Calanque d'En-Vau
mooring field · La Ciotat · Provence
Calanque d'En-Vau is a mooring field on the coast of Provence.
The nearest town is La Ciotat.
Also known as Trou du Serpent.
The bay opens towards the south-east (128°).
The most spectacular calanque in the national park (a fjord of white cliffs); caution: anchoring prohibited since 2021: visit it under engine at 5 knots or from the Port-Miou buoys.
Translated automatically
Shelter by wind direction
Good shelter in north, north-east, south-west, west and north-west (mistral) wind.
Partial shelter in east (levante) and south wind.
No shelter in south-east wind.
Swell can come in from east-south-east to south-east (120°–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
Depth near the anchoring spot: about 12.9 m (EMODnet bathymetry, indicative).
Room to anchor: small (about 1.2 ha).
Approach
Direct approach from open water; the routing point lies 0.5 NM from the anchoring spot.
Protected area and seagrass
Calanque d'En-Vau 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
Gravel beach.
Road within 400 m: busy in the afternoon.
Almost no buildings ashore (1 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 east wind: Port de Cassis, 1.2 NM by sea.
- In south-east wind: Port de Cassis, 1.2 NM by sea.
- In south wind: Port de Cassis, 1.2 NM by sea.
Nearby anchorages and ports
- Arche de Castelvieil cove · 0.2 NM by sea
- Calanque de Port-Miou mooring field · 0.8 NM by sea
- Port de Cassis marina · 1.2 NM by sea
- Anse de la Grande Mer cove · 1.5 NM by sea
- Anse de l'Arène cove · 1.7 NM by sea
- Le Soubeyran cove · 1.9 NM by sea
Sheltered anchorages of Provence by wind
More places – La Ciotat
- Calanque de Port-Miou mooring field
- Anse de Figuerolles cove
Questions
Is Calanque d'En-Vau sheltered from the mistral?
Yes. Shelter is rated good in north-west wind.
Is Calanque d'En-Vau sheltered from the levante?
Partly. Shelter is rated fair in east wind. The nearest well-sheltered place is Port de Cassis, 1.2 NM by sea.
How deep is the water at Calanque d'En-Vau?
Depth near the anchoring spot: about 12.9 m (EMODnet bathymetry, indicative).
What is the seabed at Calanque d'En-Vau?
Room to anchor: small (about 1.2 ha).
Can you spend the night at Calanque d'En-Vau?
It depends on the wind of the night: Seadromy picks the evening anchorage with the forecast of the day.