École de Voile de Cherbourg

What École de Voile de Cherbourg does

École de Voile de Cherbourg (EVC) is a non-profit sailing school (association loi 1901, SIRET 780 875 142 00017) founded in 1968 and headquartered at Place Napoléon, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, in the Manche department of Normandy, France. It operates year-round from a waterfront base nautique with direct access to the Cherbourg rade, the largest artificial harbor in Europe (140 hectares), which it markets as a "stade nautique" usable in nearly all weather conditions. Its activity is centered on multi-format sailing instruction using a fleet that spans Optimist and Laser dinghies, New-Cat and 420 catamarans, Grand Surprise and J80 habitables, and WASZP foils, supported by six permanent staff under Director Olivier Travert.

The school serves a deliberately broad customer base across seven distinct segments: children and youth (ages 4-18, including competitive Optimist and Laser athletes), families, local primary and secondary schools (Marie Lamotte, Dujardin, Fraternité, Collège Saint Paul), corporate and enterprise groups seeking team-building, adult and senior recreational sailors, people with disabilities (Groupe Voile Adaptée, partnered with Handisport and Rêves 50), and aspiring professional sailors seeking the CQPIV instructor certification. Its core product surface includes vacation stages (Stages de Vacances), year-round activities (Activités à l'Année), a competitive Centre d'Entraînement, boat license training (Permis Côtier and Hauturier), habitable keelboat programs, private lessons, and boat rentals with or without skipper.

EVC monetizes through a portfolio of revenue streams: course and stage fees, annual club memberships, one-time boat-license tuition, rental fees, corporate event packages, and the CQPIV professional training. It holds four FFVoile quality labels (Ecole Française de Voile, Ecole de Sport, Ecole de Compétition, Club Sport Loisir) and the national Tourisme & Handicap certification, and it sits inside a federation and public-sector ecosystem that includes the Ligue de Voile Normandie, Comité Départemental de la Manche, Ville de Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Région Normandie, and Département de la Manche. Distribution is direct: customers book by phone or email at the base, with school contracts and regional training stages delivered on-site.

Name

École de Voile de Cherbourg

Legal name

Ecole de voile de Cherbourg-en-Cotentin

Website

https://ecole-voile-cherbourg.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

École de Voile de Cherbourg is a non-profit sailing school in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France, delivering year-round sailing instruction, boat licensing, competitive training, adapted sailing, corporate events, and CQPIV instructor certification from its base on the 140-hectare Cherbourg rade.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sailing instruction and nautical education services

NAICS

Marinas (71393), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails) (THAJAJAG)

Keywords

• Sailing instruction
• Sailing school
• Boat license training
• Youth sailing programs
• Corporate sailing events

Headquarters

HQ city

Cherbourg-en-Cotentin

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Sailing Lessons and Training: Fees for sailing lessons, vacation courses (stages), and year-round training programs for children and adults across various skill levels and boat types.
2. Membership and Annual Subscriptions: Annual club membership fees for regular sailors participating in weekly activities on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
3. Boat Permits Training: Coastal (côtier) and high-sea (hauturier) boat license training courses with theory and practical sessions.
4. Boat Rentals: Rental of habitable sailboats (Grand Surprise, J80) with or without skipper for training, day trips, and corporate events.
5. Corporate Events and Team Building: Corporate sailing events, regattas, and team-building activities for businesses seeking experiential programs.
6. CQPIV Professional Training: Certificat de Qualification Professionnel d'Initiateur Voile (CQPIV) professional sailing instructor certification course for individuals aged 16+.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

École de Voile de Cherbourg is a sailing school delivering instruction, certification, and recreational sailing services from its base nautique in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. It offers vacation courses, year-round training, competitive coaching, boat license preparation (côtier and hauturier), CQPIV professional instructor certification, adapted sailing for people with disabilities, and boat rentals for individuals, families, schools, and corporate groups. All programs are delivered using a fleet of Optimist, Laser, catamaran, WASZP, 420, and habitable boats (Grand Surprise, J80) on the Cherbourg rade.

Product overview

École de Voile de Cherbourg is a sailing school located in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Manche, offering a comprehensive portfolio of nautical education and recreational services. The school operates as a multi-product organization centered around sailing instruction across different skill levels and age groups. Core offerings include vacation courses (Stages de Vacances), year-round activities (Activités à l'Année), and competitive training (Centre d'Entraînement). Supporting services include boat licensing (Permis Bateau), professional instructor certification (Formation CQPIV), adapted sailing (Groupe Voile Adaptée), keelboat programs (Habitable), private lessons, and boat rentals. The school also provides corporate team-building events and school sailing programs. All programs are delivered from the base nautique in Cherbourg's exceptional harbor.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stages de Vacances (Vacation Sailing Courses) Vacation sailing courses for children and adults during school holidays, covering Optimist, Laser, catamaran, and habitable sailing across multiple skill levels. Nearly 200 trainees participated in July 2020.
• Activités à l'Année (Year-Round Activities) Year-round sailing activities including Optimist, Laser, double-handed dinghies, and catamaran courses held on Wednesday and Saturday sessions, with over 100 regular members.
• Centre d'Entraînement (Competitive Training Center) Competitive sailing training center for youth and adult athletes preparing for regional and national regattas, with coaching in Optimist and Laser classes.
• Groupe Voile Adaptée (Adapted Sailing Program) Adapted sailing program for individuals with disabilities, providing inclusive sailing experiences in partnership with Rêves 50 and handisport organizations.
• Permis Bateau (Boat License Training) Boat license training programs for coastal (côtier) and offshore (hauturier) sailing certifications, with 8 hours of theoretical instruction.
• Formation CQPIV (Professional Instructor Certification) Professional sailing instructor certification (Certificat de Qualification Professionnel d'Initiateur Voile) training program for individuals aged 16+, covering safety, pedagogy, and practical instruction over three periods totaling 160 hours.
• Habitable (Keelboat Programs) Keelboat sailing programs including Grand Surprise and J/80 racing, weekend training sessions, competitive crew events, and corporate team-building activities.
• Locations (Boat Rentals) Boat rental services for Grand Surprise and J/80 vessels, available with or without skipper, for training or day excursions.
• Voile Scolaire (School Sailing Program) School sailing program welcoming classes for multi-session nautical education including Optimist and catamaran activities for primary and secondary students from local schools (Marie Lamotte, Dujardin, Fraternité, Collège Saint Paul).

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 200 summer vacation trainees in July 2020
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Association Rêves 50minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Charitable association fulfilling wishes of seriously ill children. Collaboration with EVC for the Tour du Cotentin en WASZP project, bringing joy to children through sailing experiences with EVC skippers.
• Fédération Française de Voile (FFVoile)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational sailing federation that provides official certifications, quality labels (Ecole Française de Voile, Ecole de Sport, Ecole de Compétition, Club Sport Loisir), competition frameworks, and instructor training standards. EVC operates under FFVoile governance and participates in federation-organized competitions.
• Ligue de Voile NormandiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional sailing league organizing competitions, training stages, and development programs across Normandy. EVC hosts Ligue de Voile Normandie training stages and participates in regional championship circuits.
• Comité Départemental de la Voile de la Manche (CDV50)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartmental sailing committee for the Manche region, supporting local sailing development and competitions.
• Ville de Cherbourg-en-CotentincoreOthersLocal municipal government providing support for sailing activities and hosting major sailing events (Drheam Cup, Fastnet). The city is strongly involved in creating sailing events benefiting EVC and the local sailing community.
• Région NormandiecoreOthersRegional council providing financial and strategic support for sailing sports development and event organization in Normandy.
• Département de la ManchecoreOthersDepartmental government supporting nautical sports and tourism development in the Manche territory.
• Yacht Club de CherbourgcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal yacht club organizing sailing competitions including 'Les Demoiselles de Cherbourg' J80 women's regatta. EVC members participate in club races and competitions.
• HandisportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian handisport organization whose logo appears on EVC materials, indicating collaboration for adapted sailing programs for disabled athletes.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• UCPA: Large French association delivering multi-sport outdoor activities including sailing stages and certifications. Comparable as a major French non-profit competitor in the recreational sailing school market, though its scope extends well beyond sailing.

Direct peers

• Les Glénans: France's most famous sailing school federation, operating FFVoile-labeled sailing instruction at multiple coastal sites. Directly comparable as a French non-profit sailing school delivering lessons, stages, and certifications to amateurs and aspiring instructors.
• Centre Nautique de Cherbourg / Yacht Club de Cherbourg: Local Cherbourg sailing club already partnered with EVC for regattas including 'Les Demoiselles de Cherbourg.' Operates in the same Cherbourg rade with overlapping member base and competition calendar — the most direct local competitor and co-organizer.

Others

• Bénéteau: France's largest sailboat and yacht manufacturer whose products (including First, Oceanis ranges adjacent to Grand Surprise and J80 classes) anchor French sailing instruction fleets. Relevant supplier/ecosystem participant for fleet composition and access to new habitables.
• North Sails: Global sailmaker and sailing performance brand with a French presence supplying training programs, equipment and educational content. Comparable as an ecosystem participant supporting competitive sailing instruction and race preparation.
• Voile et Voiliers (magazine / ecosystem): Leading French sailing media and community platform covering schools, regattas, and equipment. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant that influences consumer choice of sailing schools and destinations in France.
• FFVoile (Fédération Française de Voile): National governing body of sailing in France that issues EVC's quality labels and licenses instructors. Relevant as the regulatory ecosystem partner — not a competitor, but the framework within which EVC operates and competes for athlete development.
• Handisport (Fédération Française Handisport): National federation for disabled sport in France, already identified as a partner of EVC for adapted sailing. Comparable as the governing ecosystem for EVC's Voile Adaptée program and a potential driver of referral volume.

Regional players

• Centre Nautique de Granville: Regional FFVoile-labeled sailing school on the Manche coast. Directly comparable as a Normandy sailing school competing for the same regional student-athlete pool hosted through Ligue de Voile Normandie stages.
• École de Voile de Saint-Malo: Sailing school on the Brittany coast offering FFVoile-labeled instruction and competition programs. Comparable as a regional French sailing school with similar program breadth (lessons, stages, habitables, certifications).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EcoledeVoiledeCherbourg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/%C3%A9cole-de-voile-de-cherbourg
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecole_de_voile_cherbourg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about École de Voile de Cherbourg