Anchorage

Mortella Tower South

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

Anchorage on sand and rock at the foot of the ruined Tour de la Mortella, 2.7 NM NW of Saint-Florent on the Agriates coast.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach on a NW heading from Saint-Florent, rounding Punta Vecchiaia. The bottom is sand between rock and thick posidonia, so drop only on a clear sand patch in 4 to 8 m; patrols move boats found anchored on the weed. Holding on the sand is good, riding out 25 to 30 knots. Shelter from NW, W, SW and S; exposed to easterlies, which raise a short chop. Powerboat wake works the cove through the day and eases after about 1900.

Practical

No services. No mooring buoys. Nearest shelter Saint-Florent 2.7 NM SE. The site is a short tender pull from the tower, which can be visited on foot.

Ashore

The Tour de la Mortella stands 50 m above the anchorage on a rocky spur. A coastal path links the tower to Plage du Loto 2 km south. The Agriates desert extends inland, crossed by hiking tracks to Casta 14 km away.

History

The Genoese tower was built around 1565. In February 1794 it was attacked by HMS Fortitude and HMS Juno during the British campaign in Corsica. Its resistance to naval gunfire led the Royal Navy to copy the design, which became the Martello towers built along the English and Irish coasts against a feared Napoleonic invasion.