Anchorage

Normandy Beach

3.7FranceCôte Fleurie and Alabaster Coast

Shelter: SW, S, SE
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed

Open roadstead off the Normandy landing beaches between Port-en-Bessin and Courseulles-sur-Mer, on sand.

Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Fully exposed to northerly winds and swell, sheltered only from SW, S and SE breezes. Sand bottom with good holding, best used in settled weather. A tidal stream runs strongly day and night, so veer plenty of chain, and a trip line on the anchor is wise among the fishing pots, nets and the charted remains of the Mulberry harbour at Arromanches. Keep clear of those caissons. Patches of weed lie on the bottom in places.

Practical

No services at the anchorage. Port-en-Bessin at 5.6 NM to the W and Courseulles-sur-Mer at 5.9 NM to the E for fuel, water and shops.

Ashore

Landing beaches of 6 June 1944: Gold, Juno, Omaha and Sword run along this coast. Arromanches 360 cinema and the Musée du Débarquement are on the seafront at Arromanches-les-Bains. American cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer on the cliff above Omaha Beach.

History

The Allied landings of 6 June 1944 took place on these beaches. The artificial harbour at Arromanches, known as Mulberry B, handled up to 9 000 tonnes of supplies a day during the summer of 1944 before being dismantled.