Sailing

Sailing, an increasingly accessible dream

Until the twentieth century, the sea remained synonymous with danger, but the development of recreational boating in recent decades has made sailing an increasingly accessible leisure activity.

A few years ago, sailing was still the preserve of the wealthy or the passionate. Today, websites such as MAIF’s, with its accompanied sailing offer, allow novices to spend a day at sea with many sailors. Other platforms connect boat owners with individuals who can sail for a few hours in exchange for a contribution to onboard expenses.

There is now an abundance of offers to all kinds of destinations, starting with France, which counts more than 9 million occasional recreational sailors.

The French market: sailboats at all prices

Those considering acquiring their own boat will be spoiled for choice. After a sharp slowdown in the wake of the 2008 crisis, the French recreational boating market has regained momentum, with rising purchases and overall turnover exceeding 4 billion euros across all sectors (source: Fédération des industries nautiques).

France remains the world leader in sailboat sales, driven by pioneering shipyards such as Bénéteau and Fountaine Pajot. Multihulls, for their part, have benefited greatly from the recovery. These vessels—more stable, more spacious and faster than monohulls—enjoy a positive image among the general public thanks to the exploits of sailors such as Joyon, Cammas, Coville or MacArthur, whose transoceanic routes are paved with superlatives. Today, shipyards like Fountaine Pajot, Lagoon or Outremer are investing heavily in new production units to meet export demand boosted by the growth of emerging countries. That said, the multihull market remains out of reach for the average budget, with entry prices around 200,000 euros for a new boat...

But whatever the bottle, as long as there is the thrill. The less affluent among France’s 4 million regular recreational sailors will also find what they are looking for on a second-hand market marked by low prices that favor large volumes of transactions between individuals. In Brittany, second-hand sales remain predominant, accounting for around 90% of transactions. This trend is proven by the success of second-hand boat shows such as Le Mille Sabords du Crouesty. Whether through newspaper classifieds or Le Bon Coin, it is possible to find small sailboats under 10 meters to refurbish for less than 10,000 euros. In this context, professional resellers have little interest in overvaluing boats. Good news for buyers...

Sailing from your armchair

For those who dream of offshore racing without getting wet, one solution stands out: Virtual Regatta. Route du Rhum, Transat Jacques Vabre, Mini Transat, The Bridge or the Jules Verne Trophy—these offshore races are now accessible to everyone. After more than ten years of existence, this one-of-a-kind game has gained followers around the globe, reaching 460,000 participants during the virtual edition of the 2016–2017 Vendée Globe. Enough to saturate site traffic at the start of the solo round-the-world race...

The success of Virtual Regatta is first explained by its easy access. The game’s creator, Rochelais Philippe Guigné, wanted from the outset to develop an approach open to sailing novices. The highly functional site allows quick and intuitive handling of the boat. There is also an abundance of tutorials and useful advice on the users’ forum.

The virtual regatta begins at the same time as the real race it follows. You first choose a boat and can name it as you wish. The screen is made up of an interactive map on which you plot your sailboat’s routes according to wind forecasts, and a dashboard to steer the boat.

To avoid finishing at the back of the pack, the player can choose sails suited to wind strength and direction. This is enough to have fun, considering that for a beginner the main interest lies in discovering race logic and the routing options chosen by real skippers.

Those aiming for top positions (good luck with 450,000 participants!) will improve their chances by equipping their boat with the most efficient sails available online—an option that is paid in every sense. Beyond that, the core work of the virtual sailor lies in analyzing the weather data provided by the site. A positive strategy consists of studying the route choices of the best players and drawing your own conclusions to gain autonomy.

Let’s be clear: this highly addictive game is perfect for insomniacs who will easily get up at night to monitor their boat’s route. If, however, your partner doesn’t like you being late for dinner, you will need to organize yourself...

Nautical mastery

According to the well-known saying, it is in the storm that the captain is recognized. Whatever your sailing program, you will need a minimum level of knowledge to head out to sea. To reach nautical mastery that will allow you to sail safely and therefore enjoy yourself, it is essential to give yourself the time for training suited to your objectives... without skipping steps!

Cruising

Nothing beats a dinghy to learn how to steer, feel the wind and trim the sails. Nevertheless, if your goal is to go cruising, starting your training on a cruising sailboat remains a classic path that will not disappoint you. Most recreational sailors agree on one point: nothing beats a weekend at sea to disconnect from daily life. This is the addictive side of cruising boats, where notions of time and space are no longer the same as on land. In contact with the sea, life seems more intense, while offering time for oneself...

Sailing and La Rochelle

The French coastline offers all kinds of sailing areas suited to every taste and level. In the Mediterranean, there are no tides, turquoise waters and abundant sunshine, but often strong winds with the mistral and tramontane. The Atlantic coast also offers very fine playgrounds, from the small ports of the Basque Country to the Breton islands, not forgetting sailing in La Rochelle where you will find the largest marina in Europe surrounded by the islands of Aix, Ré and Oléron. Finally, those who wish to take on a more technical sailing area will surely be tempted by northern Brittany. Strong currents, rocky fields and extraordinary landscapes await you between the Abers region, the Bay of Morlaix, the Pink Granite Coast and the Channel Islands...

Safety and the practice of sailing

The more demanding the sailing area, the more you will need to rely on yourself to react effectively in the event of a breakdown.

Safety in sailing is essential. For example, what would you do in the event of a gale, a fire, a leak, an injured person on board, a collision with a cargo ship or an evacuation? While these situations are rare, they remain possible. Without dramatizing or exaggerating the risks, being well prepared is important to practice safely.

Coastal and offshore licenses

French law does not require a license to go to sea on a sailboat. However, recreational sailors who wish to use an outboard motor of more than 6 horsepower must hold a coastal license to navigate within 6 miles of a safe haven (about ten kilometers).

Beyond that, the offshore license opens the door to the open sea, without any distance constraint from the coast. It is an excellent opportunity to clarify your theoretical knowledge of chart navigation. On the agenda: knowing how to read a nautical chart, calculate and plot a course, understand steering and right-of-way rules, calculate your position, perform tidal calculations and know the basics of marine weather. Plenty to keep you busy during long winter evenings!