Why not gift a one-of-a-kind adventure for 2027?

There is a kind of gift that stays with people long after the day itself: a few hours lived together, somewhere out of the ordinary. This year, one of those could be a crossing of the Channel under sail. A morning at sea between two countries, twelve seats, the wind doing the work, and someone you love along for it. You are not handing over an object. You are handing over a day they will still be talking about next year.

The gift they do not see coming

Some of our favourite moments this season happened right on the pontoon, before we had even cast off. At least a dozen times this year, a passenger arrived at the marina with no idea they were about to sail the Channel. Someone close to them had booked it quietly and said nothing. The look on their face when it lands is something you cannot fake, and the excitement only grows once we are underway, because they still cannot quite believe it is happening.

One crossing stays with us in particular. A couple came aboard for their fiftieth wedding anniversary. They had met at a sailing event long ago, and it was at a sailing event that they had got together in the first place. For their golden anniversary, one of them brought the other across the Channel under sail, and kept the destination a secret the whole way. She did not know where she was going until she reached the pontoon, and could not work out why she was arriving in Boulogne-sur-Mer. She loved every minute of it. By her own account, it felt like being back in their younger days.

Who it is for

This is a gift for anyone who would rather receive a moment than a thing. Something to live and to share, that unplugs you from the everyday and reconnects you with the people you came with, with the sea, and with a slower sense of time. You cannot get a shared afternoon back later, and that is exactly what makes it worth giving: a bit of adventure, a bit of excitement, and a place in a very human, human-sized crossing.

We have seen it work for all sorts of occasions. A daughter gave the crossing to her father for his birthday. Couples have marked anniversaries with it. It suits anyone who loves the sea, anyone who has run out of ideas for the person who seems to have everything already, and anyone who simply wants to offer a real experience rather than another parcel under the tree.

You are not handing over an object. You are handing over a day they will keep for a long time.

What the other side holds

The crossing is the heart of the gift, and the rest of the trip is wide open. Whoever receives it can shape a weekend entirely their own: walking the capes and the white cliffs, sitting down to the local food on either coast, feeling the gap between two cultures that sit so close and yet so far apart. It is a proper breath of fresh air.

For anyone on a bike, both sides open up fast. On the English side there is the NCN1 and NCN2, with Canterbury within easy reach. On the French side you can pick up the Vélomaritime and drop down into Normandy or head up towards Dunkirk and Belgium, or join the Véloscénie or the Avenue Verte. And if they want to go further still, the train links Dover and Boulogne onward to London, Paris and beyond. One crossing, and a whole region to explore at their own pace.

How to give one

It takes a couple of minutes. On our booking page, choose the "Gift voucher" option in the booking module and pick the type of crossing you want to give. You will receive a code straight away, ready to pass on. Whoever you give it to redeems it against any crossing of the season, choosing their own date once the 2027 schedule is live. The voucher is valid for the whole of the 2027 season, so there is no rush and no risk of it expiring before they can use it.

One thing to know: the voucher covers the passenger seat. If they are bringing a bike, that is added at the time of booking when they redeem the code.

The questions people usually ask

What if they have never sailed?

The catamaran is stable and steady, though the idea of sailing can feel daunting if it is new to you. Our crew is experienced, and their first job is your comfort on board. Most people who come aboard unsure step off wishing the crossing had been longer.

And if the weather turns?

We keep a close eye on conditions and let you know as early as we can, usually 24 to 48 hours before departure. If a crossing cannot run, you move to another one that works for you, subject to availability. The sea sets the timetable, and we are always honest about that.

Is it easy to get to?

Both Dover and Boulogne are well connected by train and by bike on each side of the Channel, which makes this an easy trip to do without a car. Each marina is a 15 to 20 minute walk from the station.

Buying now, sailing in 2027

Here is the honest part. Buying a voucher this winter is a real help to us. The costs keep running through the cold months when we cannot sail, and knowing that a few crossings are already spoken for lets us look at 2027 with a clear head. So a gift bought now is two things at once: an unforgettable moment waiting for someone you love, and a hand held out to SailLink through the quiet season. We cannot wait to live it with you.

If you have a question before you buy, or you want to talk through which crossing would suit, write to us at info@saillink.co.uk. We are always happy to help you get it right.