Ask Nat!

Nathalie Person (above in the dinghy) is the head coach at the Club Nautique d'Antibes. She answers your queries about the day and afternoon courses planned for May and June.


How many courses do you advise me to take?

At least four half-day sessions, if you are a complete beginner. After four half-day sessions, we expect you to be autonomous enough to rent out catamarans from us in the Baie of La Salis in the summer months. Windsurfing is a bit trickier, but some of you are able to achieve an adequate level after four afternoon sessions too.

How much does the course cost?

We offer group courses at 40 EUR per person per day. Contact your INRIA organiser for the details (you might be getting some other discounts).

Is an insurance included in the course fee?

Yes. In the fee that we charge you.

What do I wear?

In the month of May, it's not very hot yet. So advice for the windsurfers:

1. Wear a shorty wetsuit. 
2. Wear neoprene slippers. They'll stop you from slipping off the board too often.
3. a pair of mittens (optional)
4. Don't forget the sunscreen

For the catamaran sailors:

1. Wear a pair of shorts, 
2. a T-shirt, 
3. a sweater (optional), 
4. a windbreak jacket and 
5. an old pair of running shoes you don't mind getting wet
6. a hat is always nice. 
7. And don't forget the sunscreen.

Anything else I need to bring?

An extra set of clothes and a towel so you can shower after the course. Plus bring your picnic!

What happens if the weather is bad?

The course gets postponed to some other day or is cancelled. Your INRIA course organiser is in charge of informing you if the course does not take place on the morning of the planned session. We do not charge you for a cancelled course.

Thanks to Glauco Scandaroli and Riccardo Masiero for submitting this list of questions.

Renting Equipment at the CNA

Starting this month, it is possible to rent catamarans, kayaks and windsurfing equipment from the CNA via INRIA-AGOS. You can read about the details on the internal INRIA Boat Club website. Buy the tickets from the club committee. Note that ticket sales are open to INRIA agents only.

If you've never sailed or windsurfed before, why not join the classes?

After 4 half-day sessions ( =  2 full-day sessions), you become eligible for renting catamarans at the Club Nautique d'Antibes. You are sufficiently autonomous to take two other people with you (this is a nice little outing for people who come visit you on the Côte d'Azur for instance; ladies, this is an opportunity to impress the gentlemen, and vice-versa).

Depending on your level you reach in the windsurfing classes, it should also be possible to rent windsurfing equipment too.

Day and Afternoon Courses

As promised, we've booked some day classes at the Club Nautique d'Antibes especially for you. The details are as follows:

Catamaran PM
May : 1 (sat), 2 (sun), 8 (sat), 9 (sun)

Catamaran Whole Day
June : 20 (sun), 27 (sun)

Windsurf PM
May : 16 (sun), 23 (sun), 24 (mon), 30 (sun)*

Currently, the prices are fixed at (AGOS / No AGOS discount):

PM only: 15 EUR / 23 EUR
Day: 28 EUR / 40 EUR

If you book for more than one day, a further discount will be available.

If you are interested, please enter your preferences in this Doodle and contact Franca or Sapna. Places are open to Mines Paristech and EURECOM students too.

*Course is full.


Erratum: One afternoon session costs 15 EUR (with discount) / 23 EUR (without) (instead of 12 EUR / 5 EUR as previously written). We apologise for this mistake. 

I Want my Man to Smell of Old Spice!

Connaissez-vous Old Spice ?

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L'agence Wieden+Kennedy qui a créé cette pub en propose aussi une autre qui est bien marrante aussi. Vous les retrouverez ici.