Twelve passengers, three crew
Echoes carries 12 passengers at most, with a crew of three. You can take the helm, stretch out on the nets at the bow or learn a little sailing from the skipper, and the crossing feels like a day at sea with friends.
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Cross The Channel by sail
Dover ↔ Boulogne-sur-Mer
by sailing ferry. 4 to 5 hours of collective adventure
12 PASSENGERS
|
BIKES WELCOME
|
PASSPORTS ESSENTIAL
Cross The Channel by sail
Dover ↔ Boulogne-sur-Mer
by sailing ferry
4 to 5 hours of collective adventure
12 PASSENGERS
|
BIKES WELCOME
|
PASSPORTS ESSENTIAL
Featured in over 100 publications
The SailLink Experience
Discover our crossing under sail →
Welcome aboard "Echoes"
A real Channel crossing under sail, between Dover and Boulogne-sur-Mer, both ways. Bikes on board, no car, no flying. 12 passengers, the crew and the horizon.
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Full sensory experience:
The feel of the wind, natural light, the motion of the ocean and constant fresh sea air.
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Wind-powered:
A crossing shaped by the prevailing winds, in rhythm with the tides.
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Bike care:
Your bikes travel on board, sheltered from salt and spray, far from the usual overcrowding.
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100% human:
Crew and passengers together in one space.
How the Dover to Boulogne Crossing Works
The simplicity of a ferry, the adventure of sailing. No flying, no car, just the wind and the tide.
Book Online
Choose your date. Foot passengers and cyclists only. No cars, no stress.
Walk On
Meet us at the marina. Passport check at the boat. No long queues.
The Crossing
4 to 5 hours depending on wind. Relax, help the crew, or enjoy the view.
Arrive Central
Disembark directly in Boulogne or Dover. You are already at your destination.
More than a crossing. A natural connection.
Dover to Boulogne-sur-Mer under sail, centre town marina to centre town marina.
Wind powered first
In 2026, 74.5% of the distance between Boulogne and Dover was sailed on wind alone. When the wind drops, the engines take over to keep the crossing moving. See our 2026 season in numbers
Passport checks at the pontoon
There is no terminal to cross. Your details are sent ahead, and Border Force in Dover or the Police aux frontières in Boulogne check passports right next to the boat, in about ten minutes.
Dover ↔ Boulogne-sur-Mer
There is now a passenger ferry from Dover to Boulogne-sur-Mer, by sail. The authentic way to cross: skip the industrial port and the traffic, leave from the marina and arrive right in the heart of the Côte d'Opale.
- 📍 Marina to marina: Dover ↔ Boulogne-sur-Mer
- 🕒 Approx. 4 to 5 hours at sea
- 📅 Sailing Season: April – mid-September (weather dependent)
One-way journey (adult)
£85
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Individual passenger fare, no booking fees
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Panniers & Carry-on included
Everything you can carry aboard
🚲 Bring your bike: +£10 per bike, reserve your space at checkout
A new way to cross the Channel
★★★★★
"I invested in SailLink because I believe the revival of sailing vessels is the future of decarbonised sea travel. Truly pioneering work."
★★★★★
"A more sustainable world isn't just possible, it's already happening. SailLink is one of those rare projects making it a reality."
★★★★★
"An exhilarating and fresh way to travel. Crossing the Channel under sail, following the rhythm of the waves and spotting wildlife, is just unforgettable."
★★★★★
"I absolutely loved my crossing. It felt like a privilege to be part of such a welcoming community. You offer a truly unique and wonderful experience."
Dover to Boulogne ferry: your questions
Yes. SailLink is the first scheduled passenger sail ferry across the Channel, sailing centre town marina to centre town marina between Dover and Boulogne-sur-Mer, for foot passengers and cyclists. The last conventional passenger ferry on this route stopped in the early 2010s. We carry up to 12 passengers per crossing. Read the full story of the Dover to Boulogne ferry, from the old sailing packets to today.
Around 4h30 on average, depending on the wind. Our fastest crossing took 2h18 port to port, and on a light day it can stretch to around 5h30, so keep a little flexibility for the rest of your journey. Add about ten minutes for passport checks at the pontoon. You step off in the town centre, with no terminal to cross.
Yes, and without dismantling it. Up to 12 bikes travel on each crossing, rolled aboard by the crew and stowed inside the boat, in the cockpit, sheltered from salt and spray. You just take the panniers off for loading. E-bikes are welcome. A standard bike is £10, a tandem or large bike £15. For a cargo bike, get in touch before booking. From the pontoon you are straight onto NCN1 in Dover or La Vélomaritime (EuroVelo 4) in Boulogne: see our cycling routes from both marinas.
A one-way adult fare (26+) is £85. Young adults (17 to 25) pay £65, teenagers (11 to 16) £45 and children (5 to 10) £30, and a return trip saves 10%. There are no booking fees, and everything you can carry aboard is included. All the details are on prices and practical info.
In Dover, from the marina below the castle, on the seafront. The town centre is a ten-minute walk away and Dover Priory station about twenty minutes on foot. In Boulogne-sur-Mer, from the pontoon at Quai Gambetta, between the town centre and the beach, with the station about twenty minutes on foot. Plan your stay with our guides to Dover and Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Yes, a valid passport is required in both directions, and ID cards are no longer accepted to enter the UK. If you hold a passport from outside the UK and Ireland, you also need an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) to enter the UK. Your details are sent to the authorities before the crossing, and officers check passports at the pontoon, next to the boat: Border Force in Dover, the Police aux frontières in Boulogne. It usually takes about ten minutes.
Wind powered first. In 2026, 74.5% of the distance between Boulogne and Dover was sailed on wind alone, up from 69% in 2025. When the wind drops, the engines take over so the crossing keeps moving. See our 2026 season in numbers.
The skipper only sails when conditions are right. If the weather means a crossing can't go ahead, we tell you as early as possible and you choose between a free transfer to another date and a full refund. On rare occasions a crossing may also be moved when too few passengers are booked, with the same choice. If you need to cancel yourself, it is free up to 14 days before departure, 50% is refunded between 14 and 7 days, and under 7 days we refund only if we resell your seat (no refund within 24 hours). Flexible accommodation and travel insurance are a good idea when you plan.
Everyone reacts differently to the sea, so we cannot predict how each person will feel. What we can say is that our catamaran sails flat, unlike monohulls that heel (tilt), and that a stable platform, fresh air and a clear view of the horizon tend to help. If you know you are sensitive to motion, prepare as you would for any sea journey and bring whatever usually works for you.
Bookings for 2027 open this winter, for a season that should run from mid-May to September. Newsletter subscribers hear first, 48 hours before the public announcement. You can sign up at the bottom of this page.
Yes. Twelve seats make a natural size for a team, a club or a group of friends, and the crossing becomes a shared adventure from one country to the other. See team and group crossings.
Yes. A crossing makes a gift people remember, for a birthday, a reunion or a first trip to France or England by bike. Find out how to gift a Channel crossing.
Recognised assistance dogs, certified by a member of Assistance Dogs UK, ADI or ADEu, travel free. What you need depends on your direction of travel, and everything is explained in crossing the Channel with an assistance dog. Pets and other dogs can't travel with us yet.
