Mouillage

Anse de la Catena

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Shelter: NW, N, NE, W, E, SW, SE
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed

Shore-line mooring at the entrance of the Bonifacio fjord, Corsica, on the north side of the calanque, with room for around 30 boats tied to lines run to the rocks.

Mooring buoys
Visitor buoys
Pontoon
Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach via the Bouches de Bonifacio, entering the calanque between the white limestone cliffs. Sheltered on almost every heading thanks to the surrounding cliffs, exposed only on a narrow south-westerly sector from the entrance. There is no assistance: moor bow to a ground line and stern to a line run to the rocks, sending a crew member in the dinghy or on a SUP to lift the line, which is hard work above 15 to 20 knots. Many lines are worn, short or tangled, so the easiest way is to come alongside a moored boat downwind and take a line across. Do not drop the boat's own anchor, as it fouls the ground tackle and a diver may be needed to free it. Rats climb the lines onto the deck at night. Stay clear of the marked channel used by tourist boats and the ferries to Sardinia. VHF 9.

Practical

Mooring fee is 25 euros for a monohull and 50 euros for a catamaran whatever the size, collected around 08:30 by boat or paid by card at the harbour office. No water or power on the lines, but water can be taken at Bonifacio Marina after paying, and showers are at the harbour office. Land the dinghy on the south side, past the fuel berth, before the Bonifacio Marina pontoons. Commercial Marina of Bonifacio at 0.2 NM south. Provisioning and restaurants along the Quai Comparetti, where prices are high.

Ashore

Steep stairway of the Escalier du Roi d'Aragon carved into the cliff leads from the water to the old town in 187 steps. Citadel of Bonifacio with ramparts and the Bastion de l'Étendard museum. Coastal path from Bonifacio to the Phare de Pertusato offers views across to Sardinia on a clear day. A club plays music until around 1am before the bay falls quiet, and the restaurant Le Bastion sits at the top of the old town.

History

Bonifacio was founded in 828 by Bonifacio II, marquis of Tuscany, and later became a Genoese stronghold from 1195. The Escalier du Roi d'Aragon is traditionally linked to the 1420 siege of the town by Alfonso V of Aragon.

Key facts

Type: Anchorage
Coordinates: 41.39103, 9.15602 (41°23.46'N 9°9.36'E)
Country: France
Shelter: Sheltered from north-west, north, north-east, west, east, south-west, south-east winds
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed
Maximum length: 49 ft
Fees: Paid
VHF channel: 9
Phone: +33495731007
Services: Mooring buoys, Visitor buoys, Pontoon, Beach
Boaters' rating: 3.6/5
Updated: October 15, 2026