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The Port Olona 2040 project aims to transform the Vendée marina over the long term. It will culminate in the creation of a museum dedicated to the Vendée Globe, on the very site where several nautical companies have been operating for years. These structures will have to vacate the site by 2027 and move to new sites proposed by the local authority. This reorganization, announced as a lever of attractiveness, upsets the commercial balance of the Quai Jeantot.
Unsuitable alternative locations
The businesses concerned by the move are mainly located opposite the pontoons, in direct connection with their activity. Roze Marine, which sells boats and nautical equipment, and Force 5, which specializes in the sale of new and used boats, fear a loss of visibility if they have to move away from the heart of the port.
Three locations have been identified: Port-Olona 3, an area to the east of the Ch'noue, the Sablière parking lot, or a plot adjoining the technical halls dedicated to racing yachts. These sites do not benefit from the same exposure or direct passage of yachtsmen.
Heavy investment costs for companies
The cost of relocation, including the purchase or construction of a building, is the responsibility of the professionals. According to Force 5, the total cost could be in the region of a million euros. Roze Marine stresses the uncertainty surrounding the exact nature of the proposed plots and the technical constraints ahead.
For Gwen Marine, a specialist in ship repair, this situation has prompted the company to anticipate part of its move to the Les Achards area. However, maintaining a site in Les Sables remains vital to remain close to its yachting clientele.
Different postures for different professions
RM Nautisme, a company specializing in onboard electronics, is more cautious. A dedicated site could enable better synergy with other professionals in a "nautical village" approach. However, the company is hoping for rapid clarification of the timetable so that it can move forward.
Conversely, Voilerie Tarot sees the move as an opportunity. The company, which was recently taken over, plans to use the opportunity to create a modernized production center, better suited to its needs and those of its team.
Planning still in flux
Les Sables-d'Olonne Développement, a semi-public company, is piloting the project alongside the Département, which is responsible for the museum. Delivery of the first serviced plots is scheduled for 2026, with completion expected in summer 2027. Until then, the companies concerned will benefit from the renewal of their AOTs.
Negotiations are currently underway to enable professionals to secure their land future, with the possibility of becoming owners of their plots. Although the broad outlines of the project have been validated, there is still room for adjustment, particularly with regard to the commercial space around the harbor master's office.
The Port Olona 2040 project crystallizes the stakes of a port shared between tourism development and economic activity. Roze Marine, Gwen Marine, Force 5, RM Nautisme and Voilerie Tarot project divergent trajectories according to their constraints and perspectives. The challenge will be to combine these realities without altering the nautical identity of Les Sables-d'Olonne.
