Pointe de l'Espiguette
L'Espiguette · Espiguette spit
43°28.6'N 004°04.5'E
Depth
2–6m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Good Holding
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m on clean sand. Good holding. Temporary stop only — open coast. Monitor Mistral forecast at all times: Port Camargue is 4nm W.
About This Anchorage
The Pointe de l'Espiguette is a dramatic 4km sandy spit at the W edge of the Camargue / Rhône delta, built up by millennia of sediment carried by the Petit Rhône river. The spit is one of the longest natural dune systems in France — the lighthouse at the tip (built 1869) is a familiar waypoint for Gulf of Lion passagemakers. The anchorage on the E side of the spit is a temporary fair-weather stop in a remarkable natural setting: sand dunes, bird reserves, and the first view of the Camargue wetlands for boats arriving from the W. The area is a natural reserve (Réserve Naturelle de l'Espiguette) — no shore landing in the reserve zone.
Protected From
W · NW
Exposed To
S · SE · E · NE
Setting Your Anchor
- 1.DONIA app first: Before dropping anchor anywhere on the Gulf of Lion coast, open the DONIA app and verify no Posidonia meadows are present at your intended spot. Anchoring on Posidonia carries fines of up to €150,000 — no exceptions.
- 2.7:1 scope minimum: The Gulf of Lion demands maximum holding. Use at least 7:1 scope (chain length to depth) at Pointe de l'Espiguette. On sandy bottoms, reverse slowly to set the anchor firmly before trusting it.
- 3.Mistral escape plan: Before anchoring, identify your nearest marina or lagoon refuge and confirm you can reach it in deteriorating conditions. The Mistral can accelerate from 0 to 50kt in under 2 hours. Always have a plan before the anchor is down.
- 4.Set your anchor alarm to 80m immediately after anchoring. On this coast, you must know the moment your boat moves.
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free
- Permit required
- No
- Mooring buoys
- None
Restrictions: TEMPORARY ANCHORAGE ONLY — no overnight without a settled 48h forecast. Réserve Naturelle de l'Espiguette: shore landing in the reserve zone is restricted. DONIA app mandatory. Speed limit in the coastal zone.
Hazards
- !MISTRAL: Completely open coast — can reach 70kt. Port Camargue is 4nm W — plan escape route in advance.
- !Shallow shoaling near the spit tip — give the lighthouse point a wide berth (minimum 0.5nm)
- !Bird reserve zones — shore landing restricted in marked areas
Skipper's Tips
- →The Espiguette lighthouse is one of the iconic landmarks of the Gulf of Lion — a good photo opportunity and waypoint marker.
- →The dunes and bird life (flamingos, herons, egrets) visible from the anchorage are exceptional — bring binoculars.
- →A lunchtime stop in calm conditions between Port Camargue and Sète is the ideal use of this anchorage.
Facilities
Nearest provisions: Grau-du-Roi (5nm)
Best Months & Season
May, June, September, October
May–October for calm-weather daytime stops. Never overnight without impeccable forecast. A waypoint anchorage rather than a destination.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Sleep peacefully at Pointe de l'Espiguette
The Mistral can arrive overnight on the Gulf of Lion — accelerating from calm to 50+ knots before dawn. The Tramontane at Leucate can hit 60kt without warning. Safety Anchor Alarm wakes you the instant your boat drifts beyond 80m, giving you time to act before the situation becomes critical.
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