Mouillage

la Plage des Américains

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

Sand anchorage on the east shore of the Bassin d'Arcachon, north of the Cap Ferret peninsula, opposite the village of Le Canon.

Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the main channel of the Bassin d'Arcachon on the lateral buoyage of the Chenal du Piquey. Sand bottom, holding good, though room is tight between two rows of oyster beds. A field of mooring buoys lies off the beach, the orange ones for larger boats at the head of the field and few in number; off season an unused buoy is easier than anchoring. Sheltered from W to NW by the Cap Ferret peninsula, exposed to E and SE off the inner basin. Tides run strongly through the passes, check the étale; it turns choppy by day when wind opposes current and calms at night.

Practical

No services at the mooring, and the buoys appear to be free with no obvious place to pay. Current runs hard, so land by tender at the pier with care. Port de la Vigne 0.9 NM N for landing, water at the pontoon. Shops at Le Canon 2.3 NM N, including bakery and fish stall.

Ashore

Oyster-shacks of Le Canon village serve local huîtres from the Bassin d'Arcachon. Piste cyclable of Cap Ferret runs the length of the peninsula, 2 km from the anchorage. Ocean beach at Plage de l'Horizon reached by crossing the peninsula, about 1.5 km on foot.

History

The name comes from US troops stationed on the Cap Ferret peninsula during the Second World War, when the area served as a Luftwaffe radar and defence position within the Atlantic Wall.