World’s first wind-powered passenger ferry could link Tenerife and La Gomera by 2028
A pioneering project could soon transform travel between the Canary Islands, with plans underway to launch the world’s first wind-powered and electric passenger ferry by 2028. The innovation comes from InSail, a startup based in Tenerife, which is designing a vessel that would connect the two islands using clean energy from the Atlantic’s trade winds.
“We’re developing a lightweight ferry, 24 metres long and 13 metres wide, with space for 120 passengers,” explained co-founder Mercedes García. With the conceptual design complete, the company has now entered a funding round to finalise engineering, certification, and move toward construction.
Harnessing Trade Winds for Travel
The pilot route between Tenerife and La Gomera has been chosen for clear reasons: the trade winds blow along this corridor 98% of the time. The ferry would primarily sail under automated wind propulsion, switching to electric power on calmer days. The journey time is expected to be around 1 hour 45 minutes – slower than current high-speed ferries but with much faster boarding and disembarkation for passengers.
Current ferries on the route carry more than 900 people plus vehicles, while the InSail vessel is intended as a smaller, sustainable alternative – not a direct competitor.
A Cleaner, Quieter Approach to Marine Transport
The team sees their concept as part of a much-needed shift toward greener maritime travel. Across Europe, initiatives have begun to reduce emissions from passenger transport at sea, but InSail believe their solution pushes sustainability further by drastically cutting underwater noise and vibration.
This issue is particularly critical in waters between Tenerife and La Gomera, which host one of the world’s richest populations of whales and dolphins. Research from the University of La Laguna has shown that noise from high-speed vessels can disturb communication and even cause disorientation in marine mammals.
“Our aim is to make inter-island travel quieter, cleaner, and more respectful of the ocean,” said García.
Born From Adventure and Engineering Innovation
InSail was created by four partners with backgrounds spanning engineering and professional sport, inspired by a previous project refurbishing a 1990s catamaran and sailing from France to French Polynesia. Experiencing the ocean so closely sparked the desire to sail more sustainably.
The company has since expanded to a team of seven, including a naval engineer with experience in world-class solo ocean races such as the Vendée Globe and the Route du Rhum. Collaboration with Canary Islands institutions, including the ITER research centre and both Canary universities, is also underway.
A New Way to Travel the Canaries
The startup hopes to attract eco-conscious tourists as well as local passengers looking for a calmer journey that reconnects them with the sea. Slower speeds, they say, shouldn’t be seen as an inconvenience but as part of the experience.
“This isn’t just about getting from A to B,” García emphasised. “It’s about travelling differently, and protecting the marine environment we depend on.”
If the project progresses as expected, the Tenerife–La Gomera route will be only the first step. InSail ultimately hopes to scale up to larger vessels and replicate the model wherever wind and sea conditions allow.
For the Canary Islands, the wind-powered future of island-hopping may be closer than we think.
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