Les P’tits Sailors – getting to know the ropes!
The Vendée is an ideal holiday destination and offers numerous possibilities to practice nautical activities with the family. Children can safely try out the delights of sailing, land yachting, catamaran, or windsurfing. There are many surfing hot spots along the coast where surfing lessons are available. Parent and child swimming lesson ideas provide an interesting way to learn. A different way to have fun on holiday! So, its time to get “under way”!
Two pools awarded the "Welcome c’est Beau Ici" label:
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Comme un Poisson dans l'eau Swimming pool in Saint Gilles Croix de Vie
This swimming pool is situated on the sea front of the Grande Plage in Saint Gilles Croix de Vie. This covered pool, heated to 30°, allows you to get used to the water temperature before diving into the sea. Swimming lessons possible for children from 4 years old.
Read more about Comme un Poisson dans l'eau
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Les Crevettes swimming pool in Jard sur Mer
This pool is open in July and August and offers lessons from 4 years old in a heated pool with a state-qualified instructor.
Where can children learn water sports?
Fort Saint Pierre Sailing school in Noirmoutier
This sailing school offers children individual lessons and courses such as optimist, dinghies, catamarans, windsurfing, and paddle adapted to their age, experience levels. From 4 years old (sea garden) to 15 years old and more. It is also possible to practice sailing with the family.
Read more about Fort Saint Pierre
Nautical centre at Notre Dame de Monts
The Nautical centre welcomes you all year round and offers an introduction to sand yachting and catamaran for young children and teenagers. Windsurfing is possible for beginners from 12 years old. Canoeing and kayaking is available to children from 6 years old.
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Nautical base at Saint Jean de Monts - Plage de la Base Nautique
All year round, the water sports centre offers children the opportunity to learn different water sports adapted to their age group. This takes the form of training courses, individual or as group lessons with qualified instructors. The Jardin des mers or “Sea Gardens” (an educational approach with activities, allowing young children to experience a marine environment) from 5 years old, and from 7 years for children that can already swim: optimist, catamarans adapted for children. For teenagers and adults over 16 years old, windsurfing, windfoil, sand yacht and kayaking.
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Saint Hilaire Nautisme at Saint Hilaire de Riez
3 nautical bases welcome you all year round, helping children discover the pleasures of sailing. They also propose canoe-kayaking trips for the family, it is more fun on the 3 bases!
- Nautical Base at Sion sur l’Océan welcomes children to the Jardin des mers or “Sea Gardens” (an educational approach with activities, allowing young children to experience a marine environment) from 5 years old. For the older children from 5 to 16 years old and over: sailing, dinghy, optimist, catamaran, and windsurfing.
- Base des Vallées: Offers courses from 6 to 15 years: optimist, catamaran, windsurfing and par sailing (handivoile) from 10 years old.
- Base des Demoiselles: Offers children the possibility to try land sailing from 9 years old.
SEMVIE Nautisme at Saint Gilles Croix de Vie
This nautical centre welcomes children to discover the world of sailing. For the little ones from 5 to 7 years old, the Jardin des mers or «Sea Gardens” (is an educational approach with activities, allowing young children to experience a marine environment). Training courses from 10 to 15 years old: optimist, catamaran, and windsurfing.
Ocean Sport Institute - Institut Sport Océan (ISO) in Les Sables d’Olonne
The Institut Sports Océan is the first water sports centre in the Pays de la Loire region. It is ideally situated on the shores of Lake Tanchet and just opposite the Atlantic Ocean. From initiations to advanced levels, the ISO offers (from March to October) children - from 5 years old - private lessons, training courses which are adapted to all levels. Excellent for a family activity.
Jardin des mers or” Sea garden” (is an educational approach with activities, allowing young children to experience a marine environment): 5-6 years old, and from 5 to 12 years old: optimist, catamaran, dinghy and windsurf.
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Sailing school du Bouil at Longeville sur Mer
From initiation to advanced levels, the school is certified as a (agréée Ecole de voile Française) French Sailing School and is open from April to September offering: Catamaran and windsurfing courses, weekly or private lessons, as well as family sailing experiences to discover this sport.
Special family offer with the VOGUE ET VAGUE label.
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Cercle Nautique Tranchais (CNT) at La Tranche sur Mer
La Tranche sur mer has the Sailing and Family Plus label. This resort with its 13km of beaches is ideal for discovering and testing different water sports with the family. The CNT welcomes you all year round and offers children from 5 years old, initiations or individual lessons as well as training courses according to their age group. From 7 to 14 years old: optimist, catamaran, windsurfing, kite surfing, and several family packages.
Read more about Cercle Nautique Tranchais
Centre Nautique Municipal La Faute sur Mer
The Nautical Centre offers you the opportunity to practice sand yachting on your own, with your family or in a group. Its state-qualified instructors offer to teach you the basics of sand yachting during outings of at least 3 hours, so that you can quickly become independent quite quickly.
Did you know?
The Vogue et Vague label in the Pays de la Loire region permits professionals of the nautical industry who become members, to provide a more personalised service especially designed for families. Thus, enabling them to discover and test different nautical sports in complete safety.
Where can children learn to swim?
Swim school - Ty Splash at l’Épine - Noirmoutier island
This temporary swimming pool set up during the summer on the Port de Morin in l'Épine. It permits children to discover the pleasure of swimming and to learn to swim. Covered and heated, it accepts toddlers from 3 to 5 years old with a paddling area with games. Swimming lessons are available for children from 5 years old. Various tests need validation when trying a sailing activity.
>> To have more information: contact Toutist Office of Noirmoutier island
Le Club Lucky Plage, Plage des Baigneuses at Saint Jean de Monts
This beach club welcomes children all summer long. The paddling area equipped with games is perfect for 2 to 5 years old. Swimming lessons are possible in a heated pool.
>> To have more information: contact Tourist Office of Saint Jean de Monts
Océabul Aquatic centre at Saint Jean de Monts
Océabul offers a relaxation and well-being area overlooking the sea. Swimming lessons are available for children or if you prefer, you can enjoy a relaxing moment with the family.
The Aquatic centre « Multiplexe » at Saint Gilles Croix de Vie
Open all year round, the "Multiplexe of Pays de Saint Gilles" welcomes young and old alike to enjoy a full range of aquatic activities and relaxation. There are 4 heated pools, one of which is outside and multiple parallel slides (pentagliss) inside. Swimming lessons are possible for children.
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Le Remblai swimming pool in Les Sables d’Olonne
The Remblai swimming pool welcomes you all year round, 7 days a week.
Situated on the main beach of Les Sables d’Olonne, the Remblai swimming pool is supplied with sea water, which makes it so unusual. It has two heated pools, one of which is outdoors, and the second covered pool is used for teaching. Swimming lessons are possible for children.
The Aquatic Centre - Aqualonne le Château d’Olonne - Les Sables d'Olonne
This aqua centre welcomes you for a relaxing moment. Baby swimming sessions and children’s swimming lessons are possible.
Esprit Surf at Longeville sur Mer - Plage du Rocher
This surf school offers swimming lessons for your children in a heated pool. Approved by Youth & Sports and awarded the VOGUE ET VAGUE label. Family discovery packages are available.
The Aquatic centre - l’Auniscéane at La Tranche sur Mer
L'Auniscéane, an aquatic centre of 1800 m2 offers swimming sessions of babies from 6 months to 3 years, as well as children swimming lessons from 4 years old.
Le Mickey Portique Club – main beach in La Tranche sur Mer
This beach club offers swimming lessons in a heated pool all summer long. It welcomes children from 3 to 5 years old for fun courses and provides swimming lessons from 5 years old.
>> To have more information: contact Tourist Office of La Tranche sur Mer
Artifical Bathing lake at l’Aiguillon sur Mer
This artificial lake offers swimming lessons for children from the age of 6 years old. Well known to families for its safety requirement regarding children, it gives parents great peace of mind.