Sailboats off the island of Groix, in Morbihan on June 21, 2022 (AFP/Archives/Sebastien SALOM-GOMIS)
In paddle, sailboat or motorboat, the French sector of yachting and boating experienced a summer of “very high quality”, marked by the appetite of the French to sail and the return of foreign customers, estimated Wednesday its president.
“The summer was of very high quality. The French desire to sail is confirmed”, after a 2021 season already marked by a “clear rebound”, said Jean-Paul Chapeleau, president of the Federation of Nautical Industries ( FIN), during a press conference marking the end of the 2021-2022 season.
Sailing schools, nautical centers, marinas and boat rentals have filled up. The rentals of sailboats and motor boats at sea thus show an estimated increase of between 10 and 14% compared to last year, for a turnover “over 250 million euros”, according to Emmanuel Allot, administrator of the end.
“If the off-season confirms the trend, we think we are doing better than in 2019. This dynamic is driven by the French (…) but also by the return of foreign customers after two complicated years”, according to Michaël Quernez , president of the federation of marinas, quoted in a press release.
River rentals are up 5 to 7% compared to 2019, despite some obstacles due in particular to the closure of 900 kilometers of canals and the proliferation of algae due to the heat.
The practice of yachting is marked by the appearance of a “new generation that goes on the water”, welcomed Mr. Chapeleau. However, these new sailors are less experienced, which means strengthening training and hiring skippers in particular, while the sector is facing recruitment difficulties.
The balance sheet now established for the 2020-2021 season already showed a boom in second-hand boat sales of 46% after a 30% increase the previous year. “The demand is still present but there is very little availability, which is a good chance for the future” and the sale of new boats, according to Mr. Chapeleau, who says he is “very confident for the 2023 season, what let it happen”.
Driven by sailboats, French production increased by 3.6% in 2020-2021, to 1.2 billion euros, intended four-fifths for export, despite recruitment and supply difficulties. into components and raw materials.
The French boating sector represented in 2021 a turnover of 4.95 billion euros, up 4.9%.
© 2022 AFP
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