Defenders of ecological causes or fans of adventure and discovery, sail from Saint-Raphaël to Corsica aboard the two Sailcoop sailboats. A service offering 90% carbon-free transport. An interesting alternative to that of the ferry, the trip lasts 18 hours by sail, compared to 12 by ferry, for the sum of €240 full price.
According to Yann Royer, director of maritime operations, the price difference is not that big: “It’s probably expensive at first glance, but on a ferry, the meal and the cabin are not included, in the end there is no big difference”. Transport also prepared for the vagaries of the weather: “The schedule is flexible, you can stay on the boat, sleep and leave 1 day or 2 later, or if there is an emergency we take care of the ferry transport”.
Five fitted cabins
The comfort of the boat allows children aged 4 and over to board, the 5 cabins benefit from a special layout for its customers, accompanied by the two skippers during each journey.
This makes it possible to welcome all types of customers, an additional reason to practice this profession for Pierre-Eric, skipper within Sailcoop: “Beyond the ecological mission, it is also a possibility of meeting people during a real trip, the customers are of different ages, professions, professional or cultural social backgrounds, we have everything”.
The majority of customers remain very concerned by ecological issues. Claire and Aimeric, young couple taking part in the trip, explain the reasons for this choice: “It’s the best way to go on vacation while respecting the environment. The idea came from a work colleague who lives in Corsica and talked regarding a sailing trip, it made us want to try “.
First successes and ambitious projects
“Sailcoop is receiving great signals, we are recognized as a project that is moving, an alternative”. Yann Royer confirms that the cooperative is on the rise following a more than successful year. The number of customers has increased tenfold in one year; out of 2,000 places, half were sold this year. The objective for next year is to sell all available places.
This success might enable Sailcoop to realize its future ambitions, namely to establish maritime sailing connections wherever it is possible to offer them. A project which is starting to attract investors, Yoann Royer confirms: “The 1,000 members made it possible to raise 400,000 e, enough to consider the purchase of a shuttle which will transport 400 passengers in a line in Brittany, or in the South. As well as a second project for short-distance maritime lines with shuttles on journeys of one and a half hours”.
Saint-Raphaël was the most profitable and ambitious choice to launch the project. a lot of ferries and planes reach the Isle of Beauty every year; from an ecological point of view, sailboats also reduce the amount of carbon used. An auspicious season for the cooperative, important for changing lifestyles, now on the sea as well as on land, with these trips which hardly pollute.
