France — Côte d'Azur

Golfe Juan

Gulf of Juan · Antibes anchorage

43°33.7'N 007°05.3'E

Depth

512m

Bottom

sand

Alarm Radius

100m

Holding

Excellent Holding

Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius

100m

100m on sand/mud. Excellent holding. Monitor SE for Marin/Sirocco swell — depart if SW or SE exceeds F4.

About This Anchorage

Golfe Juan is one of the most popular anchorages on the Côte d'Azur — a wide, well-sheltered bay between Antibes and Cannes with excellent sand-and-mud holding and reliable Mistral protection from Cap d'Antibes. Napoleon landed here returning from Elba in 1815. The bay has a sandy beach, several restaurants, and is close to the glamour of Antibes and Juan-les-Pins. Mooring buoys are operated seasonally. The bay gets very busy mid-summer with superyachts, day-tripper boats, and charter fleets.

Protected From

N · NW · NE · W

Exposed To

S · SE

Anchoring Rules

Anchoring fee
Free
Mooring buoy fee
€15–25/night (Jun 15–Sep 15)
Maximum stay
3 days
Permit required
No

Restrictions: Speed limit 5kt within 300m of shore. Posidonia enforced — DONIA app required. 72h maximum stay. No anchoring in the mooring buoy zones (marked by yellow buoys).

Hazards

  • !SE Marin swell penetrates the bay — uncomfortable in SW/SE winds above F4
  • !Very crowded Jul–Aug with charter boats and superyacht tenders
  • !Posidonia throughout — DONIA essential; mooring buoy zones restrict free anchoring in season

Skipper's Tips

  • Cap d'Antibes gives good Mistral shelter — best spot is tucked close to the Cap on the W side of the bay.
  • Antibes old town (3nm by dinghy/water taxi) is one of the finest on the Riviera.
  • Juan-les-Pins nightlife is directly behind the beach — lively summer atmosphere ashore.

Facilities

Water Fuel Restaurant Provisions WiFi

Several beach restaurants along Golfe Juan beach, open Apr–Oct.

Nearest provisions: Antibes / Juan-les-Pins (3nm)

Best Months & Season

May, June, September, October

April–October. Best May–June and September. July–August: extremely crowded; arrive at first light.

Recommended Anchor Types

SPADERocnaDelta

Set Your Anchor Alarm to 100m

Safety Anchor Alarm watches your GPS position continuously and sounds an instant alert if your boat drifts outside your set radius — critical on the Côte d'Azur where the Mistral can arrive overnight.

Download Free for iOS