Anchorage

Rade de la Badine - La Capte

4.0FranceVar

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

Open roadstead off La Capte beach on the Giens isthmus, east of Hyères, Provence.

Water
Pontoon
Beach
Seagrass

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the east across the Rade d'Hyères. Bottom of sand with patches of posidonia; anchor in the sandy clearings, best south of the La Capte harbour entrance where the sand is clean, as north of the river it is largely seagrass. Holding in the compact sand is excellent, crews sitting out westerly gusts to 40 knots in 3 to 6 metres. Sheltered from SW through W to NW, fully open to the east and the levant swell. Boats anchored just north of the entrance may be moved on by the municipal police. It rolls by day in the wash of the many motorboats from about 10 in the morning, easing in the evening.

Practical

Anchor only, no buoy field. Water tap ashore. Land the tender in the little port of La Capte, on the right on entering, where the water is shallow with a ring on a post; barriers set up recently have made dinghy access more awkward. La Capte has a supermarket, butchers, greengrocer, bakery and pharmacy within walking distance, though prices run high, with a market on Friday mornings from April to September. Bus 67 runs to Hyères and Giens, a 10 trip card is 10 euros from the tobacconist or 1,40 euros aboard. Port Saint-Pierre 1 nm N for a fully serviced berth.

Ashore

La Capte beach runs along the whole anchorage, flat sand backed by pines, and stays quieter than the beach further south which has a loud night-time bar. The restaurant la Bastide in the village is well regarded. The tombolo of Giens and its salt pans start 2 km south, with footpaths crossing the nature reserve.