I had sailed an Excess 11 sailing catamaran from here to spain the week before and am now waiting to receive a second one which I will then sail to Germany.
But les Sables is much more than just this race, which of course indeed is the greatest happening of the town, transforming it every 4 years to the epicentre of the interest of sailors worldwide. Les Sables features a vivid fishery scene which can be seen in the brasseries and restaurants all over town, offering the freshest and tastiest of seafood and fish you can imagine.
There is also a big, big beach, the grand plage, which is a big attraction both in summer and in winter, when the fiery brutal waves come in from the roaring Atlantic Ocean. It is open to the public and you can enter at will, everybody is welcome. At the pontoon several small shops offer fast rides on Skidoos and even quicker ribs, going further down the wooden planks you will see the first brightly colored racing machines, see the tips of the huge carbon masts and maybe find a crew of people bustling around a boat to ready it for another seatrial.
On this exact location the big races find their starting point and will be finished. But also amateur and private skippers appreciate the marine service offered by Les Sables harbor and countless adventures of circumnavigations had begun here. Enjoy good food, a local strong! Standing there, looking at this rocket and letting the immense machinery act on your imagination is simply stunning.
Imagining to being in charge to control this monster in waves big as houses and wind speeds beyond safe is a true mindfuck. As a keen sailor, standing there at the stern of another IMOCA and trying to identify the different ropes, which one has which purpose and what goes where, is fun and interesting.
