Cap Morgiou (Tombant du Cap Morgiou)

The site sits on the south-facing seaward tip of the Cap Morgiou headland, with the Calanques massif rising to the north — so the dominant NW-N Mistral, which sweeps down the Gulf of Lion, is blocked as it comes over the high rock behind the point, and the N through NW and NNW sectors are the most sheltered. The open swell window is the whole southern arc: SSE through S to SW is fully exposed, where the long-fetch Scirocco (S-SE) and Libeccio (SW) build the wind-waves that reach the wall. To the east the coast curves back toward the Riou archipelago and Cassis, giving partial shelter, while the west side is shadowed by the headland and the Sormiou/Marseille coast and offshore islands beyond, leaving the WSW-W sectors only partly open. Being a microtidal Mediterranean headland, tide is negligible, but a southerly blow makes the exposed point choppy and can build surge on the wall.