Anchorage

Île du Grand Ribaud

4.2FranceVar

Shelter: NW, N, W
Seabed: algae
Anchoring: Allowed

Anchorage on algae and posidonia seabed off the Île du Grand Ribaud, at the south-west tip of the Giens peninsula near Hyères.

Beach
Seagrass

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Sheltered from NW, N and W winds. Open to the S and SE; the mistral funnels strongly through the Petite Passe between Ribaud and Giens. Approach through the Grande Passe south of the island or the Petite Passe to the north, respecting the lit beacons. Watch for a rock lying about 0.6 metre below the surface off the northern side. Tidal range small but currents run through the passes.

Practical

The island sits inside the Port-Cros national park adhesion zone and anchoring on posidonia is prohibited. Anchor on a clear sand patch in 10 to 15 metres, as the bottom is mostly weed. Two mooring buoys are laid off the island but are in principle kept for dive boats and should be left clear before divers arrive. Port Auguier 0.6 NM north and Port du Niel 1.3 NM NW for shelter and services.

Ashore

The island itself is a private nature reserve with no landing, though its southern tip, with a lighthouse and an old Napoleonic fort, belongs to the State. The Giens peninsula opposite holds the salt marshes of the Vieux Salins and the double tombolo beaches of l'Almanarre and la Badine, both reachable by tender from Port Auguier.