A little bit of history...
It was historically called « Anse de la Fontaine du Roi », it became « Anse de la Réserve » from the 19th century: the first life of the port in question was exclusively military, as the Anse belonged to Fort Saint Nicolas. And if it changes name, it is because the commander of the fort made sow, according to the rumour, small mussels there… The military privilege is however suspended at the beginning of the century. Indeed, the face of the port is changing. Civilians can finally walk on the quays, below the Pharo. A cod dryer, a shellfish park and, just above the cove, a restaurant, were installed. This is La Réserve. And it inspires the most illustrious authors, since Alexandre Dumas will make Dantès and Mercédès have lunch there for their engagement meal…
This was in 1843 that the Chamber of Commerce and Industry first entered into history. It is in fact designated to manage the renting of the place, and the quarrels which can ensue from it, following the use of the harbour for the storage of masting wood. It should be noted that the brackish waters of the Anse de la Réserve are « particularly favorable », in the words of the Chamber, to preserve this wood suitable for making boat masts using the « enclavation » technique, which consists of immersing the wood in water or mud. Marseille was, moreover, a wood port receiving wood from the Nordic countries for white wood but also exotic wood from Africa. Thus the first lease between the military engineers at Fort Saint Nicolas and the CCI was signed in 1851. Which sublets to two, then three people for this activity of warehouse of wood of masting. Leases were renewed until the Anse concession was auctioned in 1939.
It was not until 1959 (and the Fifth Republic, which saws the ports become public property) that the Anse de la Réserve moved towards its current vocation. Indeed, that year, the department’s maritime service drew Marseille’s attention to the fact that there was a need to develop yachting harbors because of the growing popularity of this type of recreational activity and, more specifically, of water sports. Thus the project to transform the Anse de la Réserve into a yachting harbour was validated in 1963 by the CCI. This was done in the spring of 1964. The UNM and the Rowing Club will be moved there, then the Rowing Club building, a heritage of the 20th century, will be built three years later. In 1973, the City of Marseille inherited a 50-year concession for the establishment and operation of the yacht harbor. Before the CCIAMP signed in its turn, in 2018, an agreement of Delegation of Public Service with the Metropolis Aix-Marseille-Provence for the management and animation of the water plan and the median strip of the Anse de la Réserve for a period of 12 years. One year later, it will also sign an agreement with the three historical clubs of Anse de la Réserve : the Union Nautique Marseille UNM, the Rowing Club Marseille and the Scouts Marins.