3 opening portholes). Wardrobe and storage in the cabin. - Open forward cabin with curtains and a large opening porthole (ideal for two children). - Large saloon for an 8.50m sailboat with a folding table for easy access to the forward cabin or the storage lockers under the original velvet settees, which are in perfect condition. - Bright saloon with a large skylight (good headroom of 1.80m). The saloon can easily accommodate 6 people for meals or drinks. - Galley with a refrigerator, a sink (no hot water), a two-burner gas stove, and storage cupboards. - A generously sized solid wood chart table with a built-in storage locker (for shoes, vacuum cleaner, tiller pilot, and a Nespresso machine on top). - A spacious head with a seawater toilet, sink, and ample storage (cold-water shower available). A large, uncluttered cockpit comfortably accommodates 6 people, or even 8 when the tiller is raised and the mainsheet is secured to the port or starboard side of the toerail. You can also deploy the NV Bimini on its stainless steel frame for sun protection. - An 18hp engine is more than adequate for sailing in calm seas and for returning to port. The engine can be started and stopped from the cockpit. - A SIMRAD TP32 tiller pilot (the largest model in the Simrad range, purchased in 2019) allows you to choose between sailing upwind or downwind with automatic tacking. - A Garmin multifunction depth sounder, wind vane, and anemometer, installed in February 2026 by a professional, will allow you to fine-tune your close-hauled course, among other things. - A fully battened mainsail (2016, in excellent condition) with two reefing lines at the base of the mast. - A lazy bag and lazy jack with ball bearings will allow you to lower the mainsail easily, even in an emergency. - A high-overlap genoa (also from 2016) with UV protection strips (installed in 2026), and two self-tailing winches (Lewmar 16). An asymmetric spinnaker (without a spinnaker pole) is available for an additional €50. Coastal safety equipment is also provided. Reminder: A good sailor always keeps in mind that a sailing trip is not an objective to be achieved at all costs. A good captain organizes his navigation according to the weather so that the whole crew enjoys and savors the joys of the sea.