Sports

FC Lorient logo Association football

The most popular club in Lorient is FC Lorient, which currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. They are nicknamed les Merlus. They play their home fixtures at Stade du Moustoir. Christian Gourcuff has managed the team for over 20 years (aggregate years).

Sailing

The converted Keroman submarine base has been home port to several skippers and their sailing teams:

Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore), Pascal Bidégorry (Banque Populaire), Franck Cammas (Groupama), winner of the 2011–12 Volvo Ocean Race Samantha Davies (Roxy), Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty (Maisonneuve), Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac), Yann Elies (Generali), Alain Gautier (Foncia), Sébastien Josse (British Telecom), Marc Thiercelin (DCNS)

Lorient was also a staging port during the 2011–12 Volvo Ocean Race, as well as the starting point of la Solitaire du Figaro (2009 edition).

Eric Tabarly built three out of his six Pen Duick boats in Lorient.