A new wind-powered ferry service is set to launch trial crossings between the UK and France next month. SailLink, which already operates a sailing ferry between Dover and Boulogne-sur-Mer, announced the pilot phase for a new route.
The trial will run for six days in September, transporting 12 passengers per crossing between Shoreham in West Sussex and Fécamp in Normandy. The crossings, powered by wind, are expected to take eight hours.
Passengers will travel on the 18-metre Mer Agitée catamaran, which has storage for up to eight bikes. Bookings for the crossings, priced at £220 per crossing (£440 return), are available between 8 and 13 September, with an option to bring bikes on board from £10.
Andrew Simons, founder and skipper of SailLink, stated that the company aims to prove that a wind-powered ferry can be a scheduled crossing. He added that September's trial will provide valuable learning.
If the trial results are positive, SailLink plans to explore options with ports to establish a second regular cross-Channel sailing service. Passport control will be conducted at the pontoon in both ports.