With 1600 seats, the port is managed by Dominique Cermolacce. This mixed-economy company (which should be transformed into a municipal board at the end of 2016) remains under the supervision of the town hall. Ideally located between Marseille and Les Iles de Porquerolles, this port welcomes between 2500 and 3000 passing boats in July and August. For these visitors, the port retains 100 berths. For overnight stopovers, reservations are made on a day to day basis (not possible to book well in advance). On the other hand, if you want a place for a long period during the summer season, you have to start in December to have a chance of being selected.
The interest of this port is its location in the heart of the city, at the foot of the traders. It is a real tourist tool. For pleasure, 15 professionals work on the quays.
If the waiting list to obtain a long term place in the port of Bandol remains long (several years depending on the size of the boat), the port allows a boat buyer to keep the place of the boat. This solution has been put in place to avoid suction cup boats. Indeed, an owner generally takes good care of his new boat, maintains it, sails with it, benefits from it. And if it is a very old boat, the latter can also buy it to keep the place and replace it with a more recent one.
Less pleasant, but very effective, the port also practices a system of"impound" in which the boats of the bad payers are parked, inaccessible and without possibility of navigating... the time to settle its debts.
The 2016 season will be marked by the award of the"Clean Port" label and the organisation of events such as the Samu's Cup, the SNSM Trophy and the annual boat show in May.
