Have you thought about a Coastal Rowing Trip lately? We have posted about Coastal Rowing Trips a few times and received very positive feedback. Coastal and offshore rowing is a type of rowing which is performed at sea. Due to the harsher conditions encountered, the boats are wider and more robust than those used on rivers and lakes. In North America, this sport is often called Open Water Rowing. Today we would like to inform you about a Coastal Rowing tour in Arcachon, for beginners and rowers who have not done this before so much.

There is an area in France  – the bay of Arcachon which provides great possibilities for coastal rowing. It combines fine food, comfortable climate conditions and great rowing. You will row mainly in a bay. Protected against heavy storms and extreme waves.

Rowing in a bay is still very exciting. You feel the wind and the waves and sometimes harsh conditions…. And if you like seafood, you have picked the right place. The bay is one of France’s best places to eat oysters and shrimp.

May 2023, Coastal Rowing tour in the Bay of Arcachon:

Coastal Boats and Rowing in Europe offer a 4-day Rowing Event in France.

Day 1: The Area where we row –  Arcachon Bay (in French: the Bassin d’Arcachon, simply known as “le Bassin”) is a bay in the Atlantic Ocean on the southwest coast of France. The bay covers an area of 150 km² at high tide and 40 km² at low tide. Day one will be the day where we start off easy. The crews will row for 3-4 hrs towards an oyster farm or an oyster breeder. We’ll leave the boats there and enjoy the local seafood.

Day 2: The general shape of the Bassin d’Arcachon is that of an equilateral triangle pointing north, the southwest corner of which is open to the sea, between Cap Ferret and the town of Arcachon (more specifically, its suburb Pyla-sur-Mer), through a 3 km narrow channel (Les Passes). Just south of the entrance is the Great Dune of Pyla, the place where we are heading to. The Pyla Dune is crowned by Europe’s largest sand dune. Nearly 3 kilometres long, 500 metres wide: On the way there, you will feel your boat entering the Atlantic Ocean. An absolute spectacular feeeling, as you will see.

Day 3: On day 3, we will be rowing around “birds Island”. In the middle of the bay is a very particular island: L’île aux Oiseaux (Isle of the Birds). Every year there are rowing races around this island, and if we get lucky, we can participate in the race or make the trip on our own.

Interested in a rowing tour in the southwest of France? Contact us!