Calanque de Sormiou
cove · Calanques National Park · Provence
Calanque de Sormiou is a cove on the coast of Provence.
The nearest settlement is Sormiou.
Also known as La Galère.
The bay opens towards the south-east (124°).
Shelter by wind direction
Good shelter in north, north-east, south-west, west and north-west (mistral) wind.
Partial shelter in south wind.
No shelter in east (levante) and south-east wind.
In the most open sector, up to 17.3 NM of open water towards the south-east.
Swell can come in from east-south-east to south-east (112°–140°).
- 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
Room to anchor: large (about 21.2 ha).
Approach
Direct approach from open water; the routing point lies 0.4 NM from the anchoring spot.
Protected area and seagrass
Calanque de Sormiou lies in the protected area Calanques 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
Road within 400 m: busy in the afternoon.
Built-up shore (113 buildings within 600 m).
A village is a quarter of an hour away without a vehicle.
Within reach:
- Sormiou: 2 restaurants, bars or cafés, 14 min by dinghy
Where to go when the wind turns
When the wind makes this place exposed, the nearest places rated as well sheltered are:
- In east wind: Anse de la Triperie, 0.9 NM by sea.
- In south-east wind: Port de Cassis, 4.8 NM by sea.
- In south wind: Port de Cassis, 4.8 NM by sea.
Nearby anchorages and ports
- Anse de la Triperie cove · 0.9 NM by sea
- Anse de l'Aï cove · 1.7 NM by sea
- Anse du Renard anchorage · 1.8 NM by sea
- Calanque de Sugiton cove · 1.8 NM by sea
- Calanque des Pierres Tombées cove · 1.8 NM by sea
- Calanque de l'Œil de Verre cove · 1.8 NM by sea
Sheltered anchorages of Provence by wind
More places – Calanques National Park
- Calanque de Sugiton cove
- Anse de l'Aï cove
- Calanque des Pierres Tombées cove
- Anse de la Triperie cove
Questions
Is Calanque de Sormiou sheltered from the mistral?
Yes. Shelter is rated good in north-west wind.
Is Calanque de Sormiou sheltered from the levante?
No. It is exposed in east wind. The nearest well-sheltered place is Anse de la Triperie, 0.9 NM by sea.
What is the seabed at Calanque de Sormiou?
Room to anchor: large (about 21.2 ha).
Can you spend the night at Calanque de Sormiou?
It depends on the wind of the night: Seadromy picks the evening anchorage with the forecast of the day.