SNBSM

What SNBSM does

SNBSM (Société Nautique de la Baie de Saint-Malo) is a French non-profit sports association (association loi 1901, recognized as being of general interest) founded in 1848 and headquartered at 32 Port des Sablons, Saint-Malo, Brittany. The organization operates five distinct nautical bases across Saint-Malo (Port des Sablons, Bon Secours, Rothéneuf, Le Naye, and L'Atterrage), delivering year-round instruction and competition programs across three core disciplines: light sailing (Optimist, Topaz 12/14, Laser, Hobie Cat 15/16), habitable/cabin sailing (J80 fleet with shared-ownership 'Flotte Partagée' model), and sea/beach rowing. Supporting offerings include Handivoile (inclusive sailing for disabled participants), a Base Volante wing foil program, school holiday vacation camps (1,873 trainees in summer 2021), individual rentals and private lessons, and the La Mer Est à Vous professional maritime training program. The club also organizes an extensive regatta calendar including departmental and national championships and plays a hosting role for major events such as the Route du Rhum.

The business model is a hybrid of subscription-style recurring revenue (annual memberships with federation licenses, year-round sports school fees), transactional professional-services revenue (vacation camps, private lessons, boat rentals, regatta organization), and affiliate/sponsorship revenue from local commercial partners (Banque Populaire Grand Ouest, Bizeul Immobilier, LODIGROUP, Alpe d'Huez, Sea Farmer, Centre Commercial La Madeleine) plus institutional support from Ville de Saint-Malo and Département d'Ille-et-Vilaine. Customer segments span children and youth (6-18), rowing enthusiasts, habitable-sailing adults, casual individual adults, and educational institutions (IUT Saint-Malo, ENSM, seven local schools). Pricing is publicly disclosed, with annual membership billed yearly and camps/lessons charged on a unit basis; gift vouchers (one-year validity) supplement the model.

Customer acquisition is community-led, driven by word-of-mouth, school partnerships, regatta participation, and the brand visibility generated by high-profile members — most notably Vendée Globe podium finisher Louis Burton, Route du Rhum winner Kevin Escoffier, and world champion beach rower Kerrian Boulay. The club's 2,300+ members (1,000+ adults, 1,300 youth) and repeat competitive results (first French club by number of rowing crews at nationals, multiple world championship finalists) underpin a strong regional and national reputation. Disclosed annual revenue exceeds €1,000,000 (FY2021, up 17% from €932,000 in COVID-impacted FY2020), reflecting a mature, stable community-sports business rather than a venture-scalable venture.

Name

SNBSM

Legal name

Association SNBSM

Website

https://snbsm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1848

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SNBSM is a 177-year-old French non-profit nautical sports association in Saint-Malo operating five bases that deliver year-round sailing (light and habitable) and rowing instruction, vacation camps, and regatta organization for 2,300+ members, with annual revenue above €1M.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nautical Sports Club and Sailing School

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Individual-Sport Clubs & Teams (Cycling Teams, Athletics/Track Clubs, Swimming Clubs, etc.) (MPAKABAD), Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails) (THAJAJAG)

Keywords

• Sailing school
• Rowing club
• Nautical sports training
• Sailing regattas
• Vacation sports camps

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-Malo

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees and Licenses: Annual membership fees and federation licenses for club members participating in sailing, rowing, and other nautical activities.
2. Sports Schools and Training: Year-round sports school programs for sailing and rowing, with structured courses and coaching.
3. Vacation Camps and Stages: School holiday sailing and rowing camps generating significant summer revenue (1873 trainees in July-August 2021).
4. Boat Rental and Lessons: Individual lessons, rentals, and discovery sessions for various nautical activities.
5. Regatta and Event Organization: Organizing sailing and rowing competitions including Route du Rhum support, departmental championships, and club-level regattas.
6. Sponsorships and Partnerships: Financial support from partners like BPGO, Bizeul Immobilier, and other local businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

SNBSM is a non-profit nautical sports association that delivers year-round sailing and rowing instruction, vacation camps, and competitive regatta programs across five operational bases in Saint-Malo, France. The club offers sports schools for light sailing (Optimist, Topaz, Laser, Hobie Cat), habitable sailing (J80), and sea rowing, supplemented by handivoile for disabled sailors, equipment rentals, private lessons, and a professional training program called La Mer Est à Vous. Members participate in an extensive calendar of regattas and major events including the Route du Rhum.

Product overview

SNBSM is a sports association offering a comprehensive portfolio of nautical activities centered around three core disciplines: sailing (voile légère and voile habitable) and rowing (aviron de mer). The organization operates as a unified multi-site club with specialized schools for each discipline — Ecole de Sport Voile Légère, Ecole de Sport Voile Habitable, and Ecole de Sport Aviron — supported by dedicated facilities at Port des Sablons (headquarters), Bon Secours, Rothéneuf, Naye, and a Flying Base at Rothéneuf. Additional offerings include Handivoile for disabled sailors, vacation camps, individual rentals and private lessons, and the La Mer Est à Vous professional training program. The club also organizes an extensive calendar of regattas and events including the Route du Rhum, Beach Rowing competitions, and various sailing championships throughout the year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ecole de Sport Voile Légère (Light Sailing School) Year-round sailing school offering instruction in light sailing boats (Optimist, Topaz 12 and 14, Laser, Hobie Cat 15 and 16) for leisure and competition practitioners aged 6 and up, operating from Bon Secours and Rothéneuf sites.
• Ecole de Sport Voile Habitable (Cabin Sailing School) Year-round sailing school offering instruction in habitable/cabin sailing on J80 yachts for leisure and competition practitioners aged 15 and up, operating from the Port des Sablons base.
• Ecole de Sport Aviron (Rowing School) Year-round rowing school offering instruction and training for leisure and competition rowers, operating from the Naye site, including sea rowing and beach rowing disciplines.
• Handivoile (Disabled Sailing) Inclusive sailing activity designed to make sailing accessible to persons with disabilities.
• Stages de Vacances (Vacation Camps) Vacation sailing and rowing camps for children and adults during school holidays, including Optimist, Bug, Catamaran, Wind surfing, Habitable-J80, and Cruise programs.
• Location - Cours Particuliers (Rentals - Private Lessons) Individual sailing rentals and private lessons for individuals during summer season at the nautical spot, including kayaks, paddleboards, catamarans, and other craft.
• La Mer Est à Vous (Professional Training Program) Professional immersion and training program in nautical trades, including CV preparation, LinkedIn profiling, and maritime skills development.
• Régates et Evénements (Regattas and Events) Organization of regattas and nautical events including Route du Rhum, Régates des Forts, Beach Rowing, departmental championships, habitable races, and various competitive sailing events.
• Club Membership (Adhésion) Annual membership with federation license providing access to sports schools, club activities, and facilities for individuals and families.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 members and 1,300 youth members
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Banque Populaire Grand Ouest (BPGO)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of youth sailing programs including Trophée Voile Jeunes Malouins. Partnership supports 7 local schools participating in sailing competitions on J80 yachts.
• Bizeul ImmobiliercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Scol'aviron program for school rowing activities related to Route du Rhum 2022, supporting nearly 130 young people.
• Alpe d'HuezminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Scol'aviron program supporting youth rowing activities.
• Sea FarmerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Scol'aviron youth rowing program.
• LODIGROUPcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Loïc Escoffier's Diam 24 and Route du Rhum campaigns. SNBSM member competes under this partnership.
• Ville de Saint-MalocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor institutional partner providing support for high-level sports, facility access, and event organization including Route du Rhum.
• Fédération Française de Voile (FFVoile)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational sailing federation for affiliation, competition rules, and certification.
• Fédération Française d'Aviron (FFAviron)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational rowing federation for affiliation, competition rules, and athlete development.
• Comité de Voile d'Ille et VilainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional sailing committee partner for handivoile and sailing development programs.
• Ligue de Bretagne de VoilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional sailing league for competition organization and athlete development.
• Club des Partenaires SNBSMcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganized group of business partners supporting club activities and athlete sponsorship.
• Centre Commercial La MadeleineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal retail partner supporting J80 team project and club visibility through promotional activities.
• Mer EntreprendreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner supporting Tour Voile participation and marine business initiatives.
• SPL Bretagne PlaisancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarina management entity for port services and berth allocation at Port des Sablons.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cercle de la Voile de Paris: Paris-based sailing club offering light sailing, habitable sailing, and racing programs. Comparable as a membership-driven French sailing school with regatta organization and competitive pathways.
• Club Nautique de Brest: Brittany-based sailing and rowing club with similar regional-scale operations, school programs, and competitive tradition. Strongly comparable given shared Brittany coastal context and nautical heritage.
• Société Nautique de Marseille: Multi-discipline Mediterranean nautical club with sailing schools, regattas, and member services. Comparable scale and product mix to SNBSM, though operating in a different coastal context.
• Société des Régates Rochelaises: La Rochelle-based sailing and nautical sports association operating similar year-round school, vacation camp, and regatta programming. Closely comparable structure: coastal French club with multi-discipline instruction and competitive teams.
• Yacht Club de France: Historic French yacht club offering sailing instruction, regattas, and member services across multiple disciplines. Directly comparable as a multi-discipline, membership-based nautical sports club with elite athlete connections and a national brand.

Others

• Fédération Française de Voile: National governing body for sailing in France and the federation to which SNBSM is affiliated. Relevant as the regulator/standards-setter that licenses SNBSM instructors and certifies its competitive pathways.
• Fédération Française d'Aviron: National governing body for rowing and the federation to which SNBSM's rowing section is affiliated. Same role as FFVoile but for the rowing discipline; relevant context for SNBSM's competitive and certification structure.
• Ecole Française de Voile: Network brand of approved sailing schools across France. Indirectly comparable as a competitor/adapter for entry-level sailing instruction and a credentialing mark that aligns with SNBSM's training offering.

Broad incumbents

• UCPA: Large commercial operator of nautical and outdoor sports vacations across France. Overlaps with SNBSM's vacation camps and adult lesson offerings but at much larger scale and with commercial (for-profit) structure.

Regional players

• Yacht Club de La Trinité-sur-Mer: Brittany-based sailing club in a competitive racing hub (La Trinité-sur-Mer) with strong regatta heritage. Comparable in regional footprint and competitive focus but operates in a different Brittany sub-region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgLfHET5oDqGpqwuVGR-m9A
• Facebookfacebook.com/snbsm1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/snbsm
• Instagraminstagram.com/clubsnbsm
• TikToktiktok.com/@clubsnbsm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 SNBSM