Île d'Yeu — Anse des Broches
Les Broches · NW Yeu anchorage
46°43.9'N 002°23.6'W
Depth (HW)
3–7m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Good Holding
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m on sand — good holding. This anchorage is exposed to NW Atlantic swell; use only in settled conditions or when a southerly gives shelter from the prevailing Atlantic. Calculate tidal depth overnight.
About This Anchorage
Anse des Broches is a beautiful sandy bay on the NW coast of Île d'Yeu, facing away from the main port and offering a quieter, more wild experience of the island. The bay has a fine sand beach, good holding, and is sheltered from the S and E. However, it is directly exposed to the Atlantic NW swell — the prevailing direction in summer — making it a fair-weather anchorage best used when a southerly shift gives protection, or in very settled conditions. The scenery is spectacular: low granite headlands, Atlantic horizon, and Yeu's famously clear water.
Protected From
S · SE · SW · E
Exposed To
N · NW · W
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: Fair-weather only — exposed to NW Atlantic swell. Monitor NAVTEX and Météo-France before settling here overnight.
Hazards
- !Open to N/NW/W Atlantic swell — this is the principal hazard; any NW above F3 makes anchorage untenable
- !Tidal range 4–5m: calculate LW depth; rocky headlands adjacent expose more rock at LW
Skipper's Tips
- →One of the quieter anchorages on Yeu — most boats stay in Port-Joinville or try the S coast; this bay can be empty mid-week in June.
- →Check the Météo-France Bulletin Côtier at 05:45 UTC — if it says NW F4 for the next 24h, do not anchor here overnight.
- →Bring all provisions — no facilities ashore on this coast.
Facilities
Nearest provisions: Port-Joinville (3nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August, September
June–September in settled conditions. Only use when NW swell is forecast below 0.5m and winds below F3 from NW. June and September better than July–August for Atlantic swell height.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Sleep peacefully at Île d'Yeu — Anse des Broches
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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