General informations
Sail in the Marseille’s Harbour
It is necessary to pay attention to the Fos shipping lane, some cargo liners arriving rather quickly in the lane while coming from the open sea. It is necessary to be vigilant and not to confuse an anchored cargo liner with a boat on its way. There are sometimes so many cargo liners on zone that an error is quickly made, especially when a cargo liner is lounging the coast at 5 Kn and then goes to the open sea at full power. Take care also to pilotines and other trawlers in a hurry to return or leave.
It is possible to follow the traffic on VHF 12, Port Fos Contrôle or Marseilles Port.
Generally, nearby Frioul island, cargo liners sail by the West and the ferries by the East:
By the West, there is enough space to divert oneself (nevertheless be careful not to pass too close to the stern of the boat, because its backwash is impressive).
By the East, the passage is not so broad between the Frioul island and the If island, but ferries do not sail too quick at this place and the watch is required (a siren call from a ferry does not leave indifferent).
One must be especially vigilant to sail through the islands (between Planier and Maire islands) in the early morning or at sunset (think to light your lights) and/or by bad weather because the traffic is then intense and ships are at full power when passing by the Frioul island.
If one passes between the islands, no problem because large ships do not go there. But if one passes by the South, one follows then the road of Corsican ferries that sail along the coast since Porquerolles.
Attention also to divers between islands, because they are good places for mackerels (it is said that the Marseilles sewers attract them).
Fishing
One finds beautiful bass, sars and sea-breams in the flat and hollow rocks forming galleries between the first creek after Callelongue and the Jarre island (depth of 8-15 m). Go there when there is bad weather with mistral (at maximum) to have the minimum possible boats and the maximum of fishes: the stream helps to go on Jarre island and sailing up to the island towards the West, one gets the counter-stream of Maire that bring you back to the Maire island.
(Information of Roland and Yag)