Cote d'Azur Sep 2010
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In Sep 2010 we went to Cote d'Azur twice. The first time Mikee and I went to Antibes to take part in the christening of Marie, the sister ship of Adèle. We also went sailing with her one day and had time to splash around in the water at our beach hotel and to meet lots of old friends.

Marie was designed by the same naval architect, Andre Hoek that designed Adèle, and the hull is identical, but it has some modifications to its interior. Marie is also black and has black masts, not to my liking, but I am of course biased after Adèle. Marie was also built at Vitters and with Nigel Ingram as project manager, so it was an opportunity to meet lots of old friends.

It was exciting for both Mikee and I as it was the first time we went away on our own. We had a great time together. Jennifer had given us written instructions for everything, like what Mikee should wear for every lunch and dinner, every sailing and party. But we cheated a little when we were on our own!

For me it was weird to be aboard Marie. So identical to Adèle, but still not Adèle! But it felt great to be behind the wheel of a fast sailing yacht again. One thing that Marie had which Adèle didn't provide was its own jazz orchestra.
A couple of weeks later we were back but this time all the family for the Monaco Superyacht Show instead of Antibes. First we stayed a night at Chateau Eza in Èze and then in Hotel de Paris in Monaco for the Boat Show and then we were invited to Roger and June's place outside Grasse and finally at La Bastide St Antoine near Grasse before flying home again. All the hotels had at least one star in Guide Michelin and June's cooking was worth 3 stars. Mikee got some time off school for both of these events.

At the Superyacht show we met all our friends again and visited lots of yachts, as I am a judge at the Superyachts' Awards. Mikee and Eric joined me on some of those visits.

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