There’ll be fewer regular commercial sailings between Sark and Guernsey this winter, as the island’s only ferry company tries to safeguard its future services.
Sark Shipping has published its winter timetable, with sailings between November 2025 and March 2026, with a warning that it looks different to previous years.
The reduced sailings have been approved by the Harbours, Shipping & Pilotage Committee, in consultation with the Tourism Committee, said Sark Shipping.
“The new timetable has been carefully planned to balance effeciency with the essential needs of Sark’s community and visitors,” the ferry firm said.
“While there are fewer sailings than in previous winters, the schedule ensures that regular passenger and cargo services are maintained, with additional sailings around Christmas and the school half term to support families and seasonal travel.
“At the heart of this decision is our commitment to safeguarding Sark’s year-round connectivity,” it added.
Sunday sailings will be dropped from the beginning of November, with no sailings on alternate Wednesday’s from 10 November through until the end of March.
There will be just one sailing in each direction on most Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays throughout the winter too.
Sark Shipping said this revised timetable allows it to protect the lifeline service in the long-term by reducing winter losses and reinvesting in our vessels.
The reduced commitment will also “support reliability and comfort” by allowing more time for vessel maintenance during the winter.
There’ll also be more time for training the crew, and staff will focus on “customer experience” by working on improvements to systems and operations during the down time.
In announcing the changes to previous winters’ timetables, Mark Roffey, Managing Director of IOSS also pointed out that it is one of the few commercial ferry operators in the Bailiwick that doesn’t receive any public subsidy from any of the islands’ governments of elsewhere.
“The revised timetable is one example of how we manage our resources responsibly so that our customers can continue to rely on a dependable service year-round,” Sark Shipping’s announcement said.
“Comparable island communities across the British Isles make significant reductions to winter sailings. By contrast, Sark will continue to benefit from a timetable that remains comparatively generous while reflecting the seasonal realities we face.”
Mr Roffey said: “We know how vital our ferry service is for Sark, and we want to reassure our customers that maintaining reliable and accessible travel remains our priority. This revised timetable ensures essential services continue through the winter, while also protecting the long-term resilience of our Company and fleet. With no public subsidy, we must stand on our own two feet — and by managing our resources responsibly today, we can continue to deliver a dependable lifeline service for the island tomorrow.”