Anchorage

Baie d'Elbo Sud

Shelter: SW, S, SE
Seabed: sand, algae
Anchoring: Allowed

Anchorage on the south side of the Baie d'Elbo, inside the Scandola nature reserve on the west coast of Corsica.

Seagrass

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the SW along the red porphyry cliffs of the Scandola peninsula. Sand with patches of Posidonia seagrass; anchor only on clear sand in around 14 to 20 metres to comply with the reserve regulations. Watch for two rocks that lie submerged just seaward of the visible outcrop in the inlet and are not charted. Shelter from SW, S and SE; open to the western and NW sectors where the Libeccio hits the coast head on. Anchoring is by day only, with no overnight stay between sunset and sunrise, and reserve wardens patrol regularly.

Practical

No services inside the reserve. Port de Girolata 2.6 NM SE for restaurants, a fresh water fountain and seasonal supply boat; Galeria 4.5 NM NE for a sheltered beach anchorage with village shops.

Ashore

Landing is prohibited along most of the Scandola shoreline. From Girolata, the mule track to Col de la Croix climbs 330 m over 3 km through maquis and arbutus, the only land access to the hamlet.

History

Scandola was created in 1975 as one of the first marine reserves in France and extends over 1 669 hectares of sea and land. It was inscribed by UNESCO in 1983 together with the Gulf of Porto and the Calanche of Piana.