Pampelonne mooring rules have changed for 2026, and many captains heading to Saint-Tropez this season don’t know it yet.
Pampelonne mooring is now one of the most regulated anchorages in the Mediterranean, off the world-famous beach near Saint-Tropez. Whether you’re heading in for lunch at Club 55, Nikki Beach, or Bagatelle, or simply mooring for the day, this guide breaks down exactly where you’re allowed to anchor, what it costs, and who to call — by vessel size.
Quick Answer: Is Anchoring Allowed on Pampelonne Beach?
Anchoring directly on the seabed inside the ZMEL (Zone de Mouillages et d’Équipements Légers) perimeter is strictly forbidden on Posidonia meadows, for every vessel, from 1 April to 31 October. There are, however, officially authorised mooring zones — some free, some paid — depending on your vessel’s length. Ramatuelle municipal police patrol the bay and fine offenders on the meadows; there are no exceptions.
Understanding Pampelonne Mooring Before You Enter the Bay
Pampelonne Bay stretches roughly 5 kilometres between Cap du Pinet and Pointe de Bonne Terrasse, in the commune of Ramatuelle, a few miles from the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.
The seabed is largely covered by Posidonia oceanica — a protected underwater meadow under French and European law. A single dropped anchor can cause damage that takes decades to repair.
To balance heavy nautical traffic with environmental protection, Ramatuelle invested more than €7 million to build the ZMEL — including a €3,263,400 grant from the Rhône Méditerranée Corse water agency — operated by Pampelonne Mooring from 1 April to 31 October.
Reading the Chart: What Each Zone Means
View the official interactive mooring map on pampelonne-mooring.com.
The ZMEL covers most of the bay and breaks down into:
- Posidonia meadow — anchoring is strictly forbidden for every vessel, no exceptions.
- Free sand anchoring zone — the only area within the ZMEL where vessels may drop their own anchor. It is the sole legal anchoring option inside the ZMEL for vessels between 24 and 45 metres.
- 184 paid mooring buoys across five sectors (A, B, C, D, E) — reservation required via Pampelonne Mooring.
- Outside the ZMEL, vessels of 45 metres and over must use one of the mandatory offshore mooring zones — free, but subject to a declaration or formal authorisation depending on size.
Booking and On-Board Rules
- Bookings cannot be cancelled and are non-refundable — check weather forecasts before booking.
- Vessels 24m and over entering the ZMEL perimeter must contact the manager on VHF 77 to declare their intentions.
- Professional mooring assistance is mandatory for vessels 30m and over taking a berth; optional under 30m.
- Speed inside the ZMEL: 5 knots within each sub-sector during the operating season, 20 knots elsewhere within the ZMEL.
- Vessels on passage buoys must vacate by 10 pm; the buoy is reassigned the next day.
- Free anchoring outside designated buoy sectors is limited to 72 hours.
Pampelonne Mooring Rules by Vessel Size (2026)
Under 20 metres — Paid, Sector D (La Capilla)
Buoys along the southern shoreline, inside the ZMEL, with day-and-night mooring and weekly/monthly/seasonal subscription options.
| Length | Full season | Low season (1 month) | High season (1 month) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.01–5m | €1,751 | €437 | €584 |
| 5.01–6m | €2,101 | €525 | €700 |
| 6.01–7m | €2,451 | €612 | €817 |
| 7.01–8m | €2,802 | €700 | €933 |
| 8.01–9m | €3,151 | €788 | €1,051 |
| 9.01–10m | €3,502 | €876 | €1,167 |
| 10.01–11m | €3,851 | €963 | €1,284 |
| 11.01–12m | €4,202 | €1,051 | €1,400 |
| 12.01–13m | €4,552 | €1,138 | €1,518 |
| 13.01–14m | €4,902 | €1,227 | €1,634 |
| 14.01–15m | €5,253 | €1,313 | €1,751 |
| 15.01–16m | €5,602 | €1,400 | €1,867 |
| 16.01–17m | €5,953 | €1,488 | €1,984 |
| 17.01–18m | €6,304 | €1,575 | €2,101 |
| 18.01–19m | €6,653 | €1,663 | €2,217 |
| 19.01–20m | €7,003 | €1,751 | €2,335 |
Book: pampelonne-mooring.com → On arrival, call VHF Channel 77.
15 to 80 metres — Paid, Sectors A, B, C (Grande Plaisance)
Buoys are distributed north to south across the bay. Sub-sectors A1/B1/C1 accommodate vessels up to 30m, A2/B2/C2 up to 50m, and A3/B3/C3 up to 80m, on a single continuous rate scale by length:
| Length | Low season (daily) | High season (daily) |
|---|---|---|
| 15m | €73 | €146 |
| 18m | €95 | €191 |
| 20m | €112 | €223 |
| 23m | €138 | €276 |
| 24m | €147 | €295 |
| 28m | €187 | €375 |
| 30m | €366 | €577 |
| 35m | €445 | €736 |
| 40m | €538 | €922 |
| 45m | €644 | €1,134 |
| 50m | €855 | €1,462 |
| 60m | €1,084 | €1,921 |
| 70m | €1,355 | €2,463 |
| 80m | €1,661 | €3,076 |
Book: pampelonne-mooring.com → On arrival, call VHF Channel 77.
24 to 45 metres — Free Option
A free sandy-bottom anchoring area on the western side of the ZMEL is reserved for vessels 24–45m — the only legal anchoring option inside the ZMEL for this size range. Anchor only on sand, never on Posidonia.
GPS coordinates (WGS84):
- K: 43°13.275’N — 006°40.628’E
- L: 43°12.981’N — 006°40.396’E
- M: 43°12.981’N — 006°40.321’E
- N: 43°13.434’N — 006°40.337’E
Cost: free.
Mandatory: declare to the Camarat coastguard station at least 1 hour before arrival (+33 4 94 79 80 28). If there is no refusal, mooring is deemed authorised.
45 to 80 metres — Free Option: Offshore ZOM
GPS coordinates (WGS84):
- G: 43°13.587’N — 006°41.184’E
- H: 43°13.457’N — 006°41.184’E
- I: 43°13.457’N — 006°41.044’E
- J: 43°13.633’N — 006°41.044’E
Cost: free.
Camarat declaration mandatory, 1 hour before arrival. No refusal = mooring authorised.
80 metres and over — Free, Offshore ZOM (formal authorisation required)
These yachts cannot enter the ZMEL and must moor in the dedicated offshore ZOM.
GPS coordinates (WGS84):
- A: 43°14.100’N — 006°41.571’E
- B: 43°14.100’N — 006°41.290’E
- C: 43°14.620’N — 006°41.290’E
- D: 43°14.620’N — 006°41.550’E
- E: 43°14.452’N — 006°41.555’E
- F: 43°14.275’N — 006°41.475’E
Cost: free.
A simple declaration is not sufficient — formal authorisation from CROSS MED is required, submitted via the Camarat coastguard station, before mooring.
Which Sector for Which Beach Club?
If your reason for mooring at Pampelonne is to tender ashore for lunch, sector location matters:
- Sector D (La Capilla, under 20m) — southern shoreline, closest tender run to the beach clubs at the southern end of the bay.
- Sector A — northern bay, shortest tender distance to the clubs near Cap du Pinet.
- Sectors B and C — central/southern bay, closest to Club 55, Nikki Beach and Bagatelle.
Always confirm the exact tender distances with Pampelonne Mooring on VHF 77 when booking, as buoy allocation within a sector can vary based on availability.
Official Pampelonne Mooring Contacts
Pampelonne Mooring — buoy reservations & on-arrival assistance
VHF Channel 77 +33 6 66 56 66 89
On-site hours: 8 am–10 pm
Camarat Coastguard Station — mandatory declaration for all vessels 24m+
+33 4 94 79 80 28 At least 1 hour before arrival
CROSS MED — only for yachts 80m and over
Contacted via the Camarat coastguard station. Formal authorisation mandatory before mooring
On-Board Obligations During Mooring
- Permanent radio watch on VHF Channel 16 + DSC Channel 70
- AIS continuously active
- Windlass operational at all times
- Engines ready to get underway immediately
- Immediate compliance with any order from CROSS MED or Camarat
Frequently Asked Questions
Are private boats allowed on Pampelonne Beach?
Yes, but only within the designated ZMEL mooring sectors or the free zones described above — anchoring directly on the Posidonia meadows is forbidden for every vessel from April to October.
Is mooring on Pampelonne free?
It depends on vessel size. Boats over 24 metres have a free option (open sand mooring or offshore ZOM, with mandatory Camarat declaration). Vessels under 24 metres must book a paid buoy.
How do I book a mooring buoy at Pampelonne?
Reserve online at pampelonne-mooring.com, then call VHF Channel 77 on arrival to confirm your spot.
What happens if I anchor on the Posidonia meadows?
Ramatuelle municipal police patrol the ZMEL and issue fines — there are no exceptions, regardless of vessel size.
This guide is updated for the 2026 season. Rates, sector limits and coordinates are subject to change by Pampelonne Mooring and the Camarat coastguard station — always confirm current conditions directly with them before mooring.
