Plage du Pontillon
cove · Port-Cros National Park · French Riviera
Plage du Pontillon is a cove on the coast of French Riviera.
Also known as Plage de l'Arboussière, Grottes de la Plage d'Escampo-Barriou, Le Radar and Grottes Marines d'Escampobariou n°3 et n°4.
The bay opens towards the south-south-east (160°).
Shelter by wind direction
Good shelter in north, west and north-west (mistral) wind.
Partial shelter in north-east and east (levante) wind.
No shelter in south-east, south and south-west wind.
In the most open sector, up to 30 NM of open water towards the south-east.
Swell can come in from east-south-east to east-south-east (104°–108°).
Swell can come in from south-east to south-south-west (128°–208°).
- sheltered
- partly
- exposed
Shelter is estimated from open water and swell, not from wind strength: a strong wind can still gust over the land.
Here, shelter depends on tonight's wind. Seadromy reads the forecast and tells you before you leave.
Seabed, depth and room
Depth near the anchoring spot: about 6.7 m (EMODnet bathymetry, indicative).
Approach
Direct approach from open water; the routing point lies 0.2 NM from the anchoring spot.
Protected area and seagrass
Plage du Pontillon lies in the protected area Port-Cros National Park: check its rules (anchoring, speed, buoys) before you arrive.
Posidonia seagrass is present: drop the anchor on sand only.
Seagrass shown on the general chart: drop the anchor on sand.
Ashore and services
Beach within 300 m.
Road within 400 m: busy in the afternoon.
Almost no buildings ashore (2 within 600 m).
Nothing ashore: a wild anchorage.
Where to go when the wind turns
When the wind makes this place exposed, the nearest places rated as well sheltered are:
- In north-east wind: Plage des Darboussières, 0.5 NM by sea.
- In east wind: Calanque du Blé, 1.1 NM by sea.
- In south-east wind: Calanque du Four à Chaux, 3 NM by sea.
- In south wind: Calanque du Four à Chaux, 3 NM by sea.
- In south-west wind: Criques Saint-Jean-Baptiste, 3.3 NM by sea.
Nearby anchorages and ports
- Plage des Darboussières cove · 0.5 NM by sea
- Calanque du Blé cove · 1.1 NM by sea
- Plage de la Vignette cove · 1.2 NM by sea
- Plage du Pradeau cove · 2.8 NM by sea
- Calanque du Four à Chaux cove · 3 NM by sea
- Plage du Grand Langoustier cove · 3 NM by sea
Sheltered anchorages of French Riviera by wind
More places – Port-Cros National Park
- Calanque de la Tripe cove
- Enfer de Taillat mooring field
- Plage du Rossignol cove
- Port du Pradet marina
Questions
Is Plage du Pontillon sheltered from the mistral?
Yes. Shelter is rated good in north-west wind.
Is Plage du Pontillon sheltered from the levante?
Partly. Shelter is rated fair in east wind. The nearest well-sheltered place is Calanque du Blé, 1.1 NM by sea.
How deep is the water at Plage du Pontillon?
Depth near the anchoring spot: about 6.7 m (EMODnet bathymetry, indicative).
Can you spend the night at Plage du Pontillon?
It depends on the wind of the night: Seadromy picks the evening anchorage with the forecast of the day.