There’s a new option coming for cross-Channel traveler between England and France, but it won’t be big enough to threaten Eurostar or the current ferry operators. SailLink is planning to start operations on its first route next year with a sail-powered catamaran that can take only twelve passengers on the journey.
Andrew Simons, company founder, says that he and his staff have been getting their vessel ready for its inspections, and will soon be able to start selling £85 tickets for the 3 to 4.5-hour journey, with the time including allowance for border procedures. Simons says the company’s focus is on sustainable transportation, and the craft’s auxiliary electric motor, needed to maintain schedule when winds are low, is renewably charged.
The initial route is from Dover to Boulogne-sur-Mer, with other routes planned to follow, including Ramsgate to Dunkirk and Newhaven to Dieppe
