Sport - Sailing - Tour de Ré

Every year, the Tour de Ré attracts sailors from all horizons, amateurs and experienced alike, for a legendary regatta around the island of Ré. This event, which combines competition and conviviality, is one of La Rochelle's great nautical traditions and remains a highlight of the regatta calendar.

A nautical heritage since 1860
Created in 1860 by the Société des Régates Rochelaises, this regatta is one of the oldest still contested in France. In 2021, the organization was taken over by La Rochelle Nautique, the result of a merger between the Société des Régates Rochelaises and the École de Voile Rochelaise. This year, the Tour de Ré will be one of the stages of the Semaine de La Rochelle Habitable, to be held from May 1 to 4, 2025.

On Saturday May 3, the Tour de Ré will bring together several hundred boats for an exceptional day of sailing around the island. Its festive atmosphere and sporting challenge make it a popular regatta with yachtsmen.

Two routes for all sailors
The Tour de Ré offers two itineraries, depending on boat characteristics and equipment level:

Tour de Ré (semi-high-altitude): A demanding course that circumnavigates the island of Ré from the south, passing the mythical lighthouses of Chanchardon and Baleineaux, before returning via the Pertuis Breton. This route is intended for monohull and multihull sailboats of 6.20 m and over, equipped for sailing beyond 6 miles from shelter.

Tour de Ré face Nord (coastal): A more accessible route, taking place in the Pertuis Breton, reserved for monohull and multihull sailboats equipped to sail less than 6 miles from shelter.

Competitors can choose to take part in the entire Semaine de La Rochelle Habitable, which comprises three stages, or only in the Tour de Ré, for an intense and convivial experience.