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A new European maritime route with a vessel powered entirely by the wind is bringing back a centuries-old tradition to Plymouth. The Grain de Sail 1 will be carrying fine organic products into the city such including Douro and Port wines, olive oil, almonds, rice, and specialty coffee from Colombia -- all shipped under sail.

The traditional trade is something that happened by ships sailing into Plymouth hundreds of years ago - and the new sustainable line between Portugal, France and the UK has been reawakened for the here and now. The modern sailing cargo vessel is setting sail, powered entirely by the wind from Saint-Nazaire, arriving on Plymouth's shores today (October 13).

From Portugal to France and across the Channel to the United Kingdom, the Grain de Sail with its four crew demonstrates that low-carbon and efficient logistics are no longer a dream, they are happening today. The vessel is 24m with 50 tons of freight, it's operated by Héol Sail ing & Shipping (Capt. Marc Pouly) under charter by Comptoir d'Éole (Sylvain Le Bihanic), with logistical support from Grain de Sail Logistics.

Lynher CIC, a not-for-profit based in Plymouth and trading as Sail Trade South West, proudly welcomes Grain de Sail 1 - along with the 1929 Cornish lugger IBIS - as part of a pioneering effort to revive low-carbon, wind-powered cargo transport across the English Channel.

Barbara Bridgman from Lynher CIC said: "We're bringing back a centuries-old tradition with a modern purpose, by combining heritage sailing with today's sustainability goals, we're proving that clean, practical alternatives to fossil-fuel shipping do exist - and they're already working across the Channel."

This first October voyage carries fine organic wines, olive oil, almonds, rice, and specialty coffee along with goods from several European producers. Traders such as Xisto Wines, Yallah Coffee, Koru Coffee, Sail Trade South West and other fine food partners are demonstrating how shared sail cargo space can serve multiple small and medium shippers across Europe.

Sylvain Le Bihanic, founder of Comptoir d'Éole said: "Tasting a product that has been carefully grown, processed and shipped under sail inspires respect for every hand along the way. It connects us back to journeys full of scents and stories - like being an albatross following the vessel."

The route, Granville to Leixões then Saint-Nazaire to Plymouth (UK) followed by Saint-Malo is part of a pilot operation demonstrating how wind-powered logistics can serve Europe's short-sea trade. Departure from Saint-Nazaire was scheduled for Saturday October 11, with an estimated arrival in Plymouth today (Monday 13 October).

Sail Trade South West partners with Héol Sailing & Shipping and Comptoir d'Éole in France, to offer a practical solution for businesses in the South West UK seeking to reduce their carbon footprint.

Marc Pouly, captain and founder of Héol Sailing & Shipping said: "Sailing means combining maritime tradition with logistical innovation. This campaign proves that trade and sustainability can truly go hand in hand."

This pilot voyage is part of a wider plan to establish regular, scalable sail cargo connections between Western Europe's ports, serving importers and exporters seeking both efficiency and environmental responsibility both in the UK and abroad.

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Cargo vessel brings back centuries-old tradition to Plymouth