A panorama of sand yachting
Olbia Conseil, the Centre de droit et d'économie du sport and Easay Nautique presented the results of their study on the nautical strategy of Les Sables d'Olonne on 11 October 2020. Commissioned by the town of Vendée, they drew up an overview of the situation and formulated a series of proposals. 10 months of work mobilising around fifty people gave rise to 65 interviews and a series of round tables. Their conclusions will aim to enlighten the elected members of the new municipal team.
"The study focuses on the practices of the general public, surfing, sailing... Its aim was to find out at a given moment T the strengths and weaknesses of Sables d'Olonne in nautical activities. The proposals are not yet in the implementation phase and will have to be validated or not by the elected representatives during their mandate. This provides a basis for reflection," explains David Dupouey, Director of Sports and Water Sports for the town of Les Sables d'Olonne.
13 proposals for the nautical ecosystem
The study led to the formulation of a series of 13 proposals aimed at improving the attractiveness of the city of Vendée for boaters and water sports enthusiasts, the governance of the structures in place and helping to adapt the offer and infrastructure to market and environmental changes:
- Create a territorial brand "Sables d'Olonne Nautisme"
- Positioning the territory using "Vendée Globe markers" with high visual or experiential impact
- To continue the redevelopment of the port and its modernisation
- Making the future Yacht Club a place to meet and share sailing in Les Sables d'Olonne
- Promote training and upward accompaniment
- Grouping access to the entire nautical offer through a municipal one-stop shop
- Create a boating council
- Create a unique sailing club
- Clearly assign (and enforce) the roles of each of the players in the sailing industry
- Implementing a comprehensive strategy to acculturate children to their environment and the sea
- Encourage off-season practice by redeveloping certain water sports areas
- Restructuring the sea base into an innovative and attractive nautical facility
- Adjusting the organisation of the services of the Agglomeration and the City to meet the new nautical strategy
Showing your nautical ambitions
In the race for territories to attract yachtsmen and tourists to their ports and beaches, the town of Les Sables d'Olonne and its conurbation are showing their ambitions. They don't want to be reduced to the sole status of starting the solo round the world sailing race every 4 years. "There are ambitions in Les Sables d'Olonne to develop nautical activities. The diagnosis has been made and the players have been consulted. The aim is to give ourselves the means to achieve our ambitions. Sailing in Sables d'Olonne goes further than the Vendée Globe," concluded David Dupouey.
