Centre Nautique de Cancale
Centre Nautique de Cancale is an Association loi 1901 and sailing school on Plage de Port-Mer in Cancale, facing Mont-Saint-Michel and near Pointe du Grouin. Open year-round, the centre sits directly on the beach in a building styled after local oyster farms; the waters are Natura 2000 and UNESCO World Heritage listed and sheltered from prevailing south and west winds. The fleet includes Optimists, Hobie Cat catamarans, First Class 8 and Surprise among other training boats; summer and holiday courses, year-round membership, equipment hire and group programmes are offered. Children, teenagers and adults can train from Optimist through catamaran to keelboats, complemented by school groups, sea classes and corporate seminars. A distinctive feature is participatory club life including winter lay-up and fleet maintenance, plus the traditional Loguivy lugger replica An Durzunel.
History
Centre Nautique de Cancale is organised as an Association loi 1901 and teaches sailing and other water sports in the Bay of Cancale. The Port-Mer site faces Mont-Saint-Michel near Pointe du Grouin, is Natura 2000 and UNESCO protected and sheltered from prevailing south and west winds; the centre welcomes visitors year-round in a building resembling Cancale oyster farms. The fleet includes Hobie Cat catamarans, Optimists, RS Zest dinghies, First Class 8 (Doumé, Noura), the cruiser Océanis 31 Tobago and the traditional lugger An Durzunel – a 1984 replica of a Loguivy lugger built by Yvon Clochet in Plouguiel, listed as a boat of heritage interest. The association works participatively: members maintain fleet and buildings in winter and organise events. Partners include FFVoile, CDV35, the town of Cancale, the Brittany region and the Fondation du Patrimoine. Jean-François Malval joined CNC in 2023 as an intern and permanent instructor and has been director since September 2024. The bureau with president Thierry Laine, vice-president Julie Poitevin, treasurer Delphine Margely and secretary Joeffrey Tourneur was elected by the general assembly on 7 March 2026; the board has twelve members.
Information
Facilities
Site directly on Plage de Port-Mer with adapted rock-foot access; oyster-farm-style building; modern fleet of catamarans, Optimists, dinghies, keelboats, kayaks and stand-up paddles; live webcam on site
Activities
Summer and holiday courses, year-round sailing for members, equipment hire, private lessons, guided outings, instructor training, corporate seminars, school groups and sea classes, stag/hen events
Youth section
Active youth programmes: Optimist ages 7–10, Hobie T1 catamaran ages 10–15, summer courses from age 4, plus school and sea-class programmes
Parking
Yes, parking nearby