Anchorage

Baie de Roquebrune

Shelter: N, NE, E, NW
Seabed: sand, algae
Anchoring: Allowed

Anchorage in the baie de Roquebrune between Monaco and Menton on the Côte d'Azur, off Roquebrune-Cap-Martin in the Alpes-Maritimes.

Beach
Seagrass

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the S between Cap Martin to the W and Cap Mortola to the E. The clear sand lies behind the line of yellow buoys, in 10 to 20 m, so anchoring on sand means deeper water; nearer in the bottom is posidonia, where holding is only fair. Shelter from N through E to NW, open to the S and SE and untenable in a libeccio or sirocco swell. A swell works in off the passing yachts and rolls the anchorage even with no wind, so many crews move on to Menton for the night.

Practical

Forain anchorage with no facilities. Menton Vieux-Port 2.5 NM NE for 620 berths, water, fuel and all services. Cap d'Ail 2.8 NM SW for 260 berths and full services. Port de Garavan at Menton also available with 780 berths.

Ashore

Sentier Le Corbusier runs along the shore round Cap Martin for 3.5 km, passing the Cabanon de Le Corbusier built by the architect in 1952 and the spot where he drowned in 1965. Village of Roquebrune and its 10th century château 2 km inland up the hill, the oldest Carolingian castle in France.

History

Roquebrune-Cap-Martin belonged to the Grimaldi of Monaco until 1848, when it declared independence and voted to join France in 1861 along with Menton, after four centuries under Monégasque rule.