Anchorage

La Courtade

4.4FranceVar

Shelter: E, SW, S, SE
Seabed: sand, algae
Anchoring: Allowed

North-facing sandy bay on Île de Porquerolles, just east of the village harbour, the longest beach on the island at roughly 2 km, inside the Parc national de Port-Cros.

Beach
Seagrass

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Open approach from the N, clear of dangers. Drop on bare sand close to the beach in 3 to 5 metres for the best holding, the widest sand lies in the SW corner and the posidonia between the patches is protected with rangers checking. Sheltered from E, SW, S and SE winds, fully exposed to the N, NW and NE and to the mistral. Calm at night but rolly by day from ferry and shuttle wash.

Practical

No services on site. Anchor on the bare sand, the posidonia is protected and rangers issue fines. Landing a dinghy on the beach is now restricted, so use the detached pontoon at the end of the harbour, which does not reach the shore. Port de Porquerolles 0.4 nm to the west for water, diesel, provisions and the harbour office on VHF 9, with two laundries in the village.

Ashore

Sand beach along the whole bay, pine forest behind the dune. Track south to the Domaine de la Courtade vineyard at 900 m, one of the AOC Côtes de Provence estates on the island. Village of Porquerolles 0.7 km to the west on the coastal path.

History

Île de Porquerolles was bought by the French State in 1971 to stop property development. Eighty per cent of the island is now managed by the Parc national de Port-Cros, created in 1963 as one of the first national parks in France.