Île de Ré — Les Grenettes
Grenettes · SE Ré anchorage
46°08.7'N 001°18.9'W
Depth (HW)
2–5m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Good Holding
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m on sand in the Pertuis Breton. Good holding. Tidal range 4–5m — calculate LW depth; anchorage shoals significantly. Monitor SE Biscay swells via NAVTEX.
About This Anchorage
Les Grenettes is a tranquil anchorage on the SE coast of Île de Ré, inside the Pertuis Breton (the sheltered channel between Ré and the mainland coast of Charente-Maritime). The setting is distinctly different from the ocean-facing NW coast: flat salt marshes, vineyards, and oyster beds stretch to the horizon. The village of Sainte-Marie-de-Ré is close by. The anchorage is quieter than the NW bay at Couarde and benefits from the shelter of both the island and the Pertuis channel from W/NW. A good choice when Atlantic swells prevent use of the NW anchorage.
Protected From
W · NW · N · SW
Exposed To
S · SE · E
Setting Your Anchor
7:1 Scope — Atlantic Tidal Standard
With a 4–5m spring tidal range, the depth at your anchor point can change by up to 5m overnight. Use 7:1 scope minimum — in 4m at HW, lay 28m of chain as a minimum (excluding depth + freeboard). At LW (potentially 1–2m), the scope ratio increases automatically, providing extra catenary. Always verify the anchor is set firmly before reducing engine revs.
Tidal Depth Calculation
Before anchoring, calculate the depth at maximum LW (spring LW) using the SHOM tide tables for the nearest standard port. Subtract the spring tidal range (4–5m) from your HW depth to get the LW depth. For a 1.5m draft vessel, you need at least 1.8m at LW springs (with 0.3m safety margin) — if the anchorage will be shallower, either move to deeper water or ensure you are comfortable taking the ground on sand.
Oyster Stake Avoidance
Always check your proposed anchor position against the SHOM chart for oyster farm boundaries. At HW, oyster stakes may be submerged or barely visible — a dragging anchor on a falling tide can set you into a farm before the alarm sounds. Keep a minimum 200m clearance from all oyster farm boundary buoys.
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free
- Maximum stay
- 5 days
- Permit required
- No
- Anchoring allowed
- Yes
Restrictions: Parc Naturel Marin de l'Estuaire de la Gironde — respect marine protected area. Do not anchor over or near oyster bed areas. Speed limit 5kt within 300m of shore.
Hazards
- !Tidal range 4–5m: shoals significantly at LW — calculate minimum depth
- !SE/S wind in Pertuis Breton: can build short chop in the channel — leave if SE above F3
- !Oyster beds adjacent to anchorage — do not anchor near oyster poles and buoys
Skipper's Tips
- →Complement the NW (Couarde) anchorage — when W swells prevent overnight at Couarde, move round to Grenettes for shelter from the Pertuis Breton.
- →Good dinghy landing at Les Grenettes beach — bicycles available nearby for the circuit of the SE island.
- →Quieter than the NW coast in July–August as it faces the channel rather than the ocean beach.
Facilities
Beach restaurant at Les Grenettes, seasonal (Jun–Sep). Sainte-Marie-de-Ré village 1nm by bicycle.
Nearest provisions: Sainte-Marie-de-Ré (1nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August, September
June–September. More moderate crowds than the NW coast. A good alternative when SW/W swell makes the ocean anchorages uncomfortable.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Sleep peacefully at Île de Ré — Les Grenettes
With a 4–5m tidal range overnight, your boat's position relative to nearby hazards changes as the depth drops. In July–August, neighbouring boats anchor close and the anchorage shifts with the tide. Safety Anchor Alarm continuously monitors your GPS position and sounds an instant alert if you drift outside your set 80m radius — so you can rest without worry.
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