Sauveterre.

Sauveterre sits within the Olonne Woods on the Vendée coast, an exposed stretch that catches SW through NW swells with reliable regularity. The setup combines a working beachbreak with two named reef peaks that give it a different character from the pure sand breaks to the north and south. Pic du Phoque is the more accessible of the two reefs, handling a wide size range and producing long, open-faced rights that suit surfers stepping up from beginner breaks. Pic du Large demands more commitment - a 10-minute paddle into open water - but rewards the effort with tighter, hollower walls. The beachbreak itself picks up swell across all tides and can produce quality waves when a clean, moderate swell is running. The reef sections favour an outgoing tide according to local observation, with boils and shallow patches becoming more relevant as water drops. The wave is notably fast with a punchy entry, making clean takeoffs important, particularly on the reef. Swell direction matters here: a solid W to SW with northeast winds is the ideal combination. The spot draws a moderate crowd by regional standards and the broad spread of options across the beachbreak and two reefs helps distribute surfers. Rips become a real factor at size, moving in swirling patterns that require reading before committing to a session.