Anchorage

Pointe du Sud - Port Cros

4.6FranceVar

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Shelter: N, NE, E
Seabed: rock, algae
Anchoring: Allowed

Anchorage off the southern tip of Port-Cros island, inside the Port-Cros national park, Var.

Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Rocky bottom with Posidonia seagrass that drops away quickly, so the water is deep close in; holding is poor and anchoring on seagrass is forbidden by park regulation. Where it can be done, look for clear sand patches and anchor in around 15 metres, with room for only two or three boats. Good shelter from N, NE and E winds, fully exposed to the south and uncomfortable in any west. VHF 9 for the park wardens.

Practical

Port-Cros national park enforces no anchoring over Posidonia, no fishing, no jet skis and a 5 knot speed limit within 300 metres of the coast. Boats over 12 metres cannot anchor overnight and must take a pre-paid mooring buoy, booked well in advance; the booking system is often awkward and payment is not taken at the dinghy check-in. Further mooring buoys are available in Port-Man and La Palud bays to the north, reservation through the park.

Ashore

The island has 30 kilometres of marked trails through holm oak and strawberry tree forest. The Route des Forts passes Fort de l'Estissac and Fort du Moulin, both 16th and 17th century coastal defences. Underwater discovery trail at La Palud, snorkelling through grouper, saddled bream and Posidonia meadows.

History

Port-Cros became the first marine national park in Europe in 1963, protecting 1700 hectares of land and 2900 hectares of sea. The island was inhabited from Roman times and fortified under François I and Richelieu against Barbary raiders.