Anchorage

Mouillage de l'Untxin

Shelter: NW, W, SW, S
Seabed: algae
Anchoring: Allowed

Anchorage in the Bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Ciboure, off the mouth of the Untxin river, sheltered by the Artha, Sainte-Barbe and Socoa breakwaters.

Mooring buoys
Visitor buoys
Pontoon
Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Enter the bay between the Socoa and Sainte-Barbe lights, leaving the central Artha breakwater to the north. Keep well off the feet of the Artha and Criquas breakwaters, where uncharted rocks cover at high water. Drop anchor south of Fort de Socoa on weed bottom, holding reported poor over kelp so reset until the anchor bites. Sheltered from NW through S; the bay becomes uncomfortable in strong NE swell. VHF channel 9.

Practical

Around 73 moorings in the zone. Visitor buoys are white and marked passage and cost around 10 to 13 euros a night, while anchoring is free. No fuel at Socoa or Saint-Jean-de-Luz, so fill up before arriving. Port de Socoa lies 0.2 NM NW and the Yacht Club Basque pontoon 0.3 NM W for dinghy landing, water and shore access.

Ashore

Fort de Socoa, built under Henri IV and completed by Vauban, stands on the west shore of the bay. The GR 8 coastal path runs from Socoa to Hendaye along the cliffs of the Corniche Basque. Ciboure town centre and Saint-Jean-de-Luz old harbour are under 2 km by road, with markets, rail station and a seasonal shuttle bus to Saint-Jean-de-Luz.

History

The three breakwaters Artha, Sainte-Barbe and Socoa were ordered by Napoleon III after the storms of 1822 and 1867 destroyed seafront houses, and were completed in the 1890s to close the bay against Atlantic swell.