Anchorage

Plage du Racou

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

Sand beach at the southern end of Argelès-sur-Mer, where the Côte Vermeille begins and the Albères foothills meet the sea.

Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Sandy bottom with good holding, though reefs lie close inshore to the south. Yellow bathing buoys close the bay for around six months of the year, so anchor beyond them, at least 300 metres off in about 10 metres. Sheltered from NW through W to S, exposed to the tramontane from the NE and any E swell. Wash from the Port Argelès shuttle and tourist boats keeps it rolly until nightfall. Port Argelès lies 0.3 nm to the west, Collioure 1.6 nm to the SE.

Practical

Open anchorage with no services afloat. Fuel at the Port Argelès marina 0.3 nm to the west. Tender landing on the beach in calm weather. Shops, bakeries and restaurants in the Racou village fronting the beach.

Ashore

Coastal footpath south to the Anse de Paulilles and on to Collioure in around two hours. Collioure harbour, 1.6 nm SE, has the Château Royal rebuilt by Vauban and a modernist art trail tracing Matisse and Derain's 1905 summer that gave birth to Fauvism.