Where to anchor around Corsica, which rules apply to your yacht's length, and how our local teams in Bonifacio, Calvi and Ajaccio can help.
Corsica has more than 1,000 km of coastline and some of the finest anchorages in the Mediterranean, from the sandy bays of Porto-Vecchio to the red cliffs of Scandola. It also has some of the strictest anchoring rules in France, with a nature reserve in the Strait of Bonifacio, a marine park around Cap Corse and the Agriates, and a limit line for large yachts along the whole coast.
Our regional guides below list the best anchorages area by area, with depths, seabed, wind shelter and what is allowed for your length. Catalano Shipping has offices in Bonifacio, Calvi and Ajaccio, so we can confirm the current rules, book buoys and berths and look after your guests ashore.
Last reviewed November 2026
Anchorage Intelligence, our map of the French anchoring decrees, shows whether a rule applies to your length overall and links straight to the official text. Access is by waitlist.
The framework. Prefectoral order AP 123/2019 sets the rules for anchoring in French Mediterranean waters, including the ban on anchoring that damages Posidonia seagrass. Local orders then set where yachts of 24 m and over may anchor.
Yachts of 24 m and over. Four orders cover the whole Corsican coast:
The principle is the same everywhere: anchor seaward of a limit line, and inshore only in listed sectors or on licensed buoys. Dynamic positioning is banned within 500 m of the shore and limited to two hours elsewhere.
Yachts of 45 m and over (or 300 GT). Under AP 157/2024, amended in 2025 and 2026, yachts of 45 to 80 m declare to the signal station at least one hour before arrival, and yachts of 80 m and over need prior authorisation. Both use the mandatory anchoring zones where a sector has them, keep AIS on and keep watch on VHF 16.
Beach zones. Each summer the 300 m strip is organised by local orders with swimming zones, no-anchoring zones and 5 knot channels. Yachts of 24 m and over may not anchor in it.
Length of stay. AP 77/2025 limits a stay at anchor to 72 hours in one spot. Yachts of 24 m and over with AIS may extend in 72 hour blocks unless asked to leave.
The orders in force are published on premar-mediterranee.gouv.fr. Rules are revised almost every season, so check before you go or ask us.
More and more Corsican bays are organised as buoy fields (ZMEL) in summer, including Santa Giulia, Calvi, Girolata and the large yacht field at Sant’Amanza near Bonifacio. Most are booked by VHF or phone on the day. We can check space and book for you.
No. Anchoring on Posidonia seagrass is banned everywhere, many beaches have buoyed swimming and no-anchoring zones in summer, and yachts of 24 m and over must stay seaward of a limit line except in listed sectors. Protected areas such as Scandola and the Bouches de Bonifacio reserve have their own rules.
Yachts of 24 to 45 m do not need permission, but must anchor seaward of the limit line or in listed sectors. Yachts of 45 to 80 m must declare to the signal station at least one hour before arrival, and yachts of 80 m and over need prior authorisation (AP 157/2024).
Up to 72 hours in one spot under AP 77/2025. Yachts of 24 m and over with AIS may extend in 72 hour blocks unless the authorities ask them to leave. Vessels anchoring under an authorisation have their own limits.
Anchoring is free where it is allowed. Buoy fields, which are spreading in the busiest bays, may charge a fee.
Captains can be prosecuted under the French Transport Code. French courts have fined yacht captains tens of thousands of euros for anchoring on Posidonia, including damages for the ecological harm.
This guide is for planning only and does not replace official charts or notices. Anchoring rules in French waters change from season to season: check the arrêtés in force on premar-mediterranee.gouv.fr and the SHOM charts before anchoring, or ask our team.
Tell us your yacht, dates and where you would like to anchor. Our local team will confirm what the current rules allow for your length, suggest the best spot for the forecast and arrange buoys, tenders, provisioning or a berth if the anchorage is closed.
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