Gironde estuary: Royan to Pauillac

9 places · Charente-Maritime

Europe's largest estuary is sailed up on the flood, which carries 3 knots, and down on the ebb. Royan is the gateway, with La Palmyre and Meschers on the right bank; opposite, Port-Médoc at Le Verdon. Higher up, Mortagne, Pauillac and its châteaux, Blaye and its citadel. The banks at the mouth rule out leaving in a heavy westerly swell against the ebb.

1. FrenchCobber
   1Harbour· Royan, FR·4.1

   Royan

   Large marina on the right bank of the Gironde estuary mouth, 1000 berths, max draught 2.5 m, VHF 9.

   • Up to 25 m

   45.6206, -1.0291See on the chart →
2. 2Harbour· La Palmyre, FR·4.1

   La Palmyre - Bonne-Anse

   Marina of 360 berths inside the Bonne Anse lagoon at the northern entrance of the Gironde estuary, on the Côte de Beauté.

   • Up to 15 m

   45.6843, -1.1840See on the chart →
3. JLPC
   3Harbour· Meschers-sur-Gironde, FR·3.9

   Meschers-sur-Gironde

   Small marina on the right bank of the Gironde estuary between Royan and Talmont, 260 berths, max draught 2 m, VHF 9.

   • Up to 11 m

   45.5556, -0.9462See on the chart →
4. SerysE
   4Harbour· Le Verdon-sur-Mer, FR·3.6

   Port Médoc

   Marina at Le Verdon-sur-Mer on the left bank of the Gironde estuary mouth, 950 berths, max draught 3 m, VHF 9.

   • Up to 20 m

   45.5560, -1.0609See on the chart →
5. JLPC
   5Harbour· La Rive, FR·3.7

   Mortagne sur Gironde

   River port on the right bank of the Gironde estuary in Charente-Maritime, 15 nm upstream of Royan. Max draught 2 m in the basin.

   • Up to 18 m

   45.4765, -0.7940See on the chart →
6. Xfigpower
   6Harbour· Pauillac, FR·3.7

   Pauillac

   River marina of 125 berths on the west bank of the Gironde estuary, at Pauillac in the Médoc, about 30 nautical miles upstream from Royan.

   • Up to 14 m

   45.1986, -0.7434See on the chart →
7. Tangopaso
   7Harbour· FR·3.7

   Halte nautique de Blaye

   Pontoon halt on the right bank of the Gironde estuary at the foot of the Citadelle de Blaye, a Vauban fortification inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

   45.1247, -0.6665See on the chart →
8. Hubert DENIES
   8Harbour· Talmont, FR·5.0

   Talmont sur Gironde

   Small tidal port on the Gironde estuary below the cliff of Talmont, in Charente-Maritime.

   45.5349, -0.9060See on the chart →
9. Romainbehar
   9Harbour· Bordeaux, FR·4.3

   Bordeaux quai d’attente du Basin

   Waiting quay on the Garonne in Bordeaux, used by yachts before entering the lock of the Bassins à flot.

   44.8602, -0.5522See on the chart →

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