Club École de Voile de Berck
Club École de Voile de Berck is a sailing school and association on the Opal Coast accredited by the French Sailing Federation, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Sport. For more than 20 years the club has been based at the 12-hectare Lac de Conchil-le-Temple and has owned the private lake since June 2021. The site includes a clubhouse, sail loft, resource centre, workshop and classroom for school groups – all fully accessible for people with disabilities. The programme ranges from week-long Optimist, windsurfing and catamaran courses to boat hire, handisailing with Hansa boats, wingfoil and e-foil. Inclusion has been central since the club was founded; it organises national and international handisailing competitions and welcomes participants from age 6.
History
Club École de Voile de Berck has been established at Lac de Conchil-le-Temple in Pas-de-Calais for more than 20 years. The accredited sailing school is recognised by the French Sailing Federation, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Sport, enabling many people – including those with disabilities – to learn and improve in sailing and water sports. Since its creation, integrating people with disabilities has been a core priority; the handisailing tradition, national and international racing teams and volunteer organisers define the club's profile. The 'Ouvrez votre club' project with support from the Pas-de-Calais departmental council gave further reach to this inclusion work. Due to increasing disorder at the lake and growing safety risks for users and members, the site was fenced, access limited and management entrusted to a single entity in consultation with the authorities. Since June 2021 the Association Club École de Voile de Berck has owned the 12-hectare lake. The water is now private property with enhanced security measures; swimming, fishing and private craft are temporarily restricted while the sailing school remains open to all. Upgrade works continue with a view to gradually reopening the lake to historical user groups under controlled agreements. Besides the inland lake at Conchil-le-Temple, the club also uses the Baie d'Authie south of the Opal Coast as a second exceptional venue for sea sailing when conditions allow. The club hosts major events such as the Hansa North Cup and the Parasportnature exhibition and has gained international attention through its handisport sailing saga and a documented Channel crossing.
Information
Facilities
Clubhouse, sail loft, resource centre with teaching materials, workshop, classroom for school groups; all facilities wheelchair-accessible. Private 12-hectare Lac de Conchil-le-Temple with secured grounds. Conchil Beach Club relaxation area for members.
Activities
Week courses and holiday stages in Optimist, windsurfing and catamaran; boat hire (SUP, canoe, windsurf, catamaran, Hansa); handisailing; wingfoil and e-foil; group and school visits; team-building, orienteering; regattas such as the Hansa North Cup
Youth section
Active youth programme from age 6 with Optimist courses (6–10 years), catamaran courses (10–16 years) and windsurfing from age 8 during school holidays