Anchorage

Île de Jarre

Shelter: SE, S
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed

Uninhabited island south-east of Marseille, inside the Calanques national park, with a sand anchorage on its northern side protected from southerly winds.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the north between Île de Jarre and Île de Riou. Sand bottom in 5 to 10 metres close to the shore. No lights, no buoyage, daylight approach only. A current of about 1 knot sets east to west across the anchorage and makes it roll when the wind is not in line with it. Mistral from the NW funnels along the coast and builds a short chop; shelter from SE and S but fully exposed to W and NW.

Practical

Mouillage forain, no facilities, no water, no landing infrastructure. Nearest refuges are Port des Goudes 1.2 NM NW and Port de la Madrague 2 NM N. Mobile coverage patchy behind the cliffs.

Ashore

Landing is regulated by the Parc national des Calanques. Island is a nature reserve for yelkouan shearwaters and storm petrels, access restricted during breeding season from March to July. No paths, no water, no shade.

History

Jarre was used in 1720 as a lazaret during the Marseille plague epidemic, where ships suspected of carrying the disease were quarantined. It was off this island that the Grand Saint-Antoine, the ship that carried the plague to Marseille, was scuttled and burned in 1720. The remains of the quarantine station are still visible on the north-east shore.