As the skippers of the IMOCA class prepare to set sail for the Vendée Globe 2024, Lorient Agglomération has recently initiated a process to sell several buildings located on the Base. The aim of this initiative is to develop and increase the reception capacity of the Lorient site, which has attracted a growing number of visitors and is now facing challenges linked to its growing success. These sales are therefore a strategic step towards meeting the needs of an increasingly busy site and optimizing its infrastructure.
A process initiated in 2022
Lorient Agglomérations continues the process initiated in 2022, following the sale of several buildings housing ocean racing stables. After Glorieux 1, sold in April 2022 to Team Paprec Arkea, Glorieux 3 was sold in February 2023 to Team Banque Populaire. This building, offering a working area of almost 1,000 m2, with a workshop, offices on two levels and various technical rooms, had been sold for 1.4 million euros.
Consolidating the presence of ocean racing stables
In October 2024, it's the turn of Glorieux 2 and 3, as well as the "La Base" restaurant, to be handed over to private structures, as confirmed by the agglomeration community:
"Our aim is to consolidate the presence of ocean racing teams in Lorient, and to develop our reception capacities, which are currently saturated by the success of the various classes. This sale will enable us to finance the extension of our pontoons for IMOCA, Class 40 and Ultima boats. But they will also be used to welcome yachtsmen. The whole local economy will benefit."
However, the terms of use are quite strict, and the use of the Glorieux will have to remain within a perimeter gravitating around ocean racing or shipbuilding.
A heavyweight in the local economy
In an ultra-competitive sector, where many ports are aiming to develop ocean racing hubs, Lorient is trying to maintain its leadership in a sector that weighs heavily on the local economy:
By 2023, annual local economic spin-offs have tripled in ten years, reaching 35 million euros (excluding boat building). Most of the teams' customers and suppliers are located in Southern Brittany, and more than half in the Lorient Agglomération area.
If we add local boat building, the economic impact is even greater: 7 to 12 million depending on the year (masts, foils, hulls, etc.). From this point of view, the strong presence of IMOCA boats at Lorient La Base (19 out of 47) is very favorable to the region, since this class alone represents 67% of total expenditure.
