Playa de la Mora Anchorage Guide
Also known as: La Mora, Tarragona N beach, Platja de la Mora
Playa de la Mora is a pleasant open beach anchorage north of Tarragona, used as a day stop on passages along the Costa Daurada. The Roman city of Tarragona (Tarraco — a Roman provincial capital) is 5nm away with its remarkable UNESCO-listed amphitheatre, aqueduct, and old city walls. The anchorage itself is a standard open beach — clean sand, good holding — but completely exposed to any E or S wind. Primarily of interest as a lunch stop before or after visiting Tarragona or during a beach day in calm weather.
Quick Reference
GPS Coordinates
41°07.9'N 001°18.3'E
Depth
3–7m
Bottom
sand
Holding
Good HoldingProtected From
W, NW, SW
Exposed To
N, NE, E, SE, S
Best Months
May, June, September, October
Anchoring Fee
Free
Mooring Buoys
None
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
85m for 3–7m on sand. Good holding. Open beach: DAY ANCHORAGE only in most conditions. Monitor all E quadrants.
Set this in Safety Anchor Alarm — FreeThe Anchorage
Anchor in 3–6m on clean sand off Playa de la Mora. Good holding on clean beach sand. This is an open beach anchorage — comfortable only when wind is from the W/NW. The Ponent afternoon sea breeze blows off the land (offshore) making the mornings calm and the afternoons choppy but shore-facing. Not suitable overnight except in completely settled calm conditions.
Setting Your Anchor
The bottom at Playa de la Mora is primarily sand with reliable holding when properly set.
- Approach slowly — at 3–7m, deploy minimum 7:1 scope (49m chain at 7m depth).
- Drop into the wind or current and pay out chain steadily.
- Set firmly in reverse — 30–60 seconds moderate throttle astern.
- Take a GPS bearing — note position once set and confirm adequate chain for the depth.
Recommended anchor types: SPADE, Rocna.
Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm
Overnight stays at Playa de la Mora are feasible but require monitoring — exposed to N and NE and E and SE and S winds and swell. Most anchorages on the Costa Daurada are day stops only.
Set your GPS anchor alarm to 85m radius before going below. 85m for 3–7m on sand. Good holding. Open beach: DAY ANCHORAGE only in most conditions. Monitor all E quadrants.
May–October, calm days only. Day anchorage not suitable for overnight.
Navigation Hazards
- Fully open to E/SE/S/N — day anchorage only
- Tarragona commercial port approach nearby — watch for large vessels
- Ponent afternoon breeze makes dinghy return to boat difficult
Rules & Regulations
- Anchoring fee: Free
- Key restrictions: Beach swimming zone Jun–Sep. Speed limit 3 kt. Port Tarragona shipping exclusion zone to the S — follow waypoints to avoid the commercial port approach.
Facilities
- Fresh water: Not available on site
- Fuel: Not available — nearest: Tarragona (5nm)
- Restaurant: One beach restaurant at La Mora open Jun–Sep.
- Provisions: None on site — Tarragona (5nm)
Skipper's Tips
- Day stop to visit Tarragona's Roman ruins — take the bus from La Mora to the city (20 mins).
- The Tarragona amphitheatre overlooks the sea and is free to view from the outside.
A note on this guide: Data researched from multiple sailing sources and provided in good faith. Always check current weather forecasts, NAVTEX bulletins, and the DONIA app for Posidonia mapping before visiting. Use a GPS anchor alarm and never rely solely on a guide for navigational decisions.
Sleep peacefully at Playa de la Mora
Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously — the Ponent afternoon wind can shift direction after sunset and leave a boat exposed overnight.
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