Last Thursday (November 27, 2025), we were in Rennes at the Bâtiment 78 for the regional Marque Bretagne meeting. This day was dedicated to discussing mobility. We had the opportunity to take part in conferences, workshops, and exchange sessions organized around this important topic.
As part of the Mobility Village, we were able to share and exchange ideas about the actions and approaches implemented by Varec’h Kayak 🛶
One particularly striking figure we shared was that around 14,000 km are covered each year using soft mobility at our base — including kayak, paddleboard, and the Canobus.
➡️ At Varec’h Kayak, paddle propulsion isn’t just a sport! It’s an alternative and environmentally friendly way to explore the Golfe du Morbihan.
Why Choose Kayak and Paddle Sports as Soft Mobility?
In 2023 and 2024, we’ve recorded roughly 14,000 km per year of travel by paddle from our base. That’s the equivalent of over 300 maritime tours of the Gulf. While we don’t paddle the entire Gulf on each outing, many activities cover between 5 and 15 km per session.
One might wonder why we chose kayak to explore the Gulf when other craft could cover more distance in the same amount of time.
The answer is simple: for the environment and for the experience. We are deeply attached to this beautiful territory and its protection. Kayaking is one of the best ways to truly discover it.
In a kayak, stand-up paddleboard, or Canobus, you can:
➡️ paddle close to the shoreline and islands,
➡️ dip your hands in the water,
➡️ feel the wind on your skin and smell the sea,
➡️ touch the seaweed and sometimes even taste it,
➡️ hear the sounds of currents and birds up close,
➡️ navigate through oyster beds.
It’s not just about seeing the Gulf — you immerse yourself in it.
This slow and quiet mobility encourages exchanges and raises awareness among participants about the need to preserve the Gulf. In kayaking, we don’t need long speeches to educate people — the experience itself convinces. ☺️
Kayaking as Ideal Soft Mobility — With Adaptations
Of course, choosing paddle propulsion comes with challenges. To provide access to as many people as possible — including young children, adults, seniors, people with disabilities, athletes, less active people, or those not used to physical exertion — we offer a variety of craft and routes of different lengths and difficulties.
In this spirit of inclusivity, we also offer Canobus outings. A giant canoe that can host around 15 children and 10 adults. It’s extremely stable, easy to use, and therefore accessible to a broad range of people.
For those already familiar with Gulf navigation, you know it can be demanding in places. To ensure group safety, we favour small groups, early morning or late-evening departures, and routes that avoid busy boating traffic. This approach makes coexistence with other users easier and safer.
A Core Project Supported by Broader Commitments
Choosing soft mobility through kayak, paddle, and the Canobus is part of a wider set of actions implemented within our organisation.
In particular, all of our equipment is rinsed using rainwater. We prioritise purchases from local partners, such as TAHE OUTDOORS, whose kayaks are manufactured in Vannes. Our Canobus itself is the result of French manufacturing.
We also deliberately choose high-quality, durable equipment. We are currently working on renewing part of our kayak fleet with a French manufacturer that uses up to 20% recycled plastic in its production process.
When it comes to transport, 95% of our activities start directly from our base, where the kayaks are stored. On rare occasions, we move equipment for group activities when this can be done by sea and by paddle power. We are currently studying the possibility of fitting an electric motor to one of our kayaks, in order to make these operations easier and to reach slightly more distant locations when necessary.
We also place a strong emphasis on raising awareness, particularly with companies that contact us, to avoid so-called “comfort” transfers that would not reflect our values.
More Than Just a Mobility Choice!
For us, kayaking isn’t just a mode of movement — it’s a way of experiencing the Gulf differently. By slowing down, we:
• see more,
• understand more,
• appreciate more,
and therefore feel even more motivated to protect the environment in which we operate.
