Les Sports Nautiques de l'Eau d'Heure ASBL
Sailing club SNEH (Sports Nautiques de l'Eau d'Heure ASBL) is the largest sailing club in Wallonia and is located on Lac de la Plate Taille in the Eau d'Heure lakes near Froidchapelle in Belgium. On the 420-hectare lake the club offers pontoons in the Baie de l'Oupia with around 150 berths as well as a fenced boat park for about 350 dinghies, catamarans and sport keelboats including a slipway. The programme ranges from light and cruising sailing through regattas and a year-round sailing school to a Handivoile section for people with disabilities. Juniors are trained among others in Optimist and ILCA; on Sundays the friendly Bol d'heure race takes place. Since its founding in 1982 by the merger of two clubs, SNEH has been a central hub of Walloon sailing with a clubhouse, restaurant and FFYB/LHF labels.
History
Sailing club SNEH (Sports Nautiques de l'Eau d'Heure ASBL) was founded in 1982 by the merger of two sailing clubs: the Cercle de Voile de l'Eau d'Heure and the Sports Nautiques Wallons. Both clubs were already based at the Eau d'Heure dam lakes site. The dam complex lies in a landscape of valleys, plains and forests across the municipalities of Cerfontaine and Froidchapelle and comprises five lakes. Lac de la Plate Taille, covering 420 hectares at 250 metres altitude, is Belgium's largest lake and reserved for sailing; prevailing winds are west-east. SNEH grew into Wallonia's largest sailing club with around 450 member families. In the Baie de l'Oupia, pontoons with about 150 berths for cruising boats were built, plus a fenced park for around 350 dinghies, catamarans and sport keelboats with slipway and guest pontoons. The club developed an extensive regatta programme with national and international championships and established the Sunday friendly race Bol d'heure. The sailing school is open year-round and also trains instructors. The Handivoile section uses adapted equipment and holds two LHF stars in leisure and competition; FFYB and ADEPS award the club three stars in leisure and competition. A clubhouse with restaurant and sanitary facilities and an active year-round programme on land and water shape club life to this day. Visiting sailors are welcomed during the sailing season.
Information
Facilities
Clubhouse with restaurant and sanitary facilities; pontoons in the Baie de l'Oupia with around 150 berths; fenced boat park for about 350 boats; slipway and guest pontoons; parking for vehicles and trailers; Handivoile equipment (Neo495, schooner, Breton dinghy); petanque court.
Activities
Light and cruising sailing, catamaran, sport keelboat and windsurfing; year-round sailing school from initiation to advanced; Handivoile; national and international regattas; Sunday friendly race Bol d'heure; junior development in Optimist and ILCA; member events and visitor sailing.
Youth section
Active junior development with Optimist and ILCA training in cooperation with FFYB; sailing school for children from about age 5.
Parking
Yes, parking available
Guest berths
Yes, by prior arrangement
Boating license training
Available: 1
Mathis
12 Tuesday evenings (spring course) or Zoom courses in winter