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What are the port?s development goals? What are the perceived constraints on the development of recreational boating from the perspective of the port manager, the users, and the feedback they provide?
In Le Havre, with regard to the development of its marina. In 2012, Port Vauban opened. In 2014, the new ESCO technical area was completed. Then, in 2018?2019, we carried out a program to replace all the docks. In the coming years, our development efforts will focus on raising awareness among recreational boaters, while continuing to build customer loyalty through support initiatives. We want to strengthen this policy.
On the racing front, the Transat Café l'Or has sparked the development of Class40 projects that are now taking shape. This will undoubtedly lead to the emergence of an offshore racing hub in Le Havre, which is expected to materialize soon. This will bring back technical expertise in electronics, fiberglass layup, and all the various areas of interest to recreational boaters. In fact, if we were to identify areas for improvement at the Le Havre site, it would be a slight lack of technical services for recreational boaters: engine repair, rigging, fiberglass layup... We have a shipyard, but it?s currently the only one. There are also two professionals in the ESCO area who provide these kinds of services. This leads to long wait times during the season. There might be room for additional expertise.
Can the city provide support, opportunities, and momentum? For example, by offering land?
By creating the ESCO zone, the Le Havre Urban Community and the City of Le Havre have made space available. Professionals have already set up shop there, but we need to continue promoting this area. It?s also up to professionals to reach out and show their interest in Le Havre. There is great potential for companies to set up shop here, regardless of their area of expertise?whether it?s maintenance, hull cleaning, electronics, rigging, or other fields... We already have people here who are doing a great job. But the city needs to keep taking action to welcome these professionals and make room for them.
Do you have any anecdotes or memorable moments you'd like to share with our readers?
Throughout the season, we?ve had plenty of memorable moments and anecdotes. I think we could write a book about them! Of course, being the starting point for the Transat Café l?Or is always a very special moment for us.
Among the rather unusual boats that passed through Le Havre during the winter of 2024?25 was a Class J that arrived from the United States on a container ship. With commercial shipping routes coming here to Le Havre, we have quite a few boats leaving the port for export. In particular, we welcome Fontaines Pajot and Lagoon yachts... Throughout the year, they come to the docks and are then loaded onto cargo ships.
But we also have boats arriving. This winter, we had a sailboat that was supposed to be refitted in Brittany. It took a commercial route to Le Havre and was unloaded at our facility. It?s a rather exceptional boat. A sailboat like the ones you see at the Régates Royales. But in this case, it was really in poor condition. This boat had spent many years in the United States sitting in a mudflat. An old, traditional wooden sailboat?a training prototype for the America?s Cup in the early 20th century. It was only supposed to stay on our dock for a few weeks?just long enough to unload it and wait out the Christmas holiday season. In fact, with all the holiday decorations up, special-haulage trucks can?t transport a boat that tall by road.
But the stopover took a while because the cradle holding the hull?a large steel structure designed to prevent the hull from splitting in two during transport?was a few dozen centimeters too high.
So we had to unload the boat once to cut the berth, before putting it back in. Then we had to bring in a low-bed trailer from Holland, but it turned out to be too high after all. It had to go back. We then had to cut part of the helm station to gain a few more centimeters...
This project took longer than expected. But this beautiful boat, waiting to be refitted, was right there in front of us every day. We kept wondering, ?When is it going to leave?? And I think it?ll be nice to see it sailing again in a few years?in photos or in magazines... Because that boat?it came through our shop and gave us quite a few close calls!
