If you’re a fan of cross-channel travel but aren’t quite so fond of the queues, crowds, or chaos that often comes with it; I come bearing some ferry good news. Last year, SailLink launched its very first passenger trips, ferrying folk between Dover and Boulogne-sur-Mer on board a sustainable and oh so serene sailing catamaran. And it’s been confirmed that SailLink will be returning to the waters soon for a second season of eco-friendly adventures.
SailLink’s cross-channel ferry
Named ‘Echoes’, SailLink’s 17-metre vessel can only transport up to 12 passengers at a time, making the trip across the Channel a whole lot more personal. A rather impressive 70% of the journey is powered by the boat’s sail, so the trip time can vary between 3 and 5 hours, depending on the wind speed. But that extra time on board can be thoroughly well spent, as passengers are welcomed to get involved with sailing the ship themselves. If they don’t fancy just kicking back and relaxing, that is.
SailLink is set to run 6 to 8 trips each week between April and October. Being a much smaller vessel than the one that runs between Dover and Calais; SailLink is aimed towards on-foot passengers or cyclists (there’s a section on board to store bikes). If you want to take your car over to France, you’ll need to stick to the big boat. Boulogne-sur-Mer is a gorgeous ancient town on the French coast (France’s largest fishing port, in fact), so it’s certainly well worth a visit.
Referred to as a ‘full sensory experience’, a trip on board ‘Echoes’ is certainly a unique way to travel across the Channel. With 5-star ratings across the board, a low-carbon ethos, and the fact that passport checks take place at the boat (yes, that means avoiding those lengthy queues); it certainly seems like a no-brainer to me.
SailLink founder, Andrew Simons, said: “We have proved that passengers are eager to put adventure back into their journey. This season is about taking that success to the next level. We are standardising our procedures to open this unique experience to a wider audience.
“Our vision is simple: if we can make low-carbon transport viable today with our current set-up, we pave the way for purpose-built vessels in the near future. We are demonstrating how to harness the Strait’s exceptional wind resources for naturally obvious connections.”
SailLink’s 2026 season begins on April 16 and runs until October. Prices start at £85 for adults and as little as £30 for children. You can find out more and book your on-board adventure here.