An excellent place for sailing
Royan has a superb stretch of water: The Gironde estuary
This estuary combines the pleasure of sailing and the joy of water sports with the feats of racing.
A delightful stopping point between La Rochelle and Bordeaux
The port is a departure point for day trips, such as trips up the estuary under the cliffs near the Médoc coast, or for longer outings towards Marennes-Oléron, between the island and the mainland.
A complete infrastructure
Tide after tide, in all seasons, the sailing waters are well organised with marinas and boating centres that teach sailing. The Boating Centre knows how to get the best out of the waves and the wind and offers young people an introduction to boating, from dinghies to catamarans, and coordinates activities for seven partner communes over 70 km of coastline.
Royan Atlantique Sauvetage gives lessons on the dangers of the ocean and lifesaving through courses open to everyone from the age of 8. The school delivers a training course which leads to a diploma in water sports and also first aid training courses.
The dance of wings
The regattas in Royan bay and the estuary put a ballet of white wings on the horizon. In mid-July the port welcomes the annual yachting race - the Tour de France à la Voile.
On the beaches, the kite masters implore the wind to guide their material wings and to lead the dance. Kiting is a beach sport, an Asian tradition and a thousand-year-old art form but it has also become a real sport of passion, fun, but also sometimes physically demanding.
Air and water acrobatics in old boats
The Pontaillac waves are home to board fanatics. These air and water acrobatics seduce young people smitten with boarding and in search of new sensations. Other board fanatics will race on wheels on the Coubre and on the Côte sauvage. New activities such as kiteboarding and kite buggies attract a significant number of supporters. Simple amateurs and seasoned sportsmen all participate in jet skiing and kitesurfing.
You can even learn to sail old sailboats on the Seudre and the Gironde estuary.