As promised in March 2026, travellers looking for an extra thrill when crossing the Channel between continental Europe and the UK can now hop aboard the catamaran on the newly launched route between Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex and Fécamp in Normandy, where they can enjoy a slower, more traditional way of crossing.
The service is a pilot run by SailLink, which already operates another environmentally friendly route between Dover and Boulogne-sur-Mer, and promise to make the new one a permanent fixture should the trial prove successful.
This route is not ideal for those short on time or prone to seasickness, but it will delight those fed up with the commercialisation of regular ferry crossings, the duty-free shops and masses of fellow travellers packed into soulless cabins.
What the new service offers instead is a far more intimate crossing: sitting on deck, faces gently brushed by the wind, taking in the salt-tinged air, and enjoying the excitement of approaching the coastline from the water, whether it’s the chalk cliffs of England’s South Downs Coast or those of France’s Alabaster Coast.
The vessel making the crossing is an 18-metre catamaran named Mer Agitée (French for “rough sea”)… hopefully in name only. Its skipper is none other than veteran French sailor Michel Desjoyeaux, two-time winner of the Vendée Globe, one of the toughest solo sailing races in the world. SailLink founder Andrew Simons will co-sail the vessel.
Built from recycled ocean-racing parts, including a 23-metre mast and rudders salvaged from Desjoyeaux’s former IMOCA 60 race boat, Mer Agitée is rigged for speed and carries 165 square metres of sail.
SailLink transported 465 passengers and 135 bicycles last year on its Dover-Boulogne Route. Nearly 70% of the crossings were wind-powered, with engines used when the wind dropped and for manoeuvring in harbours.
Formalities are also much quicker on the catamaran routes. Instead of passing through large ferry terminals, passengers depart from marinas in Shoreham-by-Sea and Fécamp, where passport formalities are carried out at the pontoon.
The new service will run from 8 to 13 September 2026, with each crossing having a capacity of just 12 passengers and eight bicycles.
Cyclists are likely to be especially excited about the wind-powered crossing, as it connects them directly to National Cycle Route 2 and the Downs Link upon arrival in the UK. Meanwhile, Fécamp provides access to La Vélomaritime, part of EuroVelo 4, and the GR21 trail along France’s stunning Alabaster Coast.
The route is practical for non-cyclists, too, as Shoreham-by-Sea has a direct rail connection along the coast, and Gatwick Airport is just a 40-minute train ride away.
Timetables have yet to be announced. Fares start at £220 (€256) for a one-way ticket and £440 (€513) for a return ticket, with an additional charge of £10 (€12) per bicycle. Tickets are available on SailLink’s website.
