Vieilles Voiles de Rhuys
Vieilles Voiles de Rhuys (VVR) is a maritime association on the Rhuys peninsula in the Gulf of Morbihan that restores, maintains and sails traditional sailing craft. At the Le Pouldu site in Sarzeau, members run a large workshop with mechanical, woodworking and office areas as well as boat storage for club-owned and privately owned vessels. The programme ranges from navigation and participation in maritime festivals to ropework, ship modelling, sea shanties and historical documentation. Regular meetings, lectures and major events such as Semaine du Golfe and the FĂȘte du CarĂ©nage shape club life for beginners and experienced sailors alike.
History
Vieilles Voiles de Rhuys is dedicated to protecting and promoting the maritime heritage of the Rhuys peninsula. Originally the association mainly hosted privately owned boats; later it built its own fleet of traditional vessels including Mona, Ma PrĂ©fĂ©rĂ©e, Capri, Gaillard de Rhuys, Bosco du Beg Lann and others. Since September 2018 the VVR have rented the Le Pouldu site in Sarzeau with a hall of about 700 mÂČ on roughly 5,000 mÂČ of land and fitted out mechanical, joinery and office cells. The ropework workshop goes back to founding president Benoit GuĂ©ho. After the 2014 FĂȘte du CarĂ©nage the sea-shanty group was formed; it now has around 50 to 65 members and releases its own CDs. The model-making section was founded in 2019; in November 2024 the heritage section followed to document boat history. During Semaine du Golfe 2025 the association received the medal of the town of Sarzeau. The press reports more than 400 members; at a general meeting 412 members were mentioned. The workshop is regarded as a clinic for historic boats and also cares for municipal vessels such as PĂšre Daniel belonging to the commune of Sarzeau.
Information
Facilities
Le Pouldu workshop (approx. 700 mÂČ hall on approx. 5,000 mÂČ grounds) with mechanical cell, joinery cell and office; boat storage and restoration berths; model workshop in Brillac; boutique at maritime festivals
Activities
Restoration of traditional boats, navigation and festival participation, ropework, sea shanties, ship modelling, heritage documentation, monthly lectures, boutique
Youth section
Model-making section interested in children's activities; ropework workshops also for younger participants
Parking
Yes, parking at Le Pouldu