Anchorage

L’Épine

3.4FranceVendée

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Shelter: N, NE, E
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed

Anchorage off the village of L'Épine on the west coast of Île de Noirmoutier, Pays de la Loire.

Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the SW keeping well clear of the rocky ledges of the Chaussée des Boeufs off the Pointe de l'Herbaudière. Mussel and oyster beds line the ground outside the channel, so hold to the marked water in and out. Anchor on sand near the starboard channel beacon in about 3.5 m at low water. Sheltered from N, NE and E, fully exposed to the westerly sector where the Atlantic swell reaches the shore. The bay dries partly at springs and is best worked at low coefficients.

Practical

Forain anchorage, no services. Port de Morin 0.5 NM to the N offers a drying harbour with a slipway. Port of Noirmoutier-en-L'Île 2.3 NM to the NE, tidal basin accessible near HW.

Ashore

Salt marshes of Noirmoutier with their working salines 1 km east of the anchorage, sea salt harvested by hand. Passage du Gois, the 4.1 km tidal causeway linking the island to the mainland, accessible at low water 15 km to the SE. Sentier du Littoral along the west coast passes the anchorage.