French sailing catamaran for passenger transport

Sailing ferries have been around for some time, including in the Netherlands. But the shipping company Sailcoop wants to commission the construction of a new sailing vessel for passenger transport to operate a regular service between Saint-Raphaël, in the Var, and Calvi, in Corsica.

Like many French, the shipping company is a big fan of multihull vessels; in this case, a sailing catamaran for passenger transport at sea. As always, such a groundbreaking project requires funding. Hence the fundraising.

Coöperative crowdfunding

This project, named “Corsica Favorite” (short for Ferry A Voile Optimisé un Rendement Industriel et un Transport Ecologique), is the subject of this fundraising campaign, which runs until 25 June and is intended to contribute to the financing.

Thanks to the cooperative system, investors can have a say in the project’s policy, regardless of the number of shares held: 1 person = 1 vote.
By purchasing shares in Sailcoop, members are invited to the General Meetings where strategic decisions are taken. The conditions: From 50 euros and a commitment of at least 5 years.

100 miles in 12 hours

This is a 24-metre catamaran with capacity for 80 passengers, for a carbon-free crossing of 100 miles.  The fact that a catamaran rolls much less than a monohull vessel will contribute to passenger comfort. During the crossing, which takes around twelve hours, passengers will sit in comfortable, adjustable seats.

A first

“For passengers, there will be little difference from a motor-powered ferry,” says Grégoire Théry, head of strategy and development, proudly. Sailcoop is an SCIC (cooperative company) founded in Vannes in 2021 to offer an alternative to conventional transport. This vessel will be a first in sailing passenger transport over such a distance. “There has never been a sailing passenger vessel approved to sail more than 20 miles from a port,” says Théry.

Sources: Sailcoop and Mer et Marine

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