Sailing in Brittany

Whether for competitions, regattas or simple sailing trips, Brittany is an ideal location for water sports and activities, thanks to its 3500 kilometres of coastline, broken up into creeks, inlets, roadways and bays, together with its many rivers and lakes. Today there are 120 sailing schools and 230 water sports centres.

Being surrounded by water, Brittany is an ideal sailing location and has a great sailing tradition. Although some of the tides in this region are amongst the highest in the world, there are many place where sailing can be enjoyed in safety. There are many sailing schools situated at lakes and sheltered costal waters where you can sail in safety. The Gulf Of Moribihan is a huge (almost land locked area populated by numerous small islands. There are many sailing schools and boat hire centres in this region.

Throughout the year, from regattas to sailing instruction sessions, Brittany’s sailing schools and clubs offer a vast range of activities: single and double sailing dinghies, catamarans, sailboarding, funboarding, group and pleasure trip boats.

Other water sports and activities

In addition to sailing, other nautical activities are enjoying increasing popularity:

- Rowing on rivers and the sea: solo or as a team, rowing is possible on all types of water: rivers, canals, lakes and along the coast.

- Sea and river canoe-kayaking: rivers are classified according to their degree of difficulty.

- Sand yachting and speed sailing on various beaches throughout Brittany.

- Diving and undersea sports

- Surf and bodyboard : Cap Fréhel, Dossen, Petit Minou, Palue, Torche, Guidel or the Presqu'île de Quiberon are acknowledged sports centres open throughout the year in Brittany for surfing, long board, body board, skim board, body surf etc.

Bretagne Stations Nautiques [Brittany Nautical Centres]

Bretagne Stations Nautiques” is the new name given to the association of “Stations Voile” (Sailing Centres). There are 7 in Brittany: Saint-Malo, Saint-Cast Le Guildo, Pléneuf-Val André, Perros-Guirec, Crozon- Morgat, Fouesnant-Baie de la Forêt and Pays de Lorient. These are professional organisations of various types providing services for the public. They offer a range of disciplines and supervised activities throughout the year. The label is awarded on the basis of the activities and professional qualifications of the instructors.

Point Passion Plage [Beach equipment/training advisory centres]

The Point Passion Plage network currently comprises 37 service points spread along the entire Breton coastline, from Cancale to the Rhuys Peninsula. A Breton initiative since adopted by other regions, the centres were created to complement the activities of the Stations Nautiques, by helping the public access high performance but safe nautical equipment and services. Professionals are on hand to offer guidance on hiring or on the courses most suited to individual requirements.

Marinas

The first nautical facilities with jetties, pontoons and mooring basins date from the 1960s, with the establishment of Port Haligen, in Quiberon and Trinité-sur-Mer. Today Brittany offers 52 000 moorings, that is 33 000 on pontoons and 18 000 other moorings.