Fancy seeing the archipelago from the water during your camping holiday on the Ile de Ré? Renting a boat is one of the best ways to cruise along the wild beaches, get close to the characterful harbours and spot the oyster beds at low tide. Before you book, let’s take a look at the options with or without a licence, which harbours to contact, the prices to expect and the precautions to bear in mind so you can explore the Ile de Ré by sea with complete peace of mind.
The essentials
- No licence needed: possible with an engine limited to 6 hp (around 4.5 kW), for sailing up to 2 nautical miles from a shelter, i.e. around 3.7 km.
- With a coastal licence: access to more powerful boats, day or night, within a 6 nautical mile band from a shelter.
- Rental harbours: Saint-Martin-de-Ré, La Flotte, Ars-en-Ré, La Couarde-sur-Mer, Loix, Rivedoux-Plage.
- Indicative prices: from €10 to €25 for a paddleboard or kayak, from around €120 to €250 a day for a motorboat.
- Tides: coefficients from 20 to 120, strong currents in the straits and a tidal flat that uncovers far out. Always check the tide times before setting off.
Renting a boat with or without a licence
Good news if you don’t hold a boating licence: French regulations allow you to operate a pleasure boat whose engine doesn’t exceed 6 hp, around 4.5 kW. These small craft, often open hulls or RIBs under 6 metres, are limited to sailing within 2 nautical miles of a shelter (around 3.7 km). That’s plenty to cruise along a beach, reach a quiet mooring or picnic offshore with the family.
As soon as the engine’s power exceeds 6 hp, the coastal pleasure boat licence becomes compulsory. It opens up access to faster motorboats, with no power limit, within a 6 nautical mile band from a shelter. For a sailboat or catamaran, no licence is required under sail, but experience matters: many rental companies offer an outing with a skipper. If you’re a beginner, this guided option remains the safest way to discover sailing around the island.
Where to rent a boat on the Ile de Ré
Most of the island’s harbours offer rentals, from a simple paddleboard to a liveaboard motorboat. Here are the main departure points and what you’ll find there.
| Harbour | Type of rentals | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Saint-Martin-de-Ré | RIBs & motorboats, outings with a skipper | The island’s main harbour, full harbour master’s office and services, easy access. |
| La Flotte | Motorboats, sailboats & RIBs | Harbour ranked among the most beautiful villages, close to La Rochelle. |
| Ars-en-Ré | Sailboats, motorboats & licence-free craft | At the far end of the Fier d’Ars, a sheltered area, often more affordable prices. |
| La Couarde-sur-Mer | Kayaks, paddleboards & sailing school | An ideal watersports base for families and beginners. |
| Loix | Kayaks & guided outings through the marshes | Guided trips between the salt marshes and the Fier d’Ars. |
| Rivedoux-Plage | Paddleboards, kayaks & windsurfing | The island’s first town, beaches easily accessible from the bridge side. |
For the best sailing experience, it’s best to set off from a harbour close to your accommodation: you’ll save time and make the most of your slot on the water. Prices vary depending on the season, boat size and duration: budget a few tens of euros for half a day of kayaking or paddleboarding, and a much bigger budget for a day’s motorboat hire or a skippered sailboat.
Tips before you set sail
Around the Ile de Ré, tides are not a minor detail. The tidal range is significant, and coefficients, expressed from 20 to 120, indicate the strength of the tide: the higher the number, the more the sea rises and falls, and the stronger the currents in the straits. At high coefficients, the current can exceed 3 knots between the islands and the mainland. Always check the tide times and the day’s coefficient before casting off, and keep in mind that the tidal flat uncovers a very long way out at low tide.
A few simple habits before you leave: check the marine weather forecast and wind, bring the right safety equipment (life jackets, a means of being located, a waterproof phone), stay within the area allowed by your rental option and steer clear of the oyster beds, which are numerous and sometimes lie just below the surface. In peak season, remember to book your boat in advance, as slots fill up fast in July and August. If you’d rather leave the helm to a professional, a cruise departing from the Ile de Ré lets you enjoy the scenery without worrying about the sailing.
Well prepared, a trip out to sea around the island turns into an unforgettable memory: check the tide times, set off at the right moment and let the coastline reveal itself.
Pierre Schmitz
Ideally located in the centre of the island, just minutes from the beaches and harbours, our family campsite is open from April to the end of September. It’s the perfect starting point to set sail, cruise along the finest coastline and come back in the evening with a day on the water to tell. Book your stay and set course for the Ile de Ré.
