New ferry timetable may 'negatively impact' inter insular sport

Wednesday, 27 November 2024 12:35

The head of the Guernsey FA says the new Brittany Ferries timetable offers 'no feasible' opportunity for inter insular competition.

The spring and summer 2025 timetable covers the Guernsey routes between the UK, France and Jersey. Sailings went on sale on 26 November.

Currently, Brittany Ferries is offering a single sailing between Guernsey and Jersey on Wednesdays. Time on Jersey varies between approximately two hours, and four.

However, the vast majority of inter insular events take place over a weekend.

Gary Roberts, who heads up the Guernsey FA, fears for future sports fixtures:

"Clearly, a single midweek sailing between the two islands offers no feasible opportunity for sports to travel for competition. There are certainly no cost-efficient options when sports are now looking at a cost of a flight to Jersey as the only viable form of travel."

"There is a very realistic possibility that inter-insular sport will be negatively impacted by both the availability, and cost of travel, and it is certainly something that will require further consideration moving forward."

Brittany Ferries has confirmed it has bid for the Jersey ferry tender and is up against the Danish firm DFDS.

An announcement on the winner is expected by early December.

Earlier this week, Jersey Economic Development Minister, who is making the decision, said discussions on island-island travel would follow the award of the contract, adding that it is 'highly unlikely' there would be no future additional services.