Lysekil
Lysekils gästhamn · Lysefjord
58°16.4'N 11°26.5'E
Depth
4–10m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
70m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
70m
70m for 4–8m depth on mud in a tidal/current environment. The Gullmarsfjord tidal current (up to 1.5kt) creates a catenary in the chain — allow extra scope beyond what the depth alone would suggest. In southerly winds, scope to 7:1.
About This Anchorage
Lysekil is the main town of central Bohuslän — a small, characterful fishing and marine research city on the south shore of Gullmarsfjord, Sweden's only proper deep-water fjord (maximum 118m). The town has been a seaside resort since the 19th century when the Swedish royal family and Stockholm bourgeoisie summered here. Today it has a genuine working-harbour character alongside tourism, with Sweden's best marine research station (Sven Lovén Centre) studying the unique deep-fjord ecosystem. The mud anchorage in the fjord entrance gives excellent holding. Lysekil is an excellent provisioning stop with supermarkets, marine chandlery, diesel, and full gästhamn facilities.
Protected From
N · NE · E · W · NW
Exposed To
S · SE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (Allemansrätten)
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: No anchoring in the main fjord shipping channel. Gullmarsfjord is used by tankers serving the Scanraff refinery (Lysekil) — monitor VHF Ch 16 and give way to commercial traffic.
Hazards
- !Gullmarsfjord tidal current up to 1.5kt at entrance — use generous scope
- !Tanker traffic to Scanraff refinery in Gullmarsfjord — monitor VHF Ch 16
- !Exposed to southerly fetch along fjord axis from Kattegat
- !Busy commercial port — anchor clear of shipping channel
Skipper's Tips
- →Lysekil is the best provisioning stop in central Bohuslän — ICA Maxi supermarket 10-min walk from gästhamn
- →Fuel at the gästhamn fuel dock — most economical diesel pump on this stretch of coast
- →Visit Sven Lovén Centre marine research station — public aquarium with cold-water species
- →Walk the Stångehuvud nature reserve headland for views across to Norway — 2-hour loop
- →The Lysekil-Skaftö bridge connects to the island of Skaftö — rent bikes from town
- →Ferry to Fiskebäckskil (Bohuslän's most picturesque village) runs every hour from Lysekil harbour
Facilities
Multiple restaurants and cafes in town centre, 10-min dinghy ride
Nearest provisions: Lysekil town centre (0.5nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August
Open year-round as a town. Gästhamn fully operational June–August. Excellent autumn stop in September — provisions, fuel, and shelter before passage south or north.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 70m
On the Bohuslän coast, tidal streams and crab pot lines can complicate anchoring. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously — alerting you the moment your anchor starts to drag.
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