Anchorage

Plage de Saleccia

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

Sand anchorage along the Agriates coast, west of Saint-Florent in northern Corsica, fronting a 1 km white-sand beach backed by juniper scrub.

Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the Gulf of Saint-Florent heading west around Punta Mortella. No buoyed channel. Drop the hook on the wide sand flat in 3 to 8 m, clear water allows visual anchoring. Shelter from E to SW, fully exposed to N and NW gusts that funnel off the Agriates ridges. Holding is good on sand, poor if dragged onto the posidonia patches offshore. By day it rolls in the wake of the water taxis running from Saint-Florent, roughly 8:30 am to 9 pm, settling only in the evening, so anchor clear of their lane for a quieter night.

Practical

No services, no mooring buoys, no tender pontoon. Nearest shelter is Saint-Florent 5 NM to the SE. A seasonal beach shuttle from Saint-Florent lands passengers on the sand. Bring water and provisions from Saint-Florent before arrival.

Ashore

The beach is inside the Conservatoire du Littoral Agriates estate, where cattle roam freely on the sand. A small restaurant sits a few minutes' walk back in the pines. The Sentier du Littoral runs east to Plage du Loto in about 1 hour on foot, and inland tracks lead to the Casa di Guardia ranger hut at 1.5 km. No road access for cars beyond the 4x4 piste from Casta, 12 km inland.

History

The Agriates were cultivated for wheat until the 19th century by farmers from Cap Corse who crossed by sea. The stone paillers used as shelters are still visible behind the dunes.