Anchorage

Carnoles

Shelter: NW, N, W, SW
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed

Open anchorage off the plage de Carnolès, between Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and Menton, eastern Alpes-Maritimes.

Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the south on a coastal heading. Shingle and sand beach with a sand bottom seaward. Sheltered from NW, N, W and SW off the coast, fully exposed to easterlies and to the swell that builds with the Levante. Watch for the swimming-zone buoy lines in summer and stay outside the marked 300 m limit. Anchor beyond the yellow buoys in 5 to 10 metres on sand, picking a clear patch as some posidonia is present; holding is good. Being held off the beach, boats lie to any SW or S swell, made worse by the wash of passing motor yachts.

Practical

Forain anchorage with no services. Menton Vieux-Port 1.5 nm NE and Menton-Garavan 2 nm NE are the nearest all-weather harbours. Land the tender at the small quay in the middle of the beach for shops, cafes and a supermarket a 2 minute walk off, and the Carnolès SNCF station. Some crews report the quay can no longer be used to reach Roquebrune-Cap-Martin village, for which crews land at Menton or Monaco. The seafront road brings some noise at night.

Ashore

Plage de Carnolès runs along the seafront with promenade. Musée Jean Cocteau - Collection Séverin Wunderman at Menton Vieux-Port, 1.5 nm NE along the coast. Italian border at Ponte San Ludovico 3 km east by road.