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Condor Ferries

Condor Ferries is the only ferry company to offer weekly crossings between the Channel Islands and France. In 1993 they were the first ferry company to establish a high speed catamaran crossing from the Channel Islands. Condor Ferries now offer both traditional ferries and modern fast catamaran (fast cat) ferries. Ferry crossings to France include Jersey to St Malo and Guernsey to St Malo .

Condor Ferries have four ships in their fleet crossing from the UK to France and back which include the Commodore Goodwill, Condor Liberation, Condor Rapide and the Commodore Clipper.

All four ships boast a great range of onboard facilities including seating areas, a bar, restaurant, shops and children’s area. The Clipper also boasts a great range of en suite cabins.

Travel to France with Condor Ferries

Travel to France with Condor Ferries. Save time when you book direct using the button below or by using our handy third-party booking widget to compare the latest deals. Using a direct connection to ferry operator reservation systems that travel to France, you can compare all available sailings for your chosen destination in one quick and easy search saving you time online.

Travel to France with DFDS

Travel to France with DFDS

Travel to France by ferry with DFDS from only ÂŁ45! Explore everything that Europe has to offer this year, travelling at your own pace when you take your own vehicle.

Sailing to France with Children

Sailing to France with Children

Sailing to France with children can seem a little daunting at first to some families. The reality however couldn’t be further from the truth.

Dover Dunkirk Ferry Timetable

Dover Dunkirk Ferry Timetable

Dover Dunkirk Ferry Crossing Timetable There are up to 24 crossings on the Dover Dunkirk ferry route with DFDS Seaways each day. Below you’ll find the Dover Dunkirk ferry timetable to make choosing your ferry to France easier. The Dover Dunkirk crossing takes approximately 2 hours and is slightly longer than the 90 minutes Dover Calais crossing. Although less popular than Dover to Calais, the Dover Dunkirk crossing did have over 2,615,000 passengers on the service in 2018. Take a look at the timetable below. Please note that ferry times are subject to change. Dover Dunkirk Sailing Timetable Monday – Friday Saturday Sunday Departure 02:00 Arrival 05:00 Departure 02:00 Arrival 05:00 No Crossing Departure 04:00 Arrival 07:00 Departure 04:00 Arrival 07:00 No Crossing Departure 06:00 Arrival 09:00 Departure 06:00 Arrival 09:00 No Crossing Departure 08:00 Arrival 11:00 Departure 08:00 Arrival 11:00 Departure 08:00 Arrival 11:00 Departure 10:00 Arrival 13:00 Departure 10:00 Arrival 13:00 Departure 10:00 Arrival 13:00 Departure 12:00 Arrival 15:00 Departure 12:00 Arrival 15:00 Departure 12:00 Arrival 15:00 Departure 14:00 Arrival 17:00 Departure 14:00 Arrival 17:00 Departure 14:00 Arrival 17:00 Departure 16:00 Arrival 19:00 Departure 16:00 Arrival 19:00 Departure 16:00 Arrival 19:00 Departure 18:00 Arrival 21:00 Departure 18:00 Arrival […]

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Brittany Ferries

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Hoverspeed Ferries - Book Hoverspeed Ferries with Ferry Travel.com

Hoverspeed ferries with ferry travel.com.

Ferry Travel.com is a UK based ferry dedicated site which enables you to see the routes, timetables, crossing times and prices for all major European ferry operators.

You can book your Hoverspeed Ferries crossing simply and securely online using the drop down menus below. You can easily compare the prices of different ferry crossings so that you are confident you have chosen the best deal.

Ferry Travel.com offers a ticketless service. When your booking is complete you will immediately be given a booking reference number which is all that is needed to board your Hoverspeed Ferries Ferry.

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ABOUT HOVERSPEED FERRIES

There's no faster sea crossing to France with services from Dover to Calais and from Newhaven to Dieppe. The Company carries around 2.5 million passengers and over 500,000 vehicles across the Channel to Europe each year.

Hoverspeed Ferries operates a unique fleet of high-speed catamaran and monohull car ferries. In 2003 Hoverspeed Ferries operates a fleet of three Seacat catamarans on the prime Dover - Calais route, crossing in just under one hour with up to 15 daily departures during the peak season.

Hoverspeed Ferries is also the only high-speed operator from Newhaven to Dieppe. The Company reinstated this popular direct link to Normandy in April 1999. Hoverspeed Ferries will operate a Superseacat monohull high speed ferry with a crossing time of around two hours, with up to three return sailings operating daily in the peak period.

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Below are cheap Hoverspeed Ferries crossings and special offers. Select your number of passengers and click BOOK.

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The Fastest & Biggest Catamaran Ferries

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The Fastest Ferry

All fast catamaran connections in europe, the largest catamaran ferry, images of the highest-speed catamarans in the world.

Catamaran Ferries are faster than traditional ‘monohull' ferries. These ferries can achieve much higher speeds. In Europe, you have several of these fast catamaran connections that you can take.

Take for instance the ferry on the connection between Hirtshals and Kristiansand:

Fjord FSTR Bron: https://www.fjordline.com/

The Franciso ferry remains the fastest ferry, built by Incat:

HSC Francisco is a High-Speed Catamaran built by Incat in Hobart, Tasmania. Powered by liquefied natural gas, she is currently the fastest passenger ship in service, reaching a speed of 58 knots (107 km/h; 67 mph). The propulsion is by two GE LM2500 water jets. Connecting Buenos Aires with Montevideo .

fast catamaran to france

A ferry connection is considered fast if more than 40 knots can be achieved. Only ferry catamarans make this. Boats that are often high and therefore have less friction with the water.

Catamaran connections in Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea

  • Aarhus – Odden
  • RĂžnne – Ystad (2 pieces)
  • Gothenburg (Sweden) – Frederikshavn (Denmark)
  • Gran Canaria – Fuerteventura ( Leonora Christina )
  • Hirtshals (Denmark) and Kristiansand (Norway)
  • Viking FSTR – Helsinki to Tallinn (Very fast!)

Bajamar Express

You also have these ferries in the British Isles, including from Stranraer to Belfast and ferries from England to the Channel Islands. Since these often change locations, it is difficult to pin them to one location or connection.

You also recently have more of these High-Speed ​​ferries available around Greece.

HSC-Express

The largest diesel-powered catamaran ferry is the  HSC Express 1 and 2  between Aarhus and Odden (as well as RÞnne and Ystad) in Denmark. More information about this catamaran can be found  here on Wikipedia  . The newer variants of this Ferry. For example, the HSC Express 3 is slightly smaller, so it may well be the case that these will remain the fastest and largest catamarans in the world for a very long time.

UPDATE: By the way, the  Express 5  will eventually become the largest.

Sometimes you hear that the Hodor pleasure yacht (  Astilleros Armon  ) is the largest catamaran with 60 meters, but this is incorrect. It is much smaller than the HSC Express at  112.6 meters .

New High Speed Ferry Santorini

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The Bajamar Express is a beauty, love to see more of these catamaran ferries in Europe!

The White Blue ferry is the Iris 6.1 Catamaran Passenger Ferry. I think the project failed:

” The philosophy underpinning the design concept was the need to achieve three important targets. Most importantly, it had to be able to transport passengers in comfort. In order to impose a mimimal environmental impact on ports, estuaries and banks, it had to generate a low wake at all operational speeds. Lastly, it had to meet these standards without negatively influencing the hull form, which was designed to maximise speed and economy.”

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The ferry is still active somewhere in Croatia. When you spot it let us know 🙂

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fast catamaran to france

6 Best Performance Cruising Catamarans (Buyer’s Guide)

fast catamaran to france

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Performance cruising catamarans are impressive-looking vessels that focus on speed above comfort. These fast boats are ideal for racing and long cruising vacations. But with the numerous brands and models on the market, how do you know which is the best one?  

The best high-speed performance cruising catamarans are the Outremer 4x, McConaghy MC50, Nautitech 44, Gunboat 62, Balance 526, and Marsaudon Composites ORC50. All these boats deliver outstanding speeds and are light in weight, relatively comfortable, and incredibly safe.  

This article will explore the brands and models that I believe have the best combination of performance and comfort . We’ll look at their speeds and what makes them cruise so fast. We’ll also examine the factors to consider when shopping for a performance cruising cat.  

Table of Contents

How Fast Are Performance Cruising Catamarans? 

Cruising catamarans are generally faster than monohulls of similar lengths. This means most well-built and well-balanced cats will arrive at their destination much sooner, and the cruise is much more comfortable. Performance cruising cats like the Nautitech include deep daggerboards and rudders, narrow waterline beams, hull chines, and big sail plans that allow for faster sailing than a standard cruising cat.

CATAMARANSPEED (Knots)
Outremer 4X20
McConaghy 5222
Nautitech 4417
ORC 5023
Balance 52620
Gunboat 6220
Privilege Signature 510 (For reference)13
Fountaine Pajot Astréa 42 (For reference)10

Outremer 4X

Outremer Catamarans are well-known for their high speeds. These exciting cats sport brilliant designs, narrow bows, and large rigs. Built in Southern France, the vessels are strong and long-lasting since their structures feature materials such as carbon, glass, and vinyl ester. 

The Outremer 4x is a stable and comfortable high-speeding cruising catamaran that performs ocean crossings and confronts any weather with remarkable ease. Named the European Boat of the Year in 2017, this 48-foot (14.6 m) bluewater cruiser sails faster than wind speed and attains maximum cruising speeds of 20 knots.

The 4x is an upgrade of the extremely popular Outremer 45, thus retaining Outremer’s core values of speed, safety, and comfort. It’s built for maximum performance and enjoyment, with the lightweight, carbon fiber structure allowing for additional speed under sail . 

Featuring comfort typical of much larger vessels, the Outremer 4X features 4 double cabins, hot water showers, a full kitchen, spacious storage, and excellent ventilation. There’s also an expansive deck, an unobstructed cockpit, and large trampoline areas. Most importantly, your safety is assured through the cat’s unique features including a robust structure, offshore design, stability, and unrivaled speed potential.

The 4x’s cutting-edge design makes it ideal for competitive racing or blue water cruising, and it does both without compromising your comfort, safety, or onboard livability. However, to sail at maximum speed, the boat must remain lightweight, requiring your interior to be fitted out quite minimally. The other downside is the high price tag; the Outremer 4X commands a price between $912,322 and $1,202,945 .

fast catamaran to france

McConaghy MC52

The McConaghy MC52 is a performance luxury cruising cat reflective of McConaghy’s 50 years of experience in building high-tech composite projects. The luxurious boat features a flybridge, retracting centerboards, optimized hulls, and an open space bridgedeck combining the salon with the cockpit. You can also customize the boat to your specifications.

fast catamaran to france

This hi-tech cat comes with sizeable sliding salon windows and frameless doors that provide fantastic views. Its wave-piercing bows can cut through waves, thus helping to increase performance by minimizing pitch resistance, while still retaining a smooth ride. Also, the saloon offers spacious dining space for up to 8 people, and the galley area is more like a penthouse.

fast catamaran to france

The manufacturer’s background in building high-end racing yachts has resulted in an incredibly strong and lightweight vessel capable of reaching 22 knots (40.7 km/h or 25.29 mph). The main downside to this boat is the boom placement on the mast, which is much higher than other high-performance cats. This makes accessing the mainsail somewhat challenging. It also increases the MC50’s center of gravity and center of effort.

fast catamaran to france

You can get the MC52 for about $1.6 million.

Nautitech 44

The Nautitech 44 easily blends comfort and fun to deliver an impressive sailing performance, whether you take short trips or long ocean crossings. The boat offers a good balance under sail, and it features helming stations on each hull. Plus, there’s an integrated hardtop bimini complete with sunroof opening. Slim hulls translate to higher speeds, with the vessel reaching up to 17 knots (31.4 km/h or 19.51 mph).

The well-laid-out interior boasts a functional design, ample storage space, plus all the equipment you require for ocean cruising, such as a fridge, watermaker, and solar. 

Nautitech 44’s twin helms give you the real sailing experience with a fantastic view of the sails and great visibility when maneuvering into port. However, you might not appreciate being stuck in the aft helm position without protection in lousy weather or during hot days.

Nevertheless, the boat’s responsiveness makes sailing more pleasurable. Plus, it’s affordable; the price is between $236,000 and $334,000.

Marsaudon Composites ORC50

Marsaudon Composites vessels are ideal for both racing and cruising. The sporty-looking ORC 50 comes with large inverted bows, an angular coachroof, a high freeboard, and a sturdy rotating carbon mast. In addition, the vessel is light which allows it to accelerate quickly, while the angular coachroof offers lots of space and excellent visibility. 

The ORC50 can attain 23+ knots (42.5+ km/h or 26.41+ mph) and is among the fastest high-performance livable multihulls. It’s capable of doing more than 350 miles (563.27 km) per day.   

The downside to the ORC50 is it’s a bit technical to sail, thus requiring a skilled sailor. Furthermore, its immense power and speed can be intimidating to less experienced sailors. Solely designed for speed, the ORC50’s interior is simple, less roomy, and somewhat spartan; hence the boat might not be all that comfy. Still, it’ll get you where you want to go pretty fast, and it’s an excellent value for money at approximately $787,751.25.

Gunboat 62 

The Gunboat 62 is a true high-speed catamaran capable of sailing at 20 knots (37 km/h or 23 mph) over true wind speeds and known to notch up speeds of 36+ knots (66.7+ km/h or 41.45 mph) on a surf. The initial 3 Gunboat 62 boats featured epoxy, E-glass, and carbon fiber construction, but the fourth vessel was all carbon, sported a taller rig and a more expansive sail area. 

These structural features made the Gunboat 62s extremely light, and they formed the original luxury high-performance cruising cats.

This multihull sailboat boasts a carbon mast, round hull sections for a minimized wetted surface area, high-aspect rudders, and retractable daggerboards. The steering station offers 360-degree visibility and sports overhead hatches that you can use to monitor the mainsail trim. The boat also contains 3 private cabins with queen berths, 2 spacious heads with showers, an aft cockpit, galley, and lounge.

On the downside, Gunboats are pricey cats; hence they’re also expensive to maintain. The Gunboat 62 isn’t that spacious either as it’s more focused on speed, but it’s extremely comfortable, plus there’s plenty of space for hanging out. You can buy this catamaran starting from $2 million .

Balance 526

Built with a combination of carbon fiber, E-glass, epoxy, closed-cell foam, and composite bulkheads, this boat is strong, light, and can withstand terrible weather. The retractable daggerboards allow for good upwind performance. All high load areas contain carbon fiber, while furniture and cabinets feature cored sandwich construction, producing the lightest yet most robust catamaran. 

A Balance 526 will reach speeds of up to 20knots without stressing the rig too much.

The boat is available in various layouts and comfortably accommodates 6 people. The spacious aft cockpit and saloon provide panoramic visibility. And since Balance 526 can handle the extra weight, you get performance plus all the creature comforts you desire.

Still, Balance 526’s pricing is on the higher end, beginning at $1,440,000 . Also, the slender hulls result in less space down below. Nevertheless, the boat lives up to its name, achieving the perfect balance between superb performance and comfort.

What Makes Performance Cruising Catamarans So Fast? 

fast catamaran to france

Performance Cruising Catamarans Have Narrow Hulls 

Performance catamarans contain two small narrow hulls, which cause them to have less water resistance. Smaller hulls mean the vessels have much smaller bow waves to fight, allowing them to move extremely fast. In addition, the less hull area is underwater, the faster the boat is capable of moving since there’s less drag.

Having said that, it’s important to note that a narrow hull is more prone to burying its bows in rough seas. The wider the hull, the more buoyancy it offers, but only up to a given point. After which, the excessive width becomes unmanageable and performance suffers. The key lies in finding the right balance.

fast catamaran to france

Performance Cruising Catamarans Have Considerable Length

The longer a cruising cat is, the faster it’ll move. While each vessel bears a maximum hull speed, in most cases, the lengthier the boat, the higher the speed it can reach. The length of the hull (length on the waterline) also has a significant impact on the speed performance. Thus, the cat attains maximum speeds when the wavelength is equal to the length on the waterline (hull speed).

Therefore, the longer the length of the hull, the better the performance of a high-speed cruising cat. You can also compare two cruising cats’ speeds based on this measure. 

Performance Cruising Catamarans Have Quality Builds

Modern cat manufacturers continue designing more innovative high-performance cruising cats that deliver a new blend of performance and cruising features. They achieve this by using advanced construction materials, better daggerboard designs, and creative weight allocation. They also keep a keener focus on onboard amenities. For instance, asymmetrical daggerboards placed midships in each hull can help achieve proper balance and hull trim.

The overall goal is to design cruising cats that offer high speeds, outstanding performance, and enough offshore comfort. 

Here’s an article if you are wondering what daggerboards and centerboards are and why they impact performance so much.

fast catamaran to france

Performance Cruising Catamarans Are Light-weight

The lighter a cruising catamaran, the greater its performance. And some of the most popular high-performance catamarans find an optimal balance between performance and comfort. As a result, modern performance-based cruising cats have embraced the use of carbon composite construction for hulls, daggerboards, and rigging, instead of the somewhat heavier glass fiber materials.

A weighed-down cat produces less speed, which means excess immersion of the hulls renders the boat sluggish . The hull submersion also reduces the bridge deck clearance, promoting uncomfortable hull slamming.

You won’t find much difference in top speed between performance catamarans bearing similar lengths because they all have displacement hulls and mostly sail to hull speed with occasional surfing. This means that under skilled hands, these cats should exhibit roughly the same performance. A cruising cat’s performance is also highly dependent on the state of the sea, wind direction, and speed, amongst many other factors.

Performance Cruising Catamaran

What To Consider When Choosing a Performance Cruising Catamaran

Speed is the number one consideration when choosing a high-speed cruising cat. Yet there are other factors just as important since they contribute to the overall cruising performance, including:

  •  What you’ll use the vessel for and where. Are you planning on doing coastal cruising or serious offshore cruising? Consider the number of people that you’ll be sailing with and the activities you’ll engage in. This also helps determine the size catamaran you’ll need.  
  • Comfort. While some racing enthusiasts might prefer spartan accommodation plans, most enjoy relative comfort on the high seas. In any case, modern high-speed cruising cats are designed to provide a certain level of creature comforts. And since most performance cats are custom-made, new boat owners may decide precisely which features to include in their cats. 
  • Quality. To produce light boats, builders employ the use of fine resins, carbon, epoxies, foam cores, and fiberglass. They build using a combination of vacuum-bagged techniques, foam cores, foam composite bulkheads, and make furniture and cabinetry with cored sandwich construction . 
  • Livability. One cannot underrate the appeal of sailing in a vessel with no heeling, not to mention the high privacy attained from separate living and sleeping areas. Panoramic views and exceptional deck space for lounging and entertaining are also essential in ensuring maximum cruising comfort. Fortunately, most high-speed cruising cats offer all these features and more.
  • Equipment. Sailing upwind is a challenge for cruising cats since they tend to make lots of leeway. To make things easier, high-speed cruising cats come equipped with bigger rigs and either daggerboards or centerboards. However, this also means skilled sailors are required to operate them. 
  • Cost. Catamarans are generally expensive, but a cat built with longer, leaner hulls and less costly materials can still give an outstanding performance. Such materials include foam cores, epoxy bulkheads, and epoxy resins. Furthermore, it’s not necessary to use only carbon to build a lightweight boat. 

Final Thoughts

Performance cruising catamarans are built using exotic, high-tech, lightweight materials to deliver an electrifying sailing experience. And as we’ve seen from the above list, these boats deliver performance plus much more. They’re not only speed cruisers, but they also provide a smooth, comfortable, and enjoyable cruising experience. 

So, whichever option you go for – from the luxurious Gunboat 62 to the much more affordable Nautitech 44 – you’re sure to get a boat that suits your needs. 

  • Wikipedia: Spinnaker
  • Wikipedia: High-Performance Sailing  
  • Yachting World: Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 Review
  • Aeroyacht: Catamaran Speed
  • Cruiser’s Forum: Nautitech 44

  • Nautitech Catamarans: Nautitech
  • Katamarans: Marsaudon Composites ORC50 (TS5) Review
  • Outremer USA: New Outremer 4x Performance Catamaran
  • Dutoit Yacht Design: Balance 526 Review
  • Go Downsize: How Fast Do Catamarans Go?
  • Catamaran Guru: The Cruising Catamaran Performance Debate
  • The Boat App: The Fastest Cruising Catamarans of 2020
  • Sail Magazine: Performance Cruising Cats Set New Standards in Sailing Speed
  • Cruisers Forum: Fast Cruising Catamarans – How Fast?
  • Lagoon – Inside: The Secrets of a Catamaran’s Performance
  • Sail Magazine: 10 Great Cruising Cats
  • Cruising World: 40 Best Sailing Catamarans and Trimarans, Cruising Catamarans


Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

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fast catamaran to france

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My Cruiser Life Magazine

Fastest Catamarans for Cruising in 2023

Catamarans appeal to sailors and would-be sailors for a variety of reasons. One of those reasons is the need for speed—cats have a reputation for being faster. There are dozens of brands and tons of great boat designs that capitalize on this, and designers are constantly pushing the bounds and asking, “Really, how fast can a catamaran go?”

Performance sailing catamarans may look like your run-of-the-mill Leopard or Lagoon from a distance. But these boats are full of little tricks to boost their speeds—narrow hull designs, retractable daggerboards instead of keels, and extensive use of cutting-edge lightweight materials like carbon fiber. All of this adds up, so expect to pay double, triple, or maybe much more for a truly fast catamaran. And that means there are far fewer boats on the water, and owning one puts you in an exclusive club.

fast catamarans

Table of Contents

Neel trimarans, what is a fast catamaran, how fast can a catamaran go, are fast catamarans the boat you’re looking for, fast catamarans faqs, top brands of fast catamarans.

Here’s a list of some of the best-known and trail-blazing fast catamaran makers. These companies are making luxury performance catamarans suited for owners who want to cruise fast. These aren’t barebones race boats built for nothing but speed. Instead, these are comfortable boats that will outperform most others in their class. 

Most performance boats will be 45 feet long or more. Small catamarans don’t fall into this category, and most production liveaboard catamarans are built too heavily in order to save money.

For more than two decades, Gunboat has been setting the bar on what a performance catamaran can be. They took state-of-the-art technologies from the racing world and applied them to family-friendly cruising catamarans. The company started in the US in 2002. One of the company’s stated missions is to create boats that sail faster than the wind in anything more than 6 knots of breeze.

Since 2016, Gunboat has built top-quality boats at their La Grande-Motte, France, facility. However, they are still a boutique builder making only a handful of boats yearly. Their current offerings include the 68, 72, and 80. All boats have narrow hulls, retractable boards, high-performance sail plans, carbon fiber construction, and luxurious living accommodations.

The first hull of the Gunboat 68, CONDOR, was launched in 2019 and set out on a trans-Atlantic crossing immediately after its sea trials. The crew wrote a detailed report of the experience and the boat’s performance. CONDOR exceeded 30 knots occasionally, but average speeds were between 14 and 17 knots. Their best 24 hours saw 328 nm (an average speed of 13.7 knots). 

The company motto says it all. “Life is too short to sail a slow boat.”

Outremer Catamarans is one of the original makers of French performance cats, in business since 1984. According to their website, the company has made over 300 boats since then. A large-scale production boat maker they are not. These are custom-built fast catamarans of the highest quality, made for safety, comfort, and speed. Outremer recently received much attention when popular YouTubers Sailing La Vagabonde sailed aboard an Outremer 45 for several years.

Currently, Outremer offers boats ranging from the 45 to the 5X (48 to 60 feet long). The X models (4X and 5X) are even more performance-oriented, with more extensive use of carbon fiber and a more race-inspired sail plan.

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Catana is yet another French performance brand of luxury cruising catamaran. Today, Catana Group also makes Bali cruising catamarans, effectively marketing Catanas to the performance set and Bali’s to the cruising and charter set. https://www.catana.com

Presently, Catana is only making two models, the OC50 and the 53. Historically, however, Catana has made many beautiful boats. Notably, the 471 is a fast cruising catamaran that is a favorite among long-distance cruisers. On the smaller side, the 431 and even the 401 and 381 are quick and fun sailers that move better than their competition.

Catanas are easily recognizable by their daggerboards and narrow hulls with asymmetrical designs. In addition, they use a lightweight composite layup that results in a very stiff boat that weighs less than their competitors. Still, Catanas are not on the same level as an Outremer 5X or Gunboat–these are fiberglass boats that are built better than the competition and made to outperform many other boats. 

HH Catamarans is Gunboat’s first real competitor in the high-end performance cat market. They started in 2012 and are part of the Hudson Yacht Group. The boats are designed by Morrelli & Melvin, a highly-regarded multihull design firm, and are built in Xiamen, China, or Cebu, Philippines.

HH has boats in their model line from 44 to 88 feet long. The company focuses on providing what owners and sailors want and are looking for, so you’ll see lots of customizability within the lineup. They include features you won’t find from a lot of builders, including lots of planned real estate for solar panels (5kW or more!), hybrid drive systems, and ocean cruising OC (keels) or sport cruising SC (daggerboard) models to pick from.

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Balance started in South Africa in 2013. They focus on making semi-custom, comfortable performance yachts that are strong and safe and can be easily operated single-handedly or by a couple. They are live-aboard boats that strike a balance between comfort and performance. But, compared to the current offerings from Lagoon or Leopard, it’s clear that Balance cats skew far more toward performance than others do.

Models currently range from the 442 to the 750. They’re available with daggerboards or keels and made with extensive carbon fiber and all epoxy-resin composites. According to their website, the current record speed for a Balance 482 while surfing is 28 knots. She’ll cruise all day between 8 and 14 on a reach, though. They describe the 482 as a “trend-setting circumnavigator”—the perfect boat for your sail around the world route .

Kinetic Catamarans are designed by Simonis Voogd and built in Knysna, South Africa. Like others on the list, these are semi-custom, luxury, performance cruising cats with an emphasis on speed. They have all-carbon construction, carbon spars, laminated sails, and a forward sailing cockpit deck layout.

Since they are truly semi-custom, each boat is spec-ed out to each buyer’s vision. This includes standard or racing rigs, centerboards or daggerboards, and many furnishings, layouts, and outfitting options. Kinetic currently offers 54 and 62-foot versions.

What’s better than two hulls? Three, maybe. That is, three might be better if your goal is truly fast sailing. Neel Trimarans is a new French builder attempting to capitalize on this simple fact by merging the best of all worlds—the space and liveability of a cruising catamaran with the performance, sail efficiency, and stability of an offshore-capable tri.

The company presently offers models between 43 and 65 feet. They say cruising speeds are reliably over 10 knots, with 15 to 18 knots when the breeze freshens. Compared to cats, these boats’ rigid central hulls allow for stronger rigging and better upwind performance, and the central keel allows better tracking and rudder control.

Now you’ve looked at some fast cats, you might wonder what constitutes “fast.”

You will be wowed if you’re selling your 30-foot monohull and moving up to a 50-foot cat. But if you’re coming from the world of car and plane travel, sailboats of any ilk are anything but “fast.”

The first thing to accept is that all sailboats are slow . This shocks many people who think they’d like to travel and see the world by sailboat. The marketing of these “fast cats” is everywhere, and the idea that the faster boat is safer because you can “beat the weather” is especially pervasive. No sailboat at sea can outrun a front or storm cell moving at 30 or 40 knots. 

In truth, the fastest catamaran you can comfortably live aboard and cruise on will average out under 15 knots . In similar conditions, production catamarans might be doing 10 to 12. The monohull speeds of the same length might be 7 or 8 knots, and a bigger monohull with similar living space might be doing 10 or 12.

So don’t be lulled or wowed by these vessel’s maximum speed or “surfing” claims—they’re fun numbers to kick around with your dock neighbors, but what really matters is how many miles you can tick off in a day of travel.

To get more speed than this, you’ll either push the boat in ways that are not safe or comfortable at sea, or you will have to find bigger, more advanced, and even more expensive vessels. Most boats on this list are luxury liveaboard that is safe to travel the world. 

But are they fast? As the old sailor saying goes, “Nothing goes to weather like a 747.” Sailing is still sailing. And sailing is a slow, slow, slow way to see the world. 

Traditional monohull sailboats are displacement vessels that are limited by a few rules. As they push the water out of their way, they build up bow and stern waves. Push too much water, and the waves get bigger, pulling the vessel farther into the water. So no matter how you power it, it’s limited to hull speed. Hull speed is a factor of waterline length, width of the hull, and displacement. 

Modern designs favor flat bottoms like powerboats, with the idea that they can surf and plane to get more speed. Catamarans take this even further, and with some clever design tricks , it’s possible to get a catamaran well above displacement speeds for extended runs. Of course, a lot depends on the hull type, and other factors are also at play.

Catamarans are very sensitive to weight . Their speed comes from being a lightweight boat with the ability to fly across the water, contrary to how a heavy monohull plows through it. The heavier the boat, the lower it sits in the water.

Therefore, adding weight to any catamaran will slow it down. To this end, finding a performance-oriented liveaboard catamaran less than 47 feet long is difficult. Less than this, and the narrow hulls simply can’t hold the weight of you and your stuff. 

Finally, there’s the consideration of the environment you’re sailing in. The wind is obvious—they sail fastest on a broad reach. And, just like any other type of boat, they are slowest when close-hauled and on a run. 

Rough seas are another of the catamaran characteristics to consider in your need for speed. Often the boat is capable of more, but the ride is rough and uncomfortable.

So you shorten sail and slow down to find the sweet spot of comfortable sailing speed—enough power to maintain a good speed without pounding your brains out and causing undo fatigue on the crew. And, of course, the rougher the conditions, the slower the boat’s performance as she slows and in the troughs and speeds “downhill.”

Fastest Catamarans For Cruising In 2023

While they are faster than other vessels, that’s certainly not the only thing catamarans have going for them. Fast is a relative term, and “fast” sailing is still awfully slow. So unless you already love sailing, sailing fast might not have as much appeal as you’d expect.

Catamarans are great vessels with a lot of pluses. And these fast modern catamarans are some of the best—luxurious living space aboard comfortable, top-quality vessels. 

What are the fastest catamarans?

Like those used in recent America’s Cup races, pure racing catamarans use foils to lift their hulls out of the water. Whether performance-oriented or not, regular catamarans for cruising are much slower, averaging between 10 and 15 knots. Still, they generally outperform monohull sailboats of similar lengths in most conditions, especially when sailing downwind.

How fast does a 50 foot catamaran sail?

There are many designs of catamarans, and they all sail differently. In some conditions, a pure racing catamaran may sail significantly faster than the wind speed. Most cruising catamarans, whether designated as “performance” or not, will max out around 12 to 15 knots. Momentary peak speeds may be significantly higher. 

What is the fastest point of sail catamaran?

As with all sailboats, the fastest point of sail will be near a beam reach, where the apparent wind is 90 degrees from the boat’s bow. Since cats travel faster over the water, this usually means that the true wind is off the quarter, with a true wind angle of about 120 degrees off the bow.

How fast is the Gunboat 68?

Gunboat 68, hull number 1 (68-01), was launched in 2019. Immediately after sea trials, CONDOR crossed the Atlantic . The crew reported the vessel’s max speed exceeded 30 knots occasionally, with averages between 14 and 17 knots. Their best day was 328 nm, making the average speed for those 24 hours 13.7 knots (15.8 mph).

fast catamaran to france

Matt has been boating around Florida for over 25 years in everything from small powerboats to large cruising catamarans. He currently lives aboard a 38-foot Cabo Rico sailboat with his wife Lucy and adventure dog Chelsea. Together, they cruise between winters in The Bahamas and summers in the Chesapeake Bay.

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Please note that any person or vehicle travelling for business or commercial venture, carrying commercial goods/samples will need to book via our freight teams and do not qualify for leisure fares. In addition, if the vehicle being taken is designed for the carriage of commercial goods it shall be reserved as freight regardless of its dimensions. For more information please call the Commercial team on 01481 728620 .

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Ferry to ST MALO

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Book your trip to St Malo with confidence. You can easily change your booking for free up to 48 hours before your departure, with only the difference in fare to pay.

Experience ferry travel.

Free amendments - If your plans change, you can easily change your booking for free up to 48 hours before your departure, with only the difference in fare to pay.

Pack everything you need  - Travelling without luggage restrictions gives you the freedom and flexibility to take exactly what you need for your holiday – and that’s per person!

Grab a bargain - Save up to 40% off UK high street prices on your favourite brands, across fragrance, beauty products, top tech, gifts, confectionery, wines, spirits and tobacco.

Take your pet - Going on your holiday by sea means that you can take your car and take the whole family with you, including the family pet. Sadly this is only available for car passengers and not foot passengers. 

Ferry routes to St Malo

If you’re crossing on our routes to France from the UK with Condor Ferries, you’ll be sailing from Poole port  to St Malo. You will sail onboard the Condor Voyager from Poole port getting you there in around 6 hours and 20 minutes.

If you’re travelling on our Jersey route, Condor Voyager will get you to St Malo in Brittany, France from 1 hour and 25 minutes. From Guernsey, the sailing duration is from 1 hour and 55 minutes direct.  View our route map below for more details.

You can also travel on Condor Liberation from Poole, and change ships once you get to Jersey.

A historic walled city, fascinating shops and countless restaurants and bars are waiting to be explored in Brittany France, starting with a ferry trip to St Malo.

Condor Ferries sails to St Malo France from Poole , Guernsey and Jersey ports, with ferry crossings available throughout July to September which are our peak travel months.

The ferry to France from Poole  is onboard Condor Voyager via Jersey. It takes around 6 hours and 20 minutes to sail from Poole to St Malo. 

And, if your plans change, you can rest easy knowing that you can book with confidence with free amendments. You can easily change your booking for free up to 48 hours before your departure, with only the difference in fare to pay.

st malo brittany

Plan your trip

It’s always a good idea to book your ferries to France as soon as you’ve planned your holiday. If you’d like to travel during peak seasons like summer or half term then do try to book early – the further in advance you book, the more likely you are to find a better fare. Consider travelling on a week day instead of a weekend – you might find more options or offers to suit your budget.

6 hours and 20 minutes Up to 4 times a week Condor Voyager
From 1 hour and 25 minutes Up to 5 times a week Condor Voyager
From 1 hour 55 minutes Once a week Condor Voyager
  • 6 hours and 20 minutes
  • Up to 4 times a week
  • Condor Voyager
  • From 1 hour and 25 minutes
  • Up to 5 times a week
  • From 1 hour 55 minutes
  • Once a week

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need to know more about your ferry to St Malo? We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions by our customers to help you plan your journey.

How do you get to St Malo from the UK?

How long does it take to get to st malo from the uk, do you need a passport to travel to st malo in france, about st malo .

St Malo is a glorious walled historic French port, in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany. The port is approximately 14.2 sq miles and has packed in it a wealth of French culture and history. Visitors can choose to walk along the walls and explore the intra-muros, or stroll along the beautiful cobbled streets and discover the wonders that the shops have to offer. Or if you fancy finding out more about the city’s history, you can visit the Cathedral St Vincent, a gorgeous piece of gothic and Romanesque architecture that marks the centre of the city. Take a look at our travel guides and see what else St Malo has to offer.

Travel advice

Whether you’re planning on taking your car to explore France or going on foot, taking the ferry to St Malo is a unique experience with stunning sea views to enjoy on the way to the historic port in the heart of Brittany, France.

Here’s all the details you’ll need on booking, our timetables, which travel documents to take and what to do when travelling with a pet. Looking for things to do while in France? Head over to our St Malo Travel Guides.

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Booking the right vehicle

Travelling to St Malo by car? Be sure to check out our Vehicle Size Guide to help you book the right vehicle for your ferry trip.

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Our timetables to St Malo

Looking for the perfect sailing time for your trip? Take a look at our timetables where you’ll be able to see our full availability for ferries to St Malo.

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Looking for information on travelling to St Malo with your dog? Be sure to read our guide on ferry travel with your pet for everything you need to know.

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Which travel documents do I need?

Wondering whether you need a passport to travel to St Malo? Have a look at our FAQ for all the information you need on which travel documents you’ll need for your trip.

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Ferries to France

Ferries to France

Take a ferry to france.

Book a DFDS ferry to France from England and explore everything Europe has to offer from just ÂŁ80 ! With three ferry routes to France from the UK, DFDS offer you the choice and flexibility to suit your travel plans.

Our ferry crossings to France include routes from Dover to Calais & Dunkirk , as well as Newhaven to Dieppe .

Our ferry ports in France offer you great connectivity for your onward journey!

Enjoy a meal onboard

Travel with your vehicle

No baggage restrictions

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Excellent onboard facilities

Great destinations within driving distance of French ferry ports

3 routes across the Channel to choose from

Save up to 50% vs UK high street on Duty Free

Ferry Routes to France Map

Terms and Conditions

*Lead in price based on one-way fare for a standard car carrying up to 4 passengers on Dover-France routes, including ETS charge as of 1st January 2024.

Journeys and prices are subject to availability and usual DFDS terms & conditions apply.

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Ferry to France from UK

Getting to France has never been easier with DFDS ferries across the Channel. Choose from one of our three ferry routes from England to reach France in as little as 100 minutes and arrive ready to explore. We have a wide range of options to suit your travel needs: travel from Dover to Calais or Dunkirk , or from Newhaven to Dieppe . All of our ships offer excellent onboard facilities so you can enjoy the journey, including wildlife watching on our route to Dieppe!

Take your car on the ferry to enjoy maximum freedom once you reach your destination, plus this means no restrictions on the amount of luggage you can take with you or what you can bring back! We also accommodate motorhomes, caravans, motorbikes and bicycles , so you can embark on any type of holiday you wish ! Overnight ferries also available on all routes . You can also travel as a foot passenger on our Newhaven-Dieppe route and enjoy beautiful hiking trails in Normandy . Whether you're planning a romantic getaway, a family holiday or an exhilarating adventure, book your ferry to France today !

Ferry Crossings to France

Dover-Calais Dover-Dunkirk Newhaven-Dieppe
Departure Port, UK: Dover Dover Newhaven
Destination Port, France: Calais Dunkirk Dieppe
From Price: ÂŁ80 for car + 4 people, one way ÂŁ80 for car + 4 people, one way ÂŁ87 for car + 2 people, one way
Sailings per Day: Up to 30 Up to 24 Up to 4
Sailing Time: 100 minutes 2 hours 4 hours
Sailing Distance: 27 nautical miles 47 nautical miles 90 nautical miles
First Ferry 00:10 02:00 05:30
Last Ferry 21:10 23:59 23:59

Ferry Routes to France

Family in Calais

Dover-Calais Ferry Crossings

Hop aboard our most popular ferry crossing, Dover to Calais, and arrive in Calais in just 100 minutes. There are many ways to spend time onboard, from dining to duty free shopping.

Dunkirk in Winter

Dover-Dunkirk Ferry Crossings

With a journey time of just 2 hours, our Dover to Dunkirk ferry crossing gives you access to Belgium, France, the Netherlands and more. Enjoy dining and duty free shopping on board.   

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Newhaven-Dieppe Ferry Crossings

Arrive in Dieppe in 5 hours with our Newhaven to Dieppe ferry crossing. Enjoy our facilities while you sail, including restaurants and an onboard shop.

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Rosslare - Dunkirk Ferry

Sail between Ireland and France with DFDS on our new Rosslare – Dunkirk overnight ferry. With shopping onboard, comfy cabins and all meals included you can reach your destination ready to explore.

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Paris City Break from Dover

Enjoy a city break in Paris with accommodation included in your package! Choose between our Dover to Calais or Dunkirk routes and select one of our handpicked hotels.

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Lille City Break

Our Lille city break is the perfect package for those wanting to discover this charming French city.

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Bruges City Break

Our Bruges City Break is the perfect short getaway to soak up the charms of it's ancient streets, picturesque canals, and indulge in the finest chocolate. Travel to Calais or Dunkirk and make your way to Bruges with unlimited luggage!

Euro City Break Promo

European City Break

Enjoy a Europe city break with accommodation included in your package. Choose one of our handpicked hotels in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany and save with short break pricing!

Things to do Onboard and in France

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Onboard our Ferries

Find out about our services onboard our ferries, including a range of restaurants to please every palate, kids’ play areas for the little ones to let off steam, and of course Duty Free Shops with great offers on perfumes, cosmetics, toys and alcohol.

Eiffel Tower, France

France Travel Guides

With 3 relaxing routes to France, it’s easier than ever to visit the landscapes and historic cities of this amazing country.

Battlefields in France

Battlefields in France

Explore many battlefields in France that have remained undisturbed and serve to remind us of those fallen heroes.

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Take your bike to France

Travel to France with your bike or with your vehicles on a DFDS ferry to France. Find scenic cycle routes and top tourist spots near our ports!

Motorcycling in Holland

Travel to France with Your Motorbike

Take your motorcycle on one of our ferries to France and discover Europe at your own pace.

Driving in France

Driving in France

Read our tips on driving in France to help you prepare for your trip. Travel by ferry to make your drive to France as stress-free as possible.

Duty Free Kids

DFDS Duty Free Purse-Friendly Prices

Travel by ferry to France and get your luxuries for less by shopping Duty Free onboard all DFDS Ferries from the UK to France. Plus, stop by our Calais & Dunkerque Duty Free stores for great deals to fill your boot. In our portside stores, our expert staff are on hand to assist, and even offer wine tastings to help you decide from our huge range of products!

From top brand wines, beers and spirits to premium perfumes, cosmetics and accessories, discover thousands of Duty Free deals onboard and in store, and save up to 50% versus the UK high street. Book your ferry to France with DFDS and bag great savings.

DFDS WINNER 2024 AWARDS

Championing the Seas!  

We're elated to announce that DFDS has once again retained its title as Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator at the 2024 World Travel Awards.

This accolade wouldn’t have been possible without you, our loyal passengers. Thank you for recognising the hard work of our exceptional team members who are dedicated to ensuring each voyage is as exceptional as the next.

Your ongoing support is the anchor to our success.

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> > Hoverspeed

carried 396 passengers and 53 cars between Dover and Calais in 35 minutes.

and the newer (see photo), completed Hoverspeed's transitition to a Seacat- and Superseacat-based catamaran ferry service.

in 1998, describes what it was like to travel from Dover to Calais by hovercraft.

n July, 1998, celebrated 30 years of service by its first commercial hovercraft, the (a sister to the , shown above). Both SRN4 Mark III craft remain the largest hovercraft in the world, and they continue to offer frequent daily service on the English Channel's Dover-Calais route.

If you've never traveled by hovercraft, you're missing a unique experience. You drive or walk aboard, then settle into an airline-style seat in one of the two passenger cabins that flank the vehicle deck. The car hatches are closed, the four 3,800-hp gas turbines rev up, and air fills the rubber skirts beneath the craft.. Moments later, four huge propellers send the craft blasting across the English Channel at more than 50 knots (58 mph or 98 km/h).

You can read a free newspaper, have a cup of coffee, and have duty-free goods delivered to your seat during the brief "flight" (as hovercraft journeys are called). When the channel is rough, you may feel a bit of chop despite the 3m/10-foot air cushion that separates the hovercraft from the water. This shouldn't be a cause for alarm--the craft are approved for operation in 50-knot winds and 3.5-meter or 11.5-foot waves.

As you approach the French or English coast, you may experience a moment of alarm as the hovercraft continues to speed ahead in a torrent of spray. But the craft makes a seamless transition from water to land, settling onto the concrete pad of the hoverport after its dramatic arrival. Elapsed time: 35 minutes, making Hoverspeed the fastest connection between England and France.

Since 1991, Hoverspeed Fast Ferries has supplemented its hovercraft with fast catamarans.

The Seacat crosses the channel in 50 minutes, carrying up to 573 passengers and 85 cars.

Two state-of-the-art catamarans, the and the , traverse this 152-year-old route between England and Belgium in just under two hours. The 81-meter or 266-foot boats feature computerized ride control and carry 674 passengers with 155 cars.

The Seacat covers this route in 55 minutes. (In 1990, the captured the Hales Trophy for the fastest transatlantic sea crossing with a time of 3 days 7 hours 57 minutes. The previous record, set by the S.S. , had been unbeaten since 1952.)

This newer route has two to three crossings a day, with the journey taking two hours. The hauls up to 700 passengers and 175 vehicles across the Channel at speeds exceeding 40 knots.


The Hovercraft Museum in Hampshire, England features more than 60 hovercraft in three hangars.

is a professional travel writer, book author, and editor who focuses on Europe.

After 4-1/2 years of covering European travel for About.com, Durant and Cheryl Imboden co-founded Europe for Visitors  (including Europe for Cruisers) in 2001. The site has earned "Best of the Web" honors from and .

For more information, see , , and .

and

 

 

 

 

|    |

|    |

|    |

Copyright ïżœ 1996-2024 Durant and Cheryl Imboden. All rights reserved.

 

 














:: :: :: :: :: :: ::

Hoverspeed rules the waves with its superb fleet of and fast ferries, giving you a journey that is all about speed, style and service. Thereïżœs no faster sea crossing to France and Belgium, with services from Dover to Calais and Ostend and from Newhaven to Dieppe. The Company carries around 2.5 million passengers and over 500,000 vehicles across the Channel to Europe each year.

Hoverspeed operates a unique fleet of high-speed catamaran and monohull car ferries. In 2002 Hoverspeed will operate a fleet of three seacat catamarans on the prime route, crossing in just under one hour with up to 14 daily departures during the peak season.

Hoverspeed also operates the only cross-Channel link between the UK and Belgium, with a high speed seacat from Dover to Ostend. The 81 metre Seacat, ïżœDiamantïżœ provides two return daily departures with a crossing time of around two hours.

Hoverspeed Ltd,
International Hoverport,
Dover,
Kent
CT17 9TG

 

THE WIDEST CHOICE OF CROSSINGS

Ferries to france.

The Mont Saint Michel is one of France's most stunning sights

The Mont Saint Michel is one of France's most stunning sights

Cross-Channel ferries to France from the UK

Brittany Ferries offers the most convenient cross-Channel ferries to France, with the widest choice of ferry crossings. You can depart from three ports to France from the UK. Travel from Portsmouth ,  Plymouth  or  Poole and alight in Cherbourg , St Malo , Caen , Le Havre or Roscoff , for a direct English channel crossing to your holiday in France. For more information view our  route map  and timetables .

Woman looking out over Altantic coast at Le Croisic, Pays de la Loire, Loire Atlantic

Ferries from Portsmouth to France

The best choice of routes and sailings to Normandy and Brittany

Panoramic view of Cancale, Brittany

Ferries from Plymouth to France

Explore Brittany's tourist resorts or head south to Pays de la Loire

Aerial view of Granville harbour, Normandy, France

Ferries from Poole to France

Our shortest route to Normandy goes to the beautiful Cotentin Peninsula

UK to France and France to UK route information

Portsmouth to Caen

Caen to Portsmouth

Portsmouth to St Malo

St Malo to Portsmouth

Portsmouth to Cherbourg

Cherbourg to Portsmouth

Poole to Cherbourg

Cherbourg to Poole

Plymouth to Roscoff

Roscoff to Plymouth

Portsmouth to Le Havre

Le Havre to Portsmouth

Mont St Michel, Normandy

Ferries to France

Cruise across the Channel or travel high-speed with departures from Portsmouth, Plymouth or Poole to Cherbourg, St Malo, Caen, Le Havre or Roscoff.

What are the ferry routes to France?

Choose your most convenient car ferry to France from the UK, with daily sailings on most routes and a choice of departure times to suit you.

Portsmouth to Caen (Ouistreham)

How much is a ferry to France?

Book a cheap ferry to France or Spain by choosing a Brittany Ferries’ Early Bird ticket, which is the c heapest fare available at the time of booking*. Early Bird tickets are only available 60 days or more before outward sailing.

*Excluding promotional fares

How long is a ferry to France?

Brittany Ferries routes sail to a choice of ferry ports in France. The shortest route, Poole to Cherbourg, takes just 5 hours. Daily sailings from Portsmouth to Caen, the most popular route, take 6-7 hours. Daily overnight sailings on Portsmouth to St Malo take 10-12 hours.

Where can you get a ferry to France from the UK?

Sail to France from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is just 2 hours from London and has routes to the French ports of St Malo, Caen, Cherbourg and Le Havre. Sail to Roscoff from Plymouth and Cherbourg from Poole.

Can I take my dog on a ferry to France?

Yes, you can take your dog on the ferry to France when you travel with Brittany Ferries. Travel on any of our ships to France with your dog. Depending on the ship, you can take your dog in a pet-friendly cabin, a kennel, or staying in your vehicle. Pet documentation is required to travel to France with a dog.

Can I take food to France on the ferry?

People travelling from the UK into the EU with plants and plant products, as well as products of animal origin - such as anything containing meat or dairy - need to consume or dispose of them before or at the EU border. The rules apply for food and drink for personal consumption (as opposed to commercially traded), whether carried in luggage, vehicles, or on their person.

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[Updated] The fastest cruising catamarans of 2020

Jun 26, 2020

less than a min

[Updated] The fastest cruising catamarans of 2020

Catamarans are some of the most interesting boats to roam the oceans. They are not only considered great looking vessels with plenty of space for utmost comfort, but also fast boats that you can use in races. Performance catamarans are categorized as multihulls and offer unique design features in addition to unparalleled speed.

Several lists have been compiled to categorize the best catamarans every year. Here are some of the fastest cruising catamarans of 2020 :

  • Outremer Catamarans have made a name for themselves for being fast as well as fun. With the Outremer 45 as a wonderful representative, these catamarans are characterized by narrow bows and large rigs. The Outremer 45 features a smart design from Barreau-Neuman, constructed in the Outremer yard in the South of France. It is built in carbon, glass, vinylester and divinycell in order to be durable and strong. This boat can reach a maximum speed of 15 knots, with a comfortable sailing speed at 9-10 knots. 
  • The Privilege Signature 510 is another fast cruising catamaran, recently acquired by the German Hanse Group. It is an elegant and sportive design with an arched coach roof. It features a galley, a living area, a carbon mast, and a very appealing exterior. This catamaran costs 995,000 euros.
  • The Marsaudon Composites ORC50 also makes this list. What is unique about these vessels is that they can be used for racing as well as cruising.  Designed by Christophe Barreau, this boat features a sporty look with an angular coachroof, large inverted bows, a powerful rotating carbon mast, and a high freeboard. In addition, the ORC50 is a lightweight boat that allows it to gain speed quite easily. 
  • Next in line are the Fountaine Pajot yachts. These boats present a good balance between comfort and performance, which has been what boat owners and mariners have been looking for lately. Most of their boats are able to sail at 9-10 knots with less resistance, while still maintaining a smooth voyage for the crew. Some of the fastest cruisers from Fountaine Pajot include AstrĂ©a 42 and Elba 45 .
  • Last but not least, the Gunboat 68 is a lightweight boat that is suitable for many sailing conditions. This multihull sailboat has high-aspect straight daggerboards, strong bows that manage to cut through waves, and retractable rudders. It also features different layouts that can house 4, 5, or even 6 cabins. The interior of the boat is a pure reflection of the external shape of the hull. All in all, this is an ergonomic design that aims to be flexible and easy to use by anyone on board. This catamaran costs 5.5 million euros.

These are the top five fastest cruising catamarans of 2020 according to us . Other impressive cruising multihulls include the Dolphin 42, Privilege 435, Fountaine Pajot Belize 43, Nautitech 44, Lagoon 440, Voyage 44, Outremer 45, Prout 45, and Leopard 45. Explore their features and more catamaran characteristics, keeping also a full record and management of your boating life with TheBoatAPP .

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Sail Universe

Top 15 French Sailboats (and Catamarans) for 2022

top 15 French sailboats 2022

France is undoubtedly one of the homelands of sailing. Monohull or multihull, every year the French shipyards present models that are successful all over the world. This is why we decided to select our top 15 French sailboats (and catamarans) for 2022; we choose them between the new ones and the slightly older ones. And you? What’s your favorite model?

Top 15 French sailboats for 2022: monohulls

Allures 51.9.

The Allures 51.9 innovates with its full-beam aft owner’s cabin. This model disrupts the codes of the yard also outside with its cockpit of 6 meters long with sunbath and swim platform for comfort; the navigation space can be protected by a hardtop to navigate in any security. The boat has a length of 51.9 feet (15.8 meters) and a beam (width) of 15.4 feet (4.7 meters). It is equipped with a fixed keel and a composite hull, which provides good stability and seaworthiness. The Allures 51.9 is available in a variety of configurations, including a three-cabin layout with a spacious owner’s cabin and two guest cabins, or a two-cabin layout with a larger owner’s cabin and a smaller guest cabin. It is also equipped with a well-equipped galley, a large saloon, and a navigation station. The boat is designed to be comfortable and easy to handle, with a simple sail plan and a self-tacking jib. The Allures 51.9 is a popular choice for sailors looking for a high-quality, reliable, and seaworthy yacht for extended cruising. Allures official website .

Amel 50

With this 15-meter unit , the La Rochelle shipyard opens the Amel concept to a new category of clients, thanks to more accessible dimensions. While they are not abandoning the emblematic ketch design of the La Rochelle shipyard, Amel has chosen the sloop for this unit. However, this is not a new format as such, as a number of sloops have already left the shipyard in the past. Among the innovations on this new model, the choice of a straight, powerful bow is a break from the shipyard’s habits. The waterline is extended to improve performance, making the front part of the boat more spacious. The addition of a bowsprit makes it possible to tack an additional sail such as an asymmetric spinnaker or a code-0. Amel official website .

Beneteau First 36

Beneteau First 36 top 15 French sailboats

The Beneteau First 36 has a mission to bridge the gap between high-tech development in the world of racing and mainstream racer-cruisers. To be specific, even the standard version of First 36 will fully plane in a moderate breeze. Positioning six winches, steering wheels, and other deck gear was thoroughly tested on several mock-ups and a full-scale testbed sailboat to enable the sailing experience promised on the previous page.

Details like an offshore hatch on the foredeck or removable cockpit benches show the priority of sailing functionality over style used throughout the design process. Standard aluminium rig and cast iron keel were chosen to keep the boat accessible. Yet, Sam Manuard brought his experience and focused on perfecting the shape and design of these two key ingredients for a great sailing experience. The draft of 2,25 m was chosen as a compromise between performance and ease of use.  Beneteau official website .

dufour 32 sailboat top 15 French sailboats

The new Dufour 32, designed by  Umberto Felci,  has been developed in the same spirit as all the  latest models  in the Dufour range: it’s a sporty, innovative yacht that is easy to handle, both with a crew and single-handed. All the spaces have been completely redesigned to create a multitude of playful and intelligent uses. For the first time on a 32-foot  sailboat , you can now enjoy an aft sunbathing area 
 sheltered by a fabric shade that can be adjusted in moments. The inflatable and removable aft door of the cockpit folds down to complete this large friendly space. Dufour official website.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380 top 15 French sailboats

Designed by naval architect Marc Lombard with interior styling by Piaton Bercault, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 380 complete with the award-winning walk-around deck, follows the same design trend of its predecessors the Sun Odyssey 410, 440, and 490. On the interior, while the design features the hallmarks of this line, careful consideration was given to the perception of space and the simplification of lines, with the objective of creating sensations of peace and calm. Jeanneau official website .

pogo 44 top 15 French sailboats

For this fast cruising yacht , the shipyard has once again entrusted the Finot-Conq naval architecture firm to apply the very successful design of the Pogo 36 to a larger model. As for the hull, the Pogo 44 features a wide, chine hull, which guarantees high performance in planning and comfort when sailing at all speeds. The bow has a large volume, which is reminiscent of the Pogo 3. The keel of the Pogo 44, still made with a vacuum infused Monolithic Fiberglass veil and a lead ballast, receives the same hydraulic system as the Pogo 12.50 or Pogo 50. Pogo official website .

RM 970 top 15 French sailboats

The French yard is well known not only among ocean sailors but also to those who love short-handed sailing and are looking for seaworthy and easily driven boats, both safe and comfortable. This last aspect is where Fora Marine has made great progress in the last few years, shedding some of the spartan image that characterized their products for many years.

What has not changed, and what is still the RM range’s defining characteristic, is the twin-chined hull, made of OkumĂ© plywood impregnated with epoxy resin (the deck is in fiberglass sandwich). Below the hull, the yard offers two options, a single deep keel or double shoal draft keels. The RM are designed by Marc Lombard , probably one of the architects most able to transform the fashionable chine into an important element in cruising design. A chined hull, when properly drawn, gives both better hull shape and interior volumes. RM Yachts official website .

Top 15 French sailboats for 2022: catamarans

bali 4.4

The new  Bali  4.4 offers interesting living spaces, both inside and outside. With an optimized sail plan, sailing should gain in performance. The French shipyard is constantly developing its range and, after the 5.4, the fleet’s flagship, and the recent 4.2 and 4.6, the Bali 4.4 joins this renewed family. The Bali 4.4 replaces the 4.3 and 4.5 from the Bali catamaran range. With the same origins (designer Olivier Poncin, architect Xavier Fay and Lasta Design for the interiors) the Bali 4.4 has the DNA of the last models with slender bows, a silhouette lightened by the presence of long hull portholes and vast living spaces. The latter are divided between the spacious rigid forward cockpit between the two hulls, the flying bridge with its saloon and solarium, and finally the tilt-and-turn door joining together the cockpit and saloon. Bali official website .

Excess 15 (bluewater sailing configuration)

Beneteau excess 15 catamaran top 15 French sailboats

The  bluewater  sailing configuration of the  Excess  15 consists of twin  Deep Blue  50 kW electric saildrives in cooperation with ZF, two Deep Blue high-capacity lithium-ion BMW i3 batteries, and a full energy management system for harvesting green energy and charging the boat’s batteries while underway. On the yacht’s long test sail, the hydro generation system easily provided enough electricity to power one hundred percent of the onboard hotel loads at a cruising speed of seven to eight knots. Adding solar photovoltaics, planned for phase two of the Excess 15 with Deep Blue Hybrid project , will extend the system’s range and provide even more hybrid power and comfort on board. Excess Catamarans official website .

Fountaine Pajot Isla 40

Fountaine pajot Isla 40 top 15 french sailboats

The 12m Isla 40 embodies the spirit of French yard  Fountaine Pajot  and is distinguished by invigorating lines. The catamaran features inverted bows and a particular saloon where the chart table is accessible from the entrance. Her performance is complemented by optimal liveability with the option of three or four double cabins plus the possibility of a skipper’s cabin if required. Olivier Racoupeau Yacht Design , in collaboration with the engineers at Fountaine Pajot, has designed this new model, taking inspiration from the strengths of the other models in the range, and giving this 40-foot catamaran even more space and storage. Fountaine Pajot official website .

Garcia Explocat 52

The Garcia Explocat 52 is custom made with aluminum hulls and structures and fiberglass composite deck roofs. Aluminum shipbuilding has been Garcia’s strength for over 40 years. In Normandy (France), the Garcia shipyard has built more than 300 monohulls, catamarans, and trawlers up to 102 feet in length. Garcia Explocat 52 is specially designed for owners who want to walk in high latitudes and / or in the tropics. In addition to the three versions offered, the aluminum structure allows the yard to customize the yacht to meet all the expectations of the owner. Available in 3 or 4 cabin versions, each Explocat 52 is uniquely adapted to fit your cruising dreams. Garcia Yachts official website .

Lagoon 55 top 15 french sailboats

With nearly 6,000 units produced since the French shipyard began in 1987, Lagoon remains by far the world leader in the multihull market. To celebrate this international success, the shipyard launched last year the Lagoon 55. Designed by the VPLP team on the naval architecture side, this 16.56-meter long and 9-meter wide multihull was designed by Patrick le QuĂ©ment for the exterior and Nauta Design for the interior. This 55’ model is equipped with an extra-large 25 m2 (269 sq ft) cockpit, including a large dining area; two large loungers at the stern, a comfortable deck chair in the shade of the roof; as well as a bar area perfectly equipped to ensure comfort on board.  Lagoon official website .

Nautitech 40 Open

nautitech 40 open

The redesigned roof enhances the streamlined silhouette and “Open Concept” of this award-winning yacht. The remodeled structure with large windows has optimized the helmsman’s 360-degree view from both helm stations. A skylight window in the cockpit roof provides the helmsman a clear view of the mainsail’s trim. The lounge area with a U-shaped sofa can now be found on the port side. And for those who don’t want to lose touch with the office on long trips, a desk can be included in the lounge area, if so desired. Nautitech official website .

Outremer 55

outremer 55

The Outremer 55, a liveaboard catamaran, is easy to maneuver, whether short-handed or even solo. The Outremer 55 features twin helms but they can be switched from on deck in a new double helm seat with full outdoor visibility for fun sailing, or switched down into the cockpit for fully protected sailing in bad conditions. The Outremer’s design team from VPLP have used CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) to reduce drag ad forward resistance, while allowing for higher carrying capacity hen blue water cruising. At just 13.5t and combined sail area of 172 sm (Mainsail & Genoa) sailing in light winds will be a joy, but if needed the twin 60hp diesel motors are ready to engage. Outremer official website .

Windelo 50 Adventure

windelo 50 catamaran

Designed in partnership with the architects Christophe Barreau and FrĂ©dĂ©ric Neuman, this fast blue-water cruising catamaran features an electric propulsion system that includes great hydro-generation facilities, solar panels, and the possibility to work under generator when it’s a necessity. With the development of an eco-composite in basalt fiber and PET foam, this is definitely an eco-friendly boat. Behind the mast, the forward cockpit has two helm stations protected from the wind and spray, a good view of the sails and the bows, and all the running rigging at hand. At anchor, the cockpit can be well protected from the elements and opens up to the stern. The self-tacking facilitates maneuvers also with limited crew; the lifting daggerboards are placed at the center of the hull to optimize their hydrodynamic performance. Windelo official website .

So, this is the selection of our top 15 French sailboats (and catamarans) for 2022. And you? What’s your favorite model?

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Brittany Ferries Announces Return of England – France Fast Ferry

CONDOR LIBERATION. Image: Condor Ferries, Copyright © Maritime Photographic.

French ferry company Brittany Ferries has confirmed that it will resume its fast UK to France crossings in 2022.

The summer service was suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic.  However, with demand for travel expected to be significant next year, the route is to make a welcome return.

From late May until early September 2022, the Normandy port of Cherbourg will be linked with the south coast ports of Portsmouth in Hampshire and Poole in Dorset. Weekend departures linking the UK and France will take as little as 2 hours 30 minutes.

The quickest route to Western France will operate from 27 May to 5 June and from 15 July to 4 September on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Sailings to France will depart from Portsmouth at 07:00, arriving at Cherbourg at 11:00. A return service to the UK will depart Cherbourg at 11:45, arriving at Poole at 13:15.

The sailings will be operated on Brittany Ferries’ behalf by Channel Islands operator Condor Ferries using its fast ferry, CONDOR LIBERATION.

The previous Brittany Ferries’ fast craft NORMANDIE EXPRESS is now on charter to Condor Ferries as the CONDOR VOYAGER . The two companies are linked through Brittany Ferries being a minority shareholder in Condor .

NORMANDIE EXPRESS. Image: Brittany Ferries

Mix and match ships

The fast ferry service will complement Brittany Ferries’ conventional car-ferry sailings from Poole to Cherbourg which will resume on 28 March 2022.  This route was also suspended in 2020 due to reduced demand during the pandemic.  The usual Poole – Cherbourg vessel, BARFLEUR, has been laid up in the Caen area since.

Also operating on the Portsmouth – Cherbourg route in summer 2022 will be the E-flexers GALICIA and SALAMANCA .  Both vessels will offer a weekly roundtrip. The latter vessel is shortly due to be delivered to Brittany Ferries, entering service in March.

Paul Acheson, Sales and Marketing Director, Brittany Ferries said:

“ As we emerge from Covid-19, we’re delighted to restore choice and flexibility for our customers as they make their cross-Channel travel plans for 2022 . “ Demand is now roaring back, and we’re ready to meet it.  Condor Liberation  will offer passengers on our shorter routes to Cherbourg additional flexibility and choice.  â€œThis will complement our conventional service operated by  Barfleur  on the Poole-Cherbourg route, and our overnight sailings from Portsmouth to Cherbourg with our newest ships  Galicia  and  Salamanca .” Brittany Ferries Press Release 22 November 2021 https://brittanyferriesnewsroom.com/fast-channel-sailings-are-back/

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Range of facilities on offer

CONDOR LIBERATION has a stated capacity of 850 passengers and 200 cars.

The 2010-built ship offers several spacious open seating lounges. Meanwhile for an extra fee, a Club Lounge is available offering luxurious reclining seats, free Wi-Fi, and complimentary hot drinks. 

The CONDOR LIBERATION also offers an extensive duty-free shop, bistro café and bars.

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To view more details of the routes and to book, visit the fast ferry section of the Brittany Ferries website here

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Harland & Wolff (Scilly Ferries) Ltd. is a new ferry service launching in Spring 2024 operating between Penzance and St Mary’s.

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Designed and built by Damen in 2018, Atlantic Wolff is a high-speed aluminium catamaran, designed for coastal operations that provide passenger comfort, low fuel consumption and low maintenance costs.

The vessel will enter service in the  summer of 2024 and will operate up to two return crossings throughout the main tourist season.

Onboard, you will notice that there is ample is space and the freedom to choose where to sit. Passenger seating is located over two bright and spacious decks, with windows all-around and our lounges are fully air conditioned and feature aircraft-style seats.

On the main deck, there is seating available for over 280 people and on the upper deck, seating is provided for more than 120 passengers. On the upper deck, you will also find a small, part-covered outdoor seating area allowing you to take in the glorious views and the local marine life as you approach St Mary’s. Toilets are located on both decks, and there will also be a bar and kiosk serving passengers a range of drinks and light snacks.

Our vessel is designed for a fast boarding and unloading of luggage and freight, meaning more time on the isles to explore, or if you’re headed to the mainland, more reliable connections with your onward journey.

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Sailing yacht to run catamaran ferry service from Dover to Boulogne

Monday, September 5th, 2022

Written by: Marine Industry News

SailLink ferry

Dover is being re-connected with Boulogne in northern France by a pioneering cross-channel service. A sailing yacht is being used as ferry service, to transport foot passengers, cycle tourists and small groups.

The new SailLink ferry service will use purpose-built sailing vessels to take a maximum of 12 passengers between Dover in England and Boulogne in France.

The pilot phase with the first passengers will take place from 10-18 September 2022. Pioneer and supporter tickets can be booked through the company’s website, as well as sponsorship opportunities for interested partners. Prices for the pilot phase are £85 for an adult one-way, and £150 for a return.

Saillink ferry route map

SailLink says its service will access the commercial pontoons of marinas, thereby connecting passengers with the cultural centres rather than the out-of-town vehicle terminals.

Founder and director Andrew Simons is a boatbuilder, sailor, environmental scientist and, for many years, a regular traveller between the UK and the European continent. He says that SailLink was conceived as the solution to his own preferences and requirements in getting across the English Channel.

Together with Jim Duerden, a highly-experienced sailor and the only RYA catamaran sailing instructor in the UK, the practical and regulatory feasibility of the concept was explored, and a potentially suitable first route was defined.

This first route where a sailing yacht is used to run a ferry service will be between Dover and Boulogne-sur-Mer, with a crossing time of approximately four hours.

SailLink ferry

“In the first year, we intend to achieve one return crossing per day,” says Simons. “Border formalities will be conducted on departure and arrival by the mobile border agents. Passengers can go from the harbour cafĂ© onto the boat within 30 mins and the same at the other end. This makes the total crossing time no longer than for a conventional ferry considering the time taken to arrive at the terminal, clear border controls and board the vessel.”

The SailLink routes are said to be designed according to the prevailing winds and tidal streams as well as the accessibility and suitability of the ports. The visitor attractions, onward connection via public transport or connection with cycle routes, are examples of the criteria considered. During the crossing, passengers have the option of joining in with the sailing or helping with regular marine sampling and observations for the company’s research partners.

SailLink ferry

“Our vessels will be fast, commercial sailing catamarans fitted with electric propulsion for port access, maintaining the schedule and providing a quiet, clean and regenerative form of auxiliary power,” Simons continues. “The company will work with the vehicle ferry operators to carry its passengers and maintain their travel itineraries when weather conditions would make a specific crossing uncomfortable.”

SailLink says its ambition is not only to provide a ‘fantastic and convenient’ passenger experience, but also highly-rewarding career perspectives for its employees as well as inspiring high-performance innovation in commercial sailing vessels.

“We want to provide professionals with a serious sailing job that they can combine with daily shore commitments such as family, and to challenge a UK-French collaboration in the design and construction of a sailing vessel equivalent to the Concorde,” says Simons.

If you’re going onboard this sailing yacht being used as a ferry service, let MIN know.

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Orlando Magic Player Leaves NBA For France

Ben stinar | 2 hours ago.

Jan 5, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Orlando Magic forward Chuma Okeke (3) and guard Trevelin Queen (12) and forward Admiral Schofield (25) and guard Jalen Suggs (4) huddle in fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Admiral Schofield is coming off a year where he appeared in 23 games for the Orlando Magic.

He finished the season with averages of 1.1 points per contest while shooting 38.5% from the field and 37.5% from the three-point range.

Schofield has now left the NBA to sign with LDLC ASVEL (a team in France).

Via Evan Sidery: "Admiral Schofield has left the NBA to sign a one-year contract overseas with ASVEL Basket in France. Schofield was most recently on a two-way deal with the Magic."

Admiral Schofield has left the NBA to sign a one-year contract overseas with ASVEL Basket in France. Schofield was most recently on a two-way deal with the Magic. pic.twitter.com/ab1yO4nQIY — Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 8, 2024

The team officially announced the news on June 28.

Welcome on board @Uncle_Scho đŸ«Ą ✍ Poste 4 anglo-amĂ©ricain, Admiral SCHOFIELD (27 ans, 1m97) rejoint les rangs de LDLC ASVEL pour la saison prochaine. Dominant en G-League (14.7 points Ă  34.3% Ă  trois points et 5.9 rebonds), Admiral a Ă©galement disputĂ© 129 matchs NBA avec le
 pic.twitter.com/yUMIX1mcll — LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) June 28, 2024

Schofield 42nd pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Tennessee.

He had an excellent four-year career for the Volunteers and finished his senior season with averages of 16.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists per contest while shooting 47.1% from the field and 41.8% from the three-point range.

AdmiralSchofield

In addition to Orlando, he has also spent time with the Washington Wizards over four seasons in the NBA.

His career averages are 3.3 points and 1.6 rebounds per contest while shooting 41.7% from the field and 32.6% from the three-point range in 131 regular season games.

Official: Former Orlando Magic forward Admiral Schofield will be playing for ASVEL next seasonâœđŸŒ pic.twitter.com/JcsN8YHaXN — Vasiliki Karamouza (@karamouza_vas) June 28, 2024

At 27, Schofield could still end up returning to the NBA at some point before the end of his career.

He has played well in the G League and has career averages of 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per contest while shooting 43.8% from the field and 34.2% from the three-point range in 54 regular season games (50 starts).

Ben Stinar

Ben Stinar is the NBA reporter for Fastbreak on FanNation.

Follow @BenStinar

Tour de France Stage 5 results, standings: Mark Cavendish makes history

British sprinter Mark Cavendish broke the record for the most Tour de France stage wins in history with his sprint finish victory during Stage 5 of what is set to be his last ride in the prestigious race. 

Cavendish, 39, has now won a record-setting 35 Tour de France stages, cementing his status as the best sprinter in the history of the competition's 111 editions. He previously jointly held the record of 34 stage victories with Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx. 

After his record-breaking triumph in Saint Vulbas on Wednesday, Cavendish said his and his team’s goal for the 2024 Tour de France was to win at least one stage, even though doing so would be “a big gamble.”

“You have to go all in and we’ve done it,” Cavendish said . “We worked exactly what we wanted to do.” 

Cavendish won the first of his Tour stages in 2008 but has struggled since 2021 to add to his impressive tally — until today. 

This victory served as the ultimate last-chance comeback for Cavendish following a slew of disappointing circumstances surrounding the Tour. The Brit was set to retire at the end of last season but returned for a final Tour de France after he crashed out of last year’s race during its eighth stage. This year, Cavendish got off to a rocky start as he appeared to struggle with heat-related issues in the early stages of the race. 

The top 10 contenders for the yellow jersey remain unchanged after Stage 5 with Slovenian Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates still occupying the top spot after his dominant Stage 4 win on Tuesday.  

Biniam Girmay, who made history as the first Eritrean and Black rider to win a Tour de France stage on Monday, has moved up to the top spot in the contest for the green jersey (points classification) as he successfully rocked up sprinting points along today's flat 110-mile route.

Here's a full look at the 2024 Tour de France standings after five days of riding.

Tour de France Stage 5 results

PositionRiderTimesGap
1Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan)04h 08' 46''-
2Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)04h 08' 46''-
3Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility)04h 08' 46''-
4Arnaud De Lie (Lotto–Dstny)04h 08' 46''-
5Fabio Jakobsen (Team dsm–firmenich PostNL)04h 08' 46''-
6Pascal Ackermann (Israel - Premier Tech)04h 08' 46''-
7Arnaud Demare (Arkéa–B&B Hote)04h 08' 46''-
8Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché - Wanty)04h 08' 46''-
9Biniam Girmay (Intermarché - Wanty)04h 08' 46''-
10Marijn van den Berg (EF Education–EasyPost)04h 08' 46''-

TOUR DE FRANCE: Recap, results and standings after Stage 4

Tour de France general classification standings after Stage 5

PositionRiderTimesGap
1Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates)23h 15' 24''-
2Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep)23h 16' 09''+ 00h 00' 45''
3Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike)23h 16' 14''+ 00h 00' 50''
4Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates)23h 16' 34''+ 00h 01' 10''
5Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)23h 16' 38''+ 00h 01' 14''
6Carlos Rodriguez (INEOS Grenadiers)23h 16' 40''+ 00h 01' 16''
7Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step)23h 16' 56''+ 00h 01' 32''
8Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates)23h 16' 56''+ 00h 01' 32''
9Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek)23h 18' 44''+ 00h 03' 20''
10Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers)23h 18' 44''+ 00h 03' 21''

Tour de France jersey standings after Stage 5

  • Yellow ( general classification ) : Tadej Pogacar
  • Green ( points classification ):  Biniam Girmay
  • Polka dot ( mountains classification ):  Jonas Abrahamsen
  • White (young rider classification ):  Remco Evenepoel
  • Yellow numbers ( teams classification) :  UAE Team Emirates
  • Golden numbers ( combativity award ):  Clément Russo

Tour de France Stage 6: How to watch, schedule, distance

Date : Thursday, July 4, 2024

Location : Mâcon to Dijon (France)

Distance : 101.6 miles (163.5 kilometers)

Type : Flat stage

Streaming: Peacock, FuboTV

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French voters reject far right — but elevate left-wing alliance with history of antisemitism allegations

Jean Luc MĂ©lenchon, a leader of the left wing New Popular Front, speaks in front of thousands of supporters on Place de la RĂ©publique on June 30, 2024 in Paris. (Pierre Crom/Getty Images)

In a surprise outcome, French voters rejected a far-right party with antisemitic roots — but elevated a left-wing alliance that has faced antisemitism allegations of its own.

The country’s most prominent far-left politician, meanwhile, vowed in his victory speech to push to recognize a Palestinian state. 

No party won a majority in the second round of France’s parliamentary elections on Sunday, in which all 577 seats of the National Assembly were in play. According to Le Monde, the left-wing New Popular Front alliance won 182 seats while the centrist Ensemble, backed by President Emmanuel Macron, won 168.

“We will have a prime minister from the New Popular Front,” Jean-Luc MĂ©lenchon, the French far-left leader, posted on X on Sunday night . “We will be able to decide many things by decree. On the international level, we will have to agree to recognize the State of Palestine.”

The far-right National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, won 143 seats, an underwhelming result for the party after it led the first round of voting a week ago and appeared to be in striking distance of an outright majority. Instead, centrist and left-wing candidates worked together to defeat National Rally by having their candidates drop out of races where the other party had a better chance of winning.

The result is a setback for Le Pen’s party and a relief to the many Jews who consider it radioactive. The party’s founders include Le Pen’s father Jean-Marie Le Pen, who has been repeatedly convicted of hate speech and Holocaust denial, and Pierre Bousequet, who served in the Nazi Party’s Waffen-SS. Candidates in this election had also been accused of antisemitism.

But Sunday marked a triumph for MĂ©lenchon, the leader of the far-left France Unbowed party, who has been accused of dog whistling, echoing antisemitic stereotypes and dismissing the threat of antisemitism. Even as the French government has reported a surge in attacks on Jews — including more than 360 incidents in the first three months of 2024 , a 300% increase from 2023 — MĂ©lenchon called antisemitism in France “residual ” and also repeatedly criticized those demonstrating against antisemitism.

The vote, and result, put many French Jews in an uncomfortable position. Political scientist Jean-Yves Camus said before the vote that he felt “trapped” by the far left, especially as the more moderate Socialists entered into a coalition with MĂ©lenchon’s party. (The leader of France’s center-right party had likewise made waves by endorsing National Rally .)

“We are quite angry and disappointed,” Camus told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “As Jews, we feel betrayed and we think it would have been much better if the Socialist party had not entered into this kind of alliance with the far left.”

Many French Jews say that rhetoric from the far left has opened a door to antisemitism. According to a poll from the American Jewish Committee in Europe, 92% of French Jews believe that France Unbowed has “contributed” to rising antisemitism. 

Now, deadlock appears to be in France’s future and may domiate the remaining years of Macron’s term, which ends in 2027. Following the race, centrist Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who has Jewish roots, said he planned to step down .

French far-right National Rally party leader Marine Le Pen (left) speaks as party President Jordan Bardella stands to her side in Paris, on June 9, 2024. (Julien De Rosa / AFP)

French far-right National Rally party leader Marine Le Pen (left) speaks as party President Jordan Bardella stands to her side in Paris, on June 9, 2024. (Julien De Rosa/AFP)

The country’s Jewish community of 500,000 has been shaken since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel and Israel’s ensuing military campaign in Gaza, which has destroyed large swaths of the enclave. France has also seen a spike in antisemitism since Oct. 7. In a recent incident that rocked the country, two teenage boys were charged with raping a 12-year-old Jewish girl and hurling antisemitic epithets at her. 

“Many Jews are very shocked by the events since October, but not everybody is shocked by the same thing,” sociologist Martine Cohen told JTA. “You have people who are shocked by the ongoing war in Gaza, not only by the trauma of the October massacres.”

A shock for some French Jews came in the immediate aftermath of Oct. 7, when several far-left politicians refused to explicitly condemn Hamas’ attack on Israel. Le Pen, meanwhile, has sought to detoxify her party’s image, renouncing antisemitism, denouncing the Hamas attack and pushing a pro-Israel position. The party now emphasizes anti-immigration and Euro-sceptic stances.

CRIF, an umbrella organization of French Jews, has urged the community to reject both the far right and far left. But ahead of Sunday’s vote, faced with the rise of France Unbowed, some prominent Jewish voices called for the community to vote for Le Pen’s party instead. One striking expression of support for National Rally came from Serge Klarsfeld , a French Holocaust survivor famed for hunting down Nazi criminals and pressing for their prosecution.

“The National Rally supports Jews, supports the state of Israel,” Klarsfeld, 88, said in a nationally televised interview last month. “When there is an anti-Jewish party and a pro-Jewish party, I will vote for the pro-Jewish party.”

Alain Finkielkraut, a prominent French philosopher, also said in the magazine Le Point that he would “consider the nightmare of having to vote for the National Rally to block antisemitism.” Meanwhile, a group of French Jewish community leaders met with Le Pen on Monday.

But elements of National Rally’s antisemitic history resurfaced during the election. Ludivine Daoudi, a National Rally candidate in Normandy, was forced to withdraw from the second round of voting when a photo surfaced of her wearing a Nazi cap emblazoned with a swastika — after she won nearly 20% of votes in the first round. Other candidates circulated antisemitic and racist posts on social media.

It is difficult to ascertain how Jews voted nationally, since France bans collecting data on the religion and ethnicity of its citizens. But some areas with large Jewish communities showcased the dilemma Jews faced in this election. 

The Parisian suburb of Sarcelles , for example, has both a Jewish neighborhood that has traditionally voted right wing and an immigrant neighborhood that usually votes for the left. (Many of the residents, both Jewish and Muslim, are immigrants from North Africa). Sarcelles handed 27% of its votes to National Rally in the election’s first round — less than the party’s vote share nationwide, but nearly double its support in the district two years ago. In the second round, however, a far-left candidate, Romain Eskenazi, won the area with more than 60% of the vote .

Eskenazi, who himself has a Jewish father, chose to campaign in Sarcelles even though his centrist predecessor believed it would go for the right, according to a report in La Vie, a Franch newsmagazine . He was heckled at a synagogue and told by a Jewish voter, “You are associated with evil. I voted for you two years ago, but now I won’t be able to,” according to the report.

“What if you are in a constituency where there is no moderate candidate, and you have a choice between MĂ©lenchon’s party and the National Rally?” said Camus, the political scientist, ahead of the vote. “What do you do? Do you stay at home? Just say, ‘It’s none of my business?’”

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How french fries from France stack up among fast food chains. See who scored highest

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Wendy's, McDonald's, Burger King — if there's one thing Americans love, it's fast food.

Imagine tangy Chick-fil-A sauce dripping over a crispy chicken patty, or a hefty layer of mayo melting into a juicy Smashburger. And, at Cinnabon? Don't even get me started on the way the icing oozes from the center of a fresh-baked roll.

When you think of fast food on a whim, however, all of those euphoric $6 bites take the backseat to the industry's most iconic side dish: the french fry.

So, if fast food is one of the most delicious food genres — and french fries are the king of fast food — then fast food french fries in France (or Belgium, but we'll save that for another time) should be one of the most irresistible delicacies on the planet, right?

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Here's what I thought of the fast food fries in France.

French fries at McDonald's in France

McDonald's France has two varieties of fries; the frites (which look exactly like the standard McDonald's fries) and the wedges (which resemble wedge-cut fries with an orange exterior). Neither were great.

To start, the frites were spitting images of the beloved American version of the dish — but only on the outside. When I tasted them, they were bland, salt-less and incredibly soggy. On a scale from 1-10, I'd give them a two.

The wedges were a bit better, because I opted to have them topped with cheese and bacon (which helped fix the salt problem), but the texture was equally terrible. Starchy and wet, they tasted like those diner baked potatoes that you only order out of obligation.

FRY SCORE: 2.5/10 (2 for the frites, 3 for the wedges).

French fries at Burger King in France

Though I thought Burger King — as an overall restaurant — was better than the McDonald's of France, these might have been the worst thing I have ever eaten .

In my life .

Just as flavorless as the McDonald's version, these fries were devoid of salt, seasoning or any sign of human love. The most egregious part of each piece, however, was how a portion of the potato mysteriously seemed to evaporate from their middles.

Texturally, then, the fries were like the middle school chicken nuggets that hissed when you bit into them — hard on the outside, and full of air on the inside.

FRY SCORE: 1/10.

French fries at KFC in France

In America, these would suck. But, in France? They weren't that bad.

I got a small fry, which came out hot and fresh. Each spud in the bag had some potato skin on the ends, which was a pleasant surprise from a chain that's about as far from farm-fresh as one possibly could be. And, unlike those of competing restaurants, the fries were actually somewhat seasoned.

Would I take more salt? Yes.

But the crispy outside and perfect thickness still convinced me to crush a solid handful (just not a whole order).

FRY SCORE: 5.5/10.

French fries at Five Guys in France

I had high hopes for these when I received them in their grease-stained brown bag. Golden-brown, warm and dusted with salt, I was sure they would be the best of the bunch.

Looks (and heat) don't necessarily translate to taste, though, as the first bite had me convinced I'd sunk my teeth into a cafeteria smiley fry. Despite the blanket of powder sitting on top of the order, the fries — like McD's and the King's — were virtually salt-less and uncomfortably soggy.

And, even though they were warm when I got them? They hit room temperature in thirty seconds tops (and progressed to get even colder than that).

The fries get points for that aforementioned grease, though, because I like my food messy.

FRY SCORE: 4/10.

The takeaway

Anyone who says fast food is better in Europe? Clearly hasn't been to France.

So, make sure — when you book a trip to Lyon, Marseille or the beachy coasts of Nice — to indulge in the finest camembert and tarte tatin the region has to offer.

Because McDonald's, I promise, is not the move .

Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can't find her in Jersey's best restaurants, she's probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram:  @karanicolev  &  @northjerseyeats , and sign up for her  North Jersey Eats newsletter .

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