Mouillage

L'Ayguade

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Shelter: NE, E, SE
Seabed: algae
Anchoring: Allowed

Anchorage off L'Ayguade on the north shore of the Île du Levant, the easternmost of the Îles d'Hyères.

Pontoon
Beach
Seagrass

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the NW through the Passe des Grottes between Port-Cros and Levant. The island's north coast is a French Navy restricted zone east of the Pointe du Titan, so stay west of the marked limit. The bottom is mostly Posidonia seagrass and anchoring on the meadow is prohibited; aim instead for the sandy strip off the jetty, which shows on satellite imagery and lies deep, in 10 to 14 metres. It holds well once set, even in 30 knots of NE, but sand is hard to find when other boats are already there and boats may have to re-anchor. Avoid the rocky ground opposite the beach, where large boulders can trap an anchor. A current runs constantly through the pass, so boats do not always lie head to wind and nights can be rolly. Sheltered from NE, E and SE. Mistral from NW and W blows straight in.

Practical

Small jetty at L'Ayguade du Levant 0.1 nm NE serves the village. No fuel, no marina. Water and a few shops in the village. Port-Cros lies 2.3 nm west and offers a better-sheltered anchorage inside the national park mooring field.

Ashore

Heliopolis naturist village above the jetty, founded in 1931 by the brothers Durville; naturism is the rule by the water while clothing is expected in the village square. A restaurant sits above the harbour, La Gambaro among the choices, with a pizzeria and a basic grocery that shuts around 19:15. Footpath round the western third of the island: the rest is a military firing range and closed to the public.