Île d'Oléron — Boyardville
Fort Boyard anchorage · NE Oléron
45°58.6'N 001°11.2'W
Depth (HW)
2–6m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
85m
Holding
Good Holding
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
85m
85m on sand. Good holding. Tidal range 4–5m — calculate overnight depth. Pertuis d'Antioche is exposed to E — monitor easterly forecasts. Fort Boyard is 2nm N — a unique landmark.
About This Anchorage
Boyardville is a cheerful seaside village on the NE coast of Île d'Oléron with a small harbour, beach restaurants, and the iconic Fort Boyard visible to the N — the circular yellow fort built by Napoleon, now famous as the setting of the international TV adventure show. The anchorage offers good sand holding in the Pertuis d'Antioche channel, sheltered from the prevailing W/NW. Île d'Oléron is France's largest Atlantic island, connected to the mainland by a bridge. It has a wilder, less manicured character than Ré — broad pine forests, oyster villages, and large sandy beaches.
Protected From
W · NW · N · SW
Exposed To
E · SE
Setting Your Anchor
7:1 Scope — Atlantic Tidal Standard
With a 4–5m spring tidal range, the depth at your anchor point can change by up to 5m overnight. Use 7:1 scope minimum — in 4m at HW, lay 28m of chain as a minimum (excluding depth + freeboard). At LW (potentially 1–2m), the scope ratio increases automatically, providing extra catenary. Always verify the anchor is set firmly before reducing engine revs.
Tidal Depth Calculation
Before anchoring, calculate the depth at maximum LW (spring LW) using the SHOM tide tables for the nearest standard port. Subtract the spring tidal range (4–5m) from your HW depth to get the LW depth. For a 1.5m draft vessel, you need at least 1.8m at LW springs (with 0.3m safety margin) — if the anchorage will be shallower, either move to deeper water or ensure you are comfortable taking the ground on sand.
Oyster Stake Avoidance
Always check your proposed anchor position against the SHOM chart for oyster farm boundaries. At HW, oyster stakes may be submerged or barely visible — a dragging anchor on a falling tide can set you into a farm before the alarm sounds. Keep a minimum 200m clearance from all oyster farm boundary buoys.
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free
- Maximum stay
- 5 days
- Permit required
- No
- Anchoring allowed
- Yes
Restrictions: Extensive oyster and mussel farms in approaches and along the shoreline — navigate ONLY in marked channels. Do NOT anchor near oyster stakes. Speed limit 5kt within 300m of shore.
Hazards
- !Oyster and mussel farm stakes throughout the approaches — hull damage risk if straying outside marked channel
- !Tidal range 4–5m — calculate LW depth; shoals significantly at LW springs near shore
- !E/SE exposure in Pertuis d'Antioche — leave if E wind builds above F3
Skipper's Tips
- →Photograph Fort Boyard at golden hour — spectacular in morning light from the anchorage.
- →The Boyardville oyster bars are excellent — arrive by dinghy for fresh oysters and white Pineau des Charentes.
- →Avoid the main July–August rush by visiting in the last week of June — the beach is quieter and the light is stunning.
Facilities
Beach restaurants and oyster bars at Boyardville village, seasonal (Jun–Sep).
Nearest provisions: Boyardville / Le Château-d'Oléron (4nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August, September
June–September. Busy but not overwhelmed. Fort Boyard makes this one of the most memorable anchorages in France. July–August arrive early — popular with French families.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Sleep peacefully at Île d'Oléron — Boyardville
With a 4–5m tidal range overnight, your boat's position relative to nearby hazards changes as the depth drops. In July–August, neighbouring boats anchor close and the anchorage shifts with the tide. Safety Anchor Alarm continuously monitors your GPS position and sounds an instant alert if you drift outside your set 85m radius — so you can rest without worry.
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