Anchorage

Plage du Lavandou

4.2FranceVar

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

Sandy anchorage off the main beach of Le Lavandou, on the Var coast between Cap Bénat and Cap Nègre.

Water
Pontoon
Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the south, free of dangers outside the swimming areas marked by yellow buoys from June to September. A submarine pipeline crosses the anchorage where anchoring is forbidden, so bring up to the south of it, and keep to the left of the marked emergency channel, the right side being reserved for the sailing school. Keep at least 300 m off the shore inside the ZRUB zone. Holding on sand is good in 4 to 8 metres. Protection from SW, W and NW; fully exposed to the E and SE. Since the 2023 ruling that barred boats over 13 m from Port-Cros and the Baie de Gau, this has become the main mistral refuge in the area. Wash from ferries and passing motorboats sets up a daytime roll that eases at night.

Practical

No mooring buoys. Water point on the quay of the town harbour at 0.4 NM NE. Tenders can be left free at the Bormes-les-Mimosas marina, following the first pontoon to the tender parking at its end, or in Le Lavandou harbour in the far-left corner by the fuel dock. All shops, bakeries and chandlery in the town centre within 300 m of the port, with a large Carrefour about 2 km inland and a laundromat at the harbour just over the bridge. Fuel berth at Le Lavandou harbour.

Ashore

Sentier du littoral runs east toward Cap Nègre and west to the Pointe du Gouron. Daily market on place du Marché, 400 m from the landing. Shuttle ferries from Le Lavandou harbour to the Île du Levant and Port-Cros year-round.

History

Le Lavandou grew from a fishing hamlet of Bormes-les-Mimosas in the 19th century and became an independent commune in 1913. The beach hosted the filming of several scenes of Et Dieu créa la femme in 1956.