Gruissan

From CruisersWiki

Gruissan is a large, purpose-built marina constructed around a series of natural lagoons. The marina lies on the Mediterranean coast of France 15 miles N of Leucate and 30 miles SW of Sete. While the town of Gruissan itself is somewhat shabby, there are some wonderful walks around the inland lagoons and there is a nature reserve on the quaintly-named Massif de la Clape. Gruissan is a good place to leave a yacht for a trip to the fairy-tale walled town of Carcassonne or to Narbonne.

Charts

Imray

M15 Marseille to San Remo

British Admiralty

1705 Cabo San Sebastian to Iles d'Heres

Weather

Local weather consists mainly of coastal seabreezes during the summer. However, it is important to be alert to the possibility of a mistrale blowing up, when winds can hurtle down the Rhone valley for several days at up to force 9.

Sources for Weather forecasts:

• VHF
  • Continuous forecast on channel 23
  • Channel 79 (0715 – 1233 – 1903)
• NAVTEX - Cross La Garde (W)
• INTERNET
  • Meteo France (in French)
  • GMDSS Weather
  • Met Marine
  • Passageweather.com Passage Weather
  • eurometeo.com Meteomar
  • Weather Online
  • Windfinder

Passages

• Aegean to West Mediterranean Passages

Islands

None.

Communication

Add here VHF channel for coastguard, harbor masters. etc.

Also see World Cruiser's Nets

Navigation

The entrance to Port Gruissan is hard to spot, being in the middle of several miles of sandy beaches. Once the port and starboard markers are identified, proceed up the mile-long narrow entrance channel and into the basin. The channel is dredged to a depth of 2.5 metres. Moor where directed; usually there is room, even if all the moorings are taken, alongside in the channel leading up to the Etang de Gruissan just before the bridge. Entry can be difficult in strong onshore winds.

Berthing

Berth in one of the three basins wherever you can find room or where directed by the capitainerie. See Port Gruissan for details.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

• Port Gruissan has a total of 1330 berths for yachts up to 30 metres and maximum draft of 2.5 metres

Anchorages

Anchoring in the outer basin, the Etang du Grazel, may be possible, but only by permission of the capitainerie.

Yacht Repairs and Services

Marine Stores

Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.

Repairs/Yards

See Port Gruissan.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel

In the marina

Water

at the marina berths

Electricity

at the marina berths

Tourism and Things to do Ashore

Tourism

The inland lagoons around Gruissan are laced with excellent walking or cycling paths and further inland there are walks through vieyards and pine forests on the Massif de la Clape. Birdlife a-plenty is to be found among the trees of the Les Auzils nature reserve. One must-see sight is the mediaeval walled town of Carcassonne which, although largely reconstructed in the 19th century, is still a breathtaking sight. Carcassonne can be reached by train from Gruissan, changing at Sorbonne.

Grocery & Supply Stores

Several shops around the basins and in the town.

Eateries

Numerous restaurants and cafes in the basin and more in the town.

Internet/WiFi

Via the marina office

Laundry

Via the marina office

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Garbage Disposal

Bins around the marina

Transportation

• Trains to local and national destinations from Narbonne station.
• International airport at Perpignan (75 kms).
• Buses to Narbonne and other local destinations

Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forums

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

Links

• Gruissan at the Wikipedia
• Port de Gruissan

References

See France.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.

• Gruissan is a first taste of the low, watery landscape leading up to the Camargue and usefully placed on passage from Port Vendres to the Camargue proper at Saintes Maries de la Mer. My wife's enduring memory is of a friendly (not feral) cat which peered in through the hullport while she was preparing breakfast and sparked a moment of mutual terror --Athene of Lymington

Verified by

Date of member's last visit to Gruissan and this page's details validated:

• May 2002 --Atheneoflymington 16:42, 15 January 2010 (UTC)

This is a usable page of the cruising guide. However, please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to add your personal notes on this page or to discuss its contents. Alternatively, if you feel confident to edit the page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly.

Contributors to this page
Names: Athene of Lymington