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What are the port's development objectives? What are the perceived constraints to yachting development for the marina manager, by users and by the feedback they can provide?
In terms of Le Havre and its development as a nautical marina. In 2012, Port Vauban was opened. In 2014, the new ESCO technical area. Then, in 2018-2019, we had a program to replace all the pontoons. Over the coming years, we'll be focusing on raising awareness among boaters, while continuing to build customer loyalty through support initiatives. It's a policy we want to strengthen.
On the regatta front, the Transat Café l'Or saw the emergence of a number of Class40 projects. This will undoubtedly see the emergence of an offshore racing center in Le Havre, which should happen soon. This will bring back technical expertise in electronics, stratification and all the various subjects that may be of interest to yachting. In fact, if we had to talk about things to improve at the Le Havre site, it would be to note a slight lack of services for yachtsmen in technical terms: engine manufacturers, rigging, stratification... We do have a shipyard, but it's currently the only one. There are also two professionals in the ESCO area who provide this kind of service. This creates a lot of delays during the season. There may be room for different skills.
Can the town provide support, an opening, a dynamic? For example, by offering land?
By creating the ESCO zone, the urban community and the city of Le Havre have made space available. We have professionals who have set up there, but we need to continue promoting this zone. I'm sure it's also up to professionals to come forward and show their interest in Le Havre. There's great potential for companies to set up here. Whatever their skills: maintenance, careening, electronics, rigging... We've got people who are already here, who work well. But the town needs to continue to take action to welcome its pros and give them space.
Do you have any anecdotes or memorable moments to share with our readers?
Throughout the season, we've had many memorable moments and anecdotes. We could write a book, I think! Of course, being the starting town for the Transat Café l'Or is always a very special moment for us.
In winter 2024/25, one of the most unusual ships to pass through Le Havre was a J Class that arrived from the United States via a container ship. With commercial lines arriving here in Le Havre, we have quite a few boats leaving the port for export. In particular, we welcome Fontaines Pajot and Lagoons... Throughout the year, they come to the pontoons and then embark on cargo ships.
But we also have boats coming in. This winter, we had a sailboat destined for refit in Brittany. It took a commercial line to Le Havre and was unloaded here. It's quite an exceptional boat. A sailboat like you see at the Régates Royales. But in this case, she was in really poor condition. This boat had spent many years in the United States on a mudflat. An old traditional wooden sailboat. A training prototype for the America's Cup in the early 20th century. It was to remain on our quay for just a few weeks. The time to unload it and let the Christmas season pass. Indeed, with all the garlands, it's impossible to transport such a tall boat by road.
But the stopover lasted, because the ber that held the hull structure - a large steel structure to prevent the hull from splitting open during transport - was a few dozen centimetres too high.
So we had to unload the boat once to cut the ber, before putting it back in. Then we had to bring in a trailer from Holland, which had been lowered, but in the end was still too high. We then had to cut part of the helm station to gain a few more centimetres...
It was a project that took longer than expected. But this pretty boat, waiting to be refitted, was there in front of our eyes every day. We thought, when is she going to leave? And I think it'll be nice to see her sailing again in a few years' time in photos or magazines... Because this particular boat passed through our home and made us sweat a little!
