La Rochelle Marina

La Rochelle Marina is one of France's most famous sailing ports, set in a historic city on the Atlantic coast of Charente-Maritime. The bay of Anse de l'Aiguillon and the sheltered waters between the islands of Ré, Oléron, and Aix create one of the finest cruising grounds on the French Atlantic coast. The three medieval towers at the entrance to the old port are an iconic landmark. La Rochelle has hosted the Solitaire du Figaro and other offshore races, and the sailing culture here is deeply embedded. Atlantic swell and tidal range are significant factors — the mast pontoon is tidal, and passage planning requires careful attention to the tidal diamond off the Pointe de Grave to the south.