Best anchorages and harbours in Charente-Maritime

La Marechal

Small river port on the right bank of the Gironde estuary, in the Saint-Ciers-sur-Gironde area of northern Médoc.

Sablanceau

Sand beach anchorage on the southeast shore of Île de Ré, just north of the Pont de l'Île de Ré, facing the Pertuis Breton.

• Sheltered NW, W, SW, S

Port Adhoc Soubise

Dry port and boatyard of 240 places on the right bank of the Charente at Soubise, facing Rochefort; the afloat pontoon takes only a handful of boats and dries at low water.

La Palmyre

Sand anchorage off La Palmyre beach on the north shore of the Gironde estuary entrance, Charente-Maritime.

• Sheltered NW, N, NE, E

Port d’Envaux

River port on the Charente at Saint-Saturnin-de-Séchaud, between Taillebourg and Saintes in New Aquitaine.

Rochefort

Marina of 320 berths in the Bassin 1 of the former royal arsenal of Rochefort, on the Charente river.

Rade de l'île d'aix

Large anchorage on mud between the Île d'Aix and the Fort Boyard, in the Pertuis d'Antioche off the Charente-Maritime coast.

• Sheltered NE, E, SE

Baie de Gatseau

Sand anchorage off the Pointe de Gatseau, at the southern tip of Ile d'Oleron.

• Sheltered N, SW, W, NW

Le Douhet

Marina of 300 berths on the north-east coast of the Île d'Oléron, near Saint-Georges-d'Oléron.

Plage de l'Arnérault

Sand-bottom anchorage off the north coast of the Île de Ré, just east of La Flotte.

• Free
• Sheltered W, SW, S, SE

Saint-Martin-de-Ré

Tidal port on the north coast of the Île de Ré in Charente-Maritime, inside the star-shaped Vauban fortifications.

Royan

Large marina on the right bank of the Gironde estuary mouth, 1000 berths, max draught 2.5 m, VHF 9.

Grande Conche

Open anchorage off the Grande Conche beach east of Royan, on the northern shore of the Gironde estuary.

• Sheltered N, NE, E, SE

Conche de Saint-Georges

Anchorage in the bay north of the Gironde estuary mouth off Saint-Georges-de-Didonne, sand bottom, sheltered from N, NE, E and SE.

• Sheltered N, NE, E, SE

La Rochelle - Port des Minimes

Marina of 5 100 berths south of La Rochelle, one of the largest leisure harbours on the European Atlantic coast.

Anse du Cavalier - Pointe de Boyardville

Sand anchorage off the Pointe de Boyardville on the east coast of Île d'Oléron, facing the Pertuis d'Antioche.

• Free
• Sheltered SW, W, NW

Meschers-sur-Gironde

Small marina on the right bank of the Gironde estuary between Royan and Talmont, 260 berths, max draught 2 m, VHF 9.

Anse de Maupas

Shallow anchorage on the north shore of the Anse de l'Aiguillon, Pays de la Loire, at the western edge of the Marais Poitevin.

• Paid
• Sheltered N, NE, E, W, NW

Plage des Vergnes

Anchorage on the right bank of the Gironde estuary in Charente-Maritime, mud bottom off Les Vergnes beach.

• Sheltered N, NE, E, SE

Le Plomb

Drying tidal harbour on the Pertuis Breton shore at L'Houmeau, north of La Rochelle, Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Mouillage du Pavé Charron

Buoy field off Charron in the Baie de l'Aiguillon, at the mouth of the Sèvre Niortaise, Charente-Maritime.

• Sheltered NW, N, NE, W, E, SE

Baie de la Perroche

Buoy field of 75 moorings off the Perroche beach on the west coast of Oleron island, Charente-Maritime.

• Paid
• Sheltered N, NE, E

Anse de Fouras

Anchorage off Fouras on the Charente-Maritime coast, opposite the Île d'Aix, in the Pertuis d'Antioche.

• Paid
• Sheltered NW, N, W

Marennes

Tidal lock marina of 160 berths in Marennes, on the Seudre estuary in Charente-Maritime.

Plage De Gatseau

Buoy mooring off the plage de Gatseau at the southern tip of the île d'Oléron, 3 buoys available.

• Free
• Sheltered NW, N, W

Banc des Portes

Sand bank anchorage inside the Fier d'Ars, the tidal lagoon on the north-west corner of Île de Ré, sheltered from NW through S.

• Sheltered NW, W, SW, S

Phare de Cordouan

Anchorage off the Cordouan lighthouse, at the mouth of the Gironde estuary in New Aquitaine. Sand bottom, shelter from NW only.

• Sheltered NW

Baie Talmont

Anchorage in the Gironde estuary off Talmont-sur-Gironde, Charente-Maritime, under the cliffs that carry the Romanesque church of Sainte-Radegonde.

• Sheltered N, NE, E

Pointe de Coudepont

Mud-bottom anchorage off the northern tip of Île d'Aix, in the Pertuis d'Antioche between La Rochelle and the Charente estuary.

• Free
• Sheltered SW, W, NW

Port Médoc

Marina at Le Verdon-sur-Mer on the left bank of the Gironde estuary mouth, 950 berths, max draught 3 m, VHF 9.