Brittany Ferries partners with American startup Regent

6/19/2021

Zero-emission, sea-skimming flying ferries by Regent & Brittany Ferries

Brittany Ferries and American startup Regent are collaborating on the development of a new 100% electric mode of transport called Seaglider, halfway between hydrofoil and plane.

A Boston-based startup Regent is working on a "electric seaglider" that can take off on a hydrofoil from a harbor using the water as a runway, and soar at a top speed of 180 miles per hour over the waves. Caffeinated Capital, an early backer of supersonic jet startup Boom, as well as Mark Cuban, Peter Thiel's Founders Fund, Y Combinator, and others, has invested $9 million in the company.

Brittany Ferries has signed a partnership agreement with Regent to develop 100% electric Seagliders (capacity of 50 to 150 passengers) and establish travel routes between the United Kingdom and France by 2028. Seagliders would combine the maneuverability of ferries with the air efficiency of hovercraft and the speed of planes. Equipped with wings and propellers they could cross between Brittany and the south of England at record times.

Brittany Ferries ecological transition

Based in Roscoff, Brittany Ferries operate 12 ships between France, UK, Spain and Ireland via 14 shipping routes, employing 2,474. Seagliders will offers a new efficient means of transportation that can transport travelers and goods over vast distances at high speeds. They will be equipped with electric batteries for power instead of fossil fuels. Flight safety is ensured by redundant propulsion and flight control systems, as well as next-generation sensors that detect and avoid traffic at sea automatically. Energy transition is a top concern for forward-thinking businesses like Brittany Ferries, and it's critical to the company's post-Covid recovery. The company has already invested in the delivery of two new LNG (liquefied natural gas) ships, the Salamanca and Santoa, which will be delivered in 2022 and 2023.

Seagliders, like electric cars, become greener as more renewable energy is used to power them. And thanks to the inherent efficiency of travelling above water, speed need not be sacrificed to help lower emissions, slow-steaming being one of the solutions proposed for traditional sea-going vehicles to limit environmental footprint.

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Why You Should Visit Brittany, France This Summer?

6/8/2021

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St Cado, photo @alexxandre.lm

The United States has relaxed its warning to travelers wishing to travel to several countries, including France, citing a change in the consideration of the risk associated with Covid-19. This easing comes as the European Union decided to allow entry to American travelers vaccinated against Covid for the upcoming summer months.

So you can travel to France, but where should you go?

5 Reasons To Visit Brittany, France

So you've been locked up for months and are ready to travel the world. Pick a path less travelled that can delight your senses and taste buds while offering a unique cultural perspective in a world that is looking more and more the same.

Here are 5 reasons to take a major detour from your scheduled plans and sail away to Brittany!

Seafood From Brittany is Next Level

Seafood in French is called "fruits de mer" which translates to "fruits of the sea."
In Brittany, you'll find Palourdes, Tourteaux, Langoustines, Bigorneaux noirs, Bulots, Coquilles Saint-Jacques, Huîtres, Moules, & Ormeaux.
Don't worry you won't be able to pronounce them, but you definitely need to try them all.

But did we mention that the lobsters were BLUE?
The Breton lobster is the most sought after by gourmets. The quality of its flesh and its unique flavor make it an exceptional dish! Buying Breton lobster is therefore being sure to consume a prestigious product with an exceptional taste, but also 100% natural and low in calories.

Brittany Has Amazing Rocks

In the Morbihan, you'll find more than 550 megalithic sites some over 7000 years old. The megalithic site of Carnac, the most famous in the region, remains a mecca of European prehistory. Called menhir in Breton language, they have stood the test of time for thousands of years but the why and how of menhirs has been lost. Many theories remain from being created for elaborate religious ceremonies, as burial sites, or even to communicate with aliens.

Walking among the giants of Carnac with their imposing size and perfect alignment offers a spiritual experience that lets you take a step into another age and time.

The Only Celtic Language on Continental Europe

Seafood, beaches, and standing stones are nice but the reason Brittany is unique is because Bretons are the only people on the planet that speak Breton language. Brezhoneg is a Celtic language that has more in common with Irish and Welsh than French.
A written language older than French, Breton has survived the centuries but is now deemed to be severely endangered by UNESCO. Though few Breton still speak it, the language lives everywhere in the landscape of Brittany from place names, last names, desserts, and in the spirit & soul of Breton music and dance. If restrictions allow, a must attend for any tourist is a fest noz (night party in breton) which will have your pulse racing as you dance the night away and wash it all down with a breton brewed beer.

Recently France's Constitutional Council struck down a bill allowing schools to teach the majority of the day in minority languages such as Basque, Breton and Corsican, saying the plan was unconstitutional.

Come to Brittany before the French government succeeds in making Breton language extinct.

Become a Beach Bum in Brittany

Groix Island, Photo - E LeMee

Come for the seafood, stay for the beaches. Brittany is a peninsula, it has France at its back and sticks out into the Atlantic pointing the way to America.

Totaling over 1,772 km, the Breton coast represents a third of the total length of the French coast. It is a land with a remarkable variety of coastal landscapes from epic rocky coasts, beautiful sandy beaches, getaway islands, to salt marshes.

At times the crystal blue water will make you think you are in the Caribbean but the chilly Atlantic will quickly freshen up the soul. If you are a water sports fanatic Brittany has you covered with surfing, sailing, paddle, kite and wind surfing.

The Walls of St Malo, Quimper, Vannes

Built to keep invaders out, the remparts of the cities St Malo, Quimper, and Vannes now bring people in waves for the history, the strolls on cobblestone streets, and to take a bite of real Breton crêpes. Pirates, corsairs, knights, and dukes have made way for the instagrammers in all of us, so snap away and share it with the world.

Bonus : the Tour de France starts in Brittany

Started in 1903, the Tour de France has been criss-crossing French roads every summer since on very high priced bicycles, a lot of spandex, and massive roadside crowds all in search of the yellow jersey.

This year, Le Tour kicks off in the city of Brest and stays in Brittany for 4 days.