Nice's pleasure-sailing tradition predates the arrival of the first British winter colonists in the 1760s. By the mid-nineteenth century, local fishermen had begun moonlighting as bay pilots for visiting yachts, ferrying passengers to Villefranche's deepwater anchorage and the limestone grottos of Cap Ferrat. The twin-hulled catamaran, perfected in Polynesia and adapted for Mediterranean charter service in the 1980s, replaced the heavy gaff-rigged yawls that once dominated the Promenade des Anglais waterfront. Modern vessels depart from Quai Lunel, the renovated wharf adjacent to the Bassin Lympia, where Nice's commercial fishing fleet still unloads at dawn. The French Riviera coastline between Nice and Monaco remains one of Europe's most varied sailing grounds. Winds funnel through the Paillon valley each morning, filling out by midday into a steady southwesterly that carries catamarans past the Belle Époque villas of Mont Boron. Villefranche Bay, sheltered by a natural amphitheater of hills, offers water clarity exceeding fifteen meters — visibility that transforms snorkeling stops into impromptu marine biology lessons. The seabed drops from sandy shallows to posidonia meadows within fifty meters of shore, a transition visible from the catamaran's netting. Afternoon departures favor the western stretch toward Antibes, where the Lérins Islands interrupt the horizon and the light shifts from cobalt to amber as the sun descends behind the Esterel massif. Sailing tours operating from Nice Port now range from two-hour sunset cruises to half-day expeditions with multiple swim stops. The catamaran's shallow draft permits close approaches to rocky inlets inaccessible to deeper-keeled vessels, including the Mala Caves near Cap d'Ail and the cliff-sheltered coves of Beaulieu-sur-Mer. Onboard equipment typically includes snorkel gear, paddleboards, and shaded seating for thirty passengers, though smaller groups often book private charters. Wine service and local aperitifs accompany evening departures, timed to catch the alpenglow on the Maritime Alps as vessels return to port under motor. The tradition continues year-round, though September through October offers the warmest water and lightest crowds.