The best watersports to enjoy with your family

Kayaking, sand yachting, sailing, skimboarding, bodyboarding and surfing: are you ready to take the plunge?

Do you fancy trying watersports with your children? Do your little sailors want some lessons to improve their skills? Then you’ll definitely find what you need in La Manche! With more than 365 km of coastlines, the department is a fantastic playground for testing and discovering the joys of watersports. Which activities should you try with your family? What’s best for children? And from what age?

Kayaking, sand yachting, surfing, skimboarding and sailing: find out all about the best watersports to enjoy with your children.

Sand yachting

Family fun from eight years of age

Try sand yachting with your children

Sand yachting is a popular activity in La Manche. It’s great fun for all the family, usually from eight years of age. No special skills are required, and the instructor will explain everything you need to know when you arrive. An introductory session lasts from 1 to 2 hours, including preparing the equipment, before racing off to test the activity on a marked course.

Where to try this activity?

There are lots of sand yachting centres in La Manche. You can enjoy a family experience at any time of year:

The Club Nautique in Coutainville

The Club Nautique in Coutainville, one of the biggest clubs in La Manche. Introductory sessions are available, as well as outings for those with more experience.
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The Centre d’Activités Voile et Vent in Sciotot

The Centre d’Activités Voile et Vent in Sciotot offers lessons of 1 to 2 hours and regulated equipment hire. You can also head off on a tour to discover the gorgeous bay of Sciotot, including a short break with tasty treats for you to sample.
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The advantage of sand yachting:

you can do it all year round as long as there’s a bit of wind.

What to wear?

Summer: shorts, sunglasses, gloves and closed-toe shoes.

Winter: wetsuit (available on site), gloves, jacket and boots.

Others clubs :

Skimboarding

The perfect beach activity in summer

Skimboarding is an accessible activity that anybody can try. The principle is simple: you use a board to glide across the water’s surface near the shore. The advantage is that children don’t need to be able to swim, so even young children can have a go. It’s an ideal introduction to boardsports and a fun family activity in summer.

Try skimboarding with the Mauna Kea association

The Mauna Kea association is a surf club that specialises in skimboarding and organises boardsports events and festivals, such as the “Coutainville La Plage” festival. This lively summer event in the seaside resort of Coutainville includes the Skim School Tour, aimed at introducing the general public to boardsports.
Mauna Kea organises introductory sessions to learn the basics of skimboarding. By the end of the session, beginners will be able to skim on their own for several metres. Great fun for everyone!

Discover Mauna Kea

Photo, © Xavier Lachenaud
Photo, © Xavier Lachenaud
Photo, © Xavier Lachenaud

Surfing and bodyboarding

Have a go at boardsports

Surfing and bodyboarding in Siouville with the Cotentin Surf Club

Do you fancy having a go at surfing? Do your children want to try this activity? Then head to Siouville, the “surf town” of the Manche. The Cotentin Surf Club is located on the huge beach there and offers individual or group lessons and courses for children from six years of age. You’ll learn the basics of surfing and ride your first waves. If you prefer, you can also hire surfing gear and head out on your own.

The club also has bodyboards for hire: perfect if you don’t have room in the car for your kids’ boards, or if you just fancy having a go at this activity.

The Cotentin Surf Club

Learn with Vanasurf, the itinerant surf school

The Vana Surf School roams La Manche coastline, chasing the waves. With his truck, Henri heads to the different beaches and offers group or individual surfing lessons for all levels, from 10 years of age. He also organises summer courses for children from seven years of age. The truck allows him to go wherever he wants, carrying all the gear needed, along with a place to change. The perfect introduction to surfing!
Vana Surf School

Kayaking

Paddle away on a family kayaking adventure!

The perfect family activity, kayaking is a great way to discover the landscapes from the water and to have fun with your children. La Manche has lots of good spots to enjoy this activity, either at sea or on rivers. With supervised outings or regulated equipment hire, there’s something for everyone.
Kayaking spots

Optimists, catamarans, dinghies

Courses suited to children

All year round, the sailing clubs offer courses to introduce youngsters to nautical activities. From four years of age, little sailors can discover the sea and sailing in complete safety. On the programme: games, outings, stories and songs, all with a qualified instructor.

Older children (7 to 18 years) can try their hand at sailing optimists, catamarans or dinghies, have a go at windsurfing or take a multi-activity course to try lots of different activities over a week. It’s a great way to make new friends, to progress and to have fun out on the water. To find out more, contact the watersports centres in La Manche.

La Manche, a sailing destination