Mouillage

Anse de Fouras

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Shelter: NW, N, W
Seabed: mud
Anchoring: Allowed

Anchorage off Fouras on the Charente-Maritime coast, opposite the Île d'Aix, in the Pertuis d'Antioche.

Mooring buoys
Visitor buoys
Pontoon
Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Strong tidal streams run across the anchorage, up to 3 knots on springs, and can take the boat more than the wind when picking up a buoy. The mud is very soft: holding is unreliable and anchors have dragged, so a mooring is safer. Away from the buoys the water shoals quickly and keel boats settle into the mud, leaving at high water. Shelter from N, NW and W, exposed to S and SE. Frequent ferry and shuttle wash sets up a roll through the day. VHF 9.

Practical

Four to five free white buoys keep about 2 to 3 m at low water; the paying green and red buoys dry out and cost around 10 to 15 euros a night plus a 4 to 5 euro harbour fee. A mobile harbour service answers on VHF 9 and runs a dinghy to the Ile d'Aix by the tide, though not from the far white buoys. Showers and free bikes at the Pierre et Vacances campsite. Rade de l'ile d'Aix 0.2 NM NW, Fouras Port Sud 3.5 NM SE for a marina berth.

Ashore

Fouras town quay has shops, bakeries and a seasonal market. Fort Vauban at the tip of the Pointe de la Fumée dates from the 17th century and houses the local museum. Ferry to the Île d'Aix leaves from the Pointe de la Fumée.

History

Fort Vauban at Fouras and Fort Boyard offshore are part of the defensive system built by Vauban and later completed under Napoleon to protect the Rochefort arsenal at the mouth of the Charente.