Anchorage

Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie

Shelter: NW, N, NE, E
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed

Anchorage off the estuary of the Vie on the Vendée coast, sand bottom, shelter from NW through E.

Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the west leaving the Pilours west cardinal to the south. Entry of the Vie dredged to 1.5 m below chart datum, signalled by leading lights bearing 043°. Attention to the bar at the river mouth in SW swell. VHF 9 for the Port-La-Vie marina.

Practical

Forain anchorage outside the channel, holding reported as good on sand. Port-La-Vie marina 0.5 nm to the east has 1 100 berths, diesel, water, electricity and a boatyard. Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez quay 0.4 nm to the NE for smaller craft.

Ashore

Sardine canneries along the quai Gorin, with factory shops of Gendreau and La Perle des Dieux. Beach of the Grande Plage 400 m west of the river mouth. Marais de la Vie and the GR ® de Pays Vendée Côte de Lumière inland.

History

Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie is a historic sardine port, with the first steam cannery opened in 1881 by Pierre Tertrais. The town was formed in 1967 by the merger of Saint-Gilles-sur-Vie and Croix-de-Vie on either side of the river.