Largest port in Vendée
Port Olona, the marina of Les Sables d'Olonne (Vendée), was created in 1978 with 600 places. In 1988, it almost doubled its capacity with 500 new berths. The following year, the first edition of the Vendée Globe increased its notoriety and the number of berths was reduced. Thus, over the years, the capacity reached 1400 places - which makes it the largest marina in the Vendée. Its particularity is to have been built on the land. The very long channel protects it from storms.
Squaring the circle
Port Olona is also a place of life with the departures of offshore races (Vendée Globe, GGR, Les Sables Horta, Maître Coq, Minieuros), the presence of companies, local residents, water sports clubs, walkers, boaters, offshore racing teams. And it is surrounded by buildings. However, each one is "growing" as Yannick Moreau, Mayor of Les Sables d'Olonne, indicates.
How to enlarge it, "to reinforce the attractiveness of the seaside resort" while keeping its soul, without denaturing it? This is the question that was on the minds of all the local actors.
No extension of the harbour
The master plan presented to the City Council on January 31 was intended to address this issue. It was voted unanimously, minus one abstention. This shows that all the actors, heard for so many years, have succeeded in agreeing on the main principles of development.
Therefore, this plan is more of a "sketch", as the Mayor says, than a turnkey project. It is a set of "guidelines", major principles, "broad outlines". It will be presented to the Departmental and Regional Councils.
These broad outlines are based on a strong idea: no extension of the afloat port.
Dry Port
Thus, the essential element of the plan is that we will not increase the size of the afloat port but create a dry port, reserved for boats less than 8 meters (50% of the present fleet). This is the solution that will make it possible to reconcile development and respect for the professional, civic, tourist and environmental environment.
Among the other novelties that result from this principle, let us note the creation of a right quay (in front of the SNSM), taken on the water, which will make gain some tens of square meters; a new careening and wintering area.
10 hectares gained
But Port Olona is a port located in an urban area. Also, the other main element to remember is the proposal to gain 10 hectares behind the port to create a real economic and tourist dynamic. In concrete terms, a village of specialised companies should be built near a race centre with a permanent race headquarters, a tourist centre "Cité du Vendée Globe" and an association centre. Next door, a parking lot will be built and a nautical base will allow the development of light sailing.
