Mouillage

Embouchure du Rhône

3.4FranceCamargue and Gulf of Fos

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Shelter: NW, W, SW, S
Seabed: sand, mud
Anchoring: Allowed

Anchorage off the mouth of the Grand Rhone, at the entrance to the Golfe de Fos, in the Camargue.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Wide open roadstead on sand and mud, reachable from both the river and the sea but only for shoal-draught boats under about 2 metres. Shelter from NW, W, SW and S comes from the delta shoreline, but it is exposed to E and SE and to mistral gusts funnelling down the river. The discharge shifts the shoal banks, which must be worked carefully on the way in, and commercial traffic runs on the Fos approach channel close to the north. A prefectoral decree has at times banned anchoring off the mouth, so check the current byelaws before bringing up. Port Napoleon lies 2.4 NM N, Port Navy Service 2.9 NM N.

Practical

Forain anchorage, no services. Holding good on mud, less reliable on sand over current-scoured patches. Stay well clear of the Fos main channel.

Ashore

Plage Napoleon at the river mouth marks the edge of the Parc naturel regional de Camargue. Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and its 12th century fortified church are about 25 km by road. Bird reserve of the Etang du Vaccares, with flamingos and herons, starts inland of the beach.