Grau-du-Roi / Port Camargue
Port Camargue · Le Grau-du-Roi
43°31.4'N 004°08.2'E
Depth
3–7m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
90m
Holding
Good Holding
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
90m
90m on clean sand. Good holding. Fair-weather only — open to S/SE. Mistral must be monitored: enter Port Camargue marina BEFORE any NW wind develops.
About This Anchorage
Port Camargue is one of the largest marina complexes in Europe (4,500 berths), built in the 1960s purpose-built resort development on the flat Camargue coast W of the Rhône delta. The staging anchorage outside the port entrance on clean sand provides a useful daytime or calm-night stop before entering the marina or setting off across the Gulf. The town of Grau-du-Roi (literally 'the King's Channel') is an authentic Languedoc fishing port adjacent to the marina — worth visiting for the fish market and seafood restaurants. The Camargue nature reserve begins immediately N — flamingo colonies, wild horses, and the vast wetlands of the Rhône delta.
Protected From
N · NW · W
Exposed To
S · SE · E
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 Grau-du-Roi / Port Camargue. 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 90m 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: Fair-weather only — open to S/SE/E. MISTRAL: Enter Port Camargue marina immediately when any NW wind is forecast — the open bay offers NO protection from the Mistral. DONIA app mandatory. Speed limit 5kt near shore.
Hazards
- !MISTRAL: Funnelled down the Rhône Valley — can reach 70–80kt. NO shelter from NW in this open bay. Enter marina BEFORE any NW wind develops.
- !SE/Marin swell enters freely from open sea
- !Very busy marina approach in summer — water taxis and charter boats
Skipper's Tips
- →Port Camargue marina is enormous — call ahead on VHF Ch 9 to confirm berth availability before entering.
- →Hire a bicycle in Grau-du-Roi and cycle into the Camargue for flamingos and wild white horses — remarkable proximity to nature from a major marina.
- →The Sunday morning fish market in Grau-du-Roi is one of the best on the Languedoc coast — arrive early.
Facilities
Grau-du-Roi fish market and excellent seafood restaurants in the old fishing port. Port Camargue marina has full chandlery, supermarket, and restaurants.
Nearest provisions: Grau-du-Roi (1nm)
Best Months & Season
May, June, September, October
May–October for the anchorage. Port Camargue marina is open year-round. Summer (July–August) is very busy — book ahead.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Sleep peacefully at Grau-du-Roi / Port Camargue
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 90m, giving you time to act before the situation becomes critical.
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