I share a passion for sailing with my husband François and it is with pleasure that we navigate around the Bay. You will be able to choose your water activities from the calm bay waters or the rougher Atlantic ocean waves.
Needless to say that the pinasses have now become the trademark of the bay. The pinasse is a long and light boat, used for fishing but also for pleasure outings. If it is your first visit, I strongly recommend an outing on a traditional pinasse, an ideal way to discover the huts built on stilts on Bird island, the coloured houses of the oyster villages or the natural reserve of the Arguin sandbank !
The ultimate is to take a guided tour with an ostreiculteur who will be able tell you everything there is to know about the bay, its history, preservation and traditions.
Water sports by the ocean and boating in the Arcachon bay
Cap Ferret specificity is that it is fringed by the Atlantic ocean on one side and the Arcachon bay on the other. Two very different “water playgrounds”.
On the Atlantic side, the ocean beaches (Truc Vert, Crohot, the Horizon) are favourites with surfing and kitesurfing aficionados but also enjoyed by sea fishing or diving amateurs.
On the bay side, pinasses and barges navigate among kayaks, rowers, and stand up paddles which set off from Bélisaire, Vigne or the Canon beaches. At high tide the bay turns into an inland lake, calm and vast, an invite for escapism. Notice that twice a day, the bay is three quarter empty due to its low tide phenomenon. Still, the landscapes remain exceptionnal !
By residing at the Cap Ferret point, you can leisurely navigate at your own pace and fully take advantage of this wonderful family friendly nautical site. Open all year round, the Ferret Nautical Club organises sailing courses and individual sessions (optimist, catamaran, dinghie, windsurf). If you prefer to be a passenger and wish to discover the bay differently, board a traditional sailing boat and enjoy a relaxing ride.