Anchorage

Mouillage de Jova

4.2FranceVar

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

Anchorage in the bay of Bonporteau, west of Cavalaire-sur-Mer, sheltered from the mistral blowing down from the north and east.

Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Enter the bay from the south-west with the coast of Cap Lardier on the starboard hand. Anchor on clean sand in 5 to 8 metres inside the 8 metre contour, picking a sand patch as the posidonia is protected and holds poorly. Sheltered from easterly winds and their swell, but open to the south and south-west. It rolls readily, and even in calm weather the wash of boats passing offshore can make for an uncomfortable night; katabatic gusts also sweep down off the hills, stronger on deck than the average wind suggests.

Practical

Forain anchorage with no services. In season white buoys are laid off the beach for local boats and are not for visitors, so anchor on the sand just clear of them; a buoy keeper may wave boats further off. Drop in 5 to 8 metres on clear sand. Cavalaire marina lies 2.7 nm east for fuel, water and provisions, and Marines de Cogolin 5.1 nm north at the head of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.

Ashore

Landing on the beach is restricted by a municipal order the lifeguards enforce, and the tender may not be left on the sand; a marked channel by the lifeguard station is the sanctioned way in. A Spar with a bakery stands just behind the beach, with restaurants along the shore. The GR 51 coastal path climbs onto Cap Lardier, part of the Port-Cros national park since 2012, with the Cap Taillat viewpoint 3 km on foot.