Striped sailor shirt on the back, salty breeze in the hair: on September 13 and 14, 2025, the island of Port-Cros will roll out its blue carpet for the famous "pointus". Two days to turn back time, resonate with the sound of the shrouds, and celebrate a heritage that smells of resin and sea spray.
Nestled between Hyères and Le Lavandou, the island of Port-Cros – the beating heart of a National Park since 1963 – combines wooded cliffs, translucent coves, and trails fragrant with Aleppo pine. Here, there are no roads or cars: one travels on foot, with fins... or in a "pointu" boat! This protected area welcomes nearly 350,000 visitors a year, but remains one of the best-preserved coastal zones in France (IFREMER index 2023). The setting is thus ideal for a retro journey without spoiling the place.
These slender fishing boats – Marseille skiffs, gourses, tartanes, or mourres de pouar – have been plying our coasts since the 18th century. Their raised bows, cuttlefish-shaped weathervanes, and bold colors (ochre, turquoise, carmine) have become the postcard image of the Mediterranean. According to the Maritime Heritage Federation, there are still about a thousand of them in seaworthy condition along the southern coast, with 40% located in the Var department alone. On September 13 and 14, a hundred of them will come to anchor at Port-Cros – a number intentionally limited to respect the port's capacity.
Saturday morning, 9 am: arrival of the costumed crews, photo & painting exhibition, visit of the Fort de l'Estissac.
2:30 pm: nautical parade in the bay, maneuvering and precision contest.
5 pm: pétanque tournament (because Provence without "cochonnets" is not Provence!).
9 pm: live concert on the quay, special return shuttle to Hyères at 11 pm.
Sunday morning, 10 am: grand tour of the Bagaud islet, escorted – if all goes well – by the Bagad of the French Navy.
12 pm: award ceremony for the most unique "pointu" & official closing.
Here, admiration is not enough: the audience is encouraged to don a sailor's shirt, boatswain's cap, or a tied scarf. A roving jury will seek out the most original or elegant outfit. The prize: a 100% Var gourmet basket and—most importantly—the pride of having shone on Instagram (#PointumentYours). Fun fact: at similar events in Sanary or La Ciotat, over 60% of visitors embrace the dress code, increasing the rate of shared photos by 25% (Atout France 2022 figures).
Docking a pointu is quite an art: short rudder, long keel, no electronics. **Crews will have to navigate a marked course, scull in reverse, and then retrieve a buoy with a lasso.** Time, applause meter, and good spirits will determine the winner. For novices, commented demonstrations explain Latin rigging, hull colors, caulking techniques... you leave knowing more than when you arrived!
On Sunday, a few randomly selected visitors will climb aboard for a 2.5-mile procession around the fully protected Bagaud islet. Observing ash-colored puffins, cobalt blue waters, silence only disturbed by the lapping... a rare privilege. According to a WWF study, the likelihood of spotting a grouper or a pen shell in this area reaches 65% in the peak season – a national record.
On the evening of September 13th, the stage set on the South Quay will host a pop-folk band with maritime overtones (programming underway). The terraces of L’Anse de Port-Cros, Sun Bistrot, and Le Manoir will bring out the lanterns, while the moon reflects off the polished hulls. Guaranteed seaside guinguette atmosphere. The TLV "night" shuttle will cast off at 11 p.m., just in time for a little more humming.
Do you own a sharpie? Registration is free, berth at the pontoon included, lunches & dinners covered for two crew members (deadline: September 3, 2025).
For visitors: regular embarkations from Hyères and Le Lavandou. Special "late return" deals are being negotiated – stay tuned. Tip: book your accommodation early, as the island only has about a hundred commercial beds.
- Living Heritage: Seeing 100 pointus gathered is as rare as a school of dolphins on the horizon.
- Immersive Experience: You become an actor, not just a spectator.
- Gentle Late Season: In September, the water still hovers around 24°C and attendance drops by 30% (CRT PACA).
- Protected Environment: Breathing air free from motorized noise pollution is priceless.
- Free Admission: Apart from the crossing, everything is free – including entertainment and concerts.
Access: TLV and the Golden Islands, 40-minute crossing from Hyères, 30 minutes from Le Lavandou.
Accommodation: hotels, bed and breakfasts, and authorized mooring on ecological buoys (reservation recommended).
Eco-responsibility: waste must be taken back, use of biodegradable products, no shellfish harvesting allowed. The Park reminds that 80% of the Var seagrass beds have already suffered regression; each poorly placed anchor destroys 6 m² of plant (source: Ifremer 2024).
- Calking: The process of sealing the seams of a boat with cotton and pitch.
- Latin: A triangular sail fixed on a wooden spar, typical of Mediterranean vessels.
- Mourre de pouar: Literally "pig's snout," it refers to the rounded bow of a type of boat from Var.
- Gourse: A boat inspired by the Italian gozzo, wider and ideal for small-scale fishing. This jargon will make you a perfect old sea dog… of Instagram!
Author Audrey on 08 March 2023
Sports and Leisure : Individual sports
Author Loïc on 23 July 2025
Sports and Leisure : Leisure