FAQ

IS IT POSSIBLE TO RESERVE A TRIP ABOARD THE SAILBOAT?
Our Grain de Sail cargo sailboat has been designed to accommodate a maximum of 4 sailors on board. It is above all a cargo sailboat for shipping goods (gourmet goods). We are therefore unable to accommodate additional passengers for our crossings.

IS THE CARGO SAILBOAT EMPTY FROM THE UNITED STATES TO THE CARIBBEAN?
On the contrary! Between New-York city and the Dominican Republic, we ship medical equipment, in partnership with NGO based in the US and in the Caribbean. This recurring partnership has allowed us to ship over 20 pallets of humanitarian supplies on each transatlantic loops!

ARE YOUR PRODUCTS ENTIRELY TRANSPORTED IN YOUR CARGO SAILBOAT?
When we finalized the design of our first Grain de Sail boat in 2016, never would we have imagined we would sell more than 330 tons of chocolate by 2021… so to meet our supply needs, we have no choice but to import some of our raw ingredients by conventiel shipping methos. That is the reason why as early as September 2020, we launched the design of Grain de Sail II . This second cargo sailboat will be operational in 2023 and to be able to significantly increase our import capacities in cocoa. For the year 2021, we should nonetheless be able to transport more than %50 of our cocoa mass needs in our cargo sailboat.

For the very first transatlantic loop, we did not bring any coffee back but the second loop (departed on April 16th) we will be transporting nearly 2T of green coffee.

Our cargo sailboat must come via a port registered on the list of the designated for the import of organic products in France (Nantes/Saint-Nazaire). Then, the organic cocoa mass will be carried by traditional road transportation to Morlaix and our cargo sailboat will continue its way up to Saint-Malo, its home port.

Our project is to build a new chocolate factory in Dunkerque (Northern France) in order to meet the best we can the increasing demand for our products. This way, we will reduce the road transportation time to supply the different points of sale far from Brittany that we are working with.

This decarbonated maritime project requires time and we are trying, on our scale, to bring sustainable solutions to the greatest amount of people. Thank you for following our adventures and for contributing to it!

I WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF THE SAILING TEAM. WHAT CAN I DO TO JOIN?
Our crew is now complete but, in a few years, we will need sailing enthusiasts to take care of the navigation of our future sailboats. Just a little patience … But attention: “Merchant Navy” diplomas and certificates are compulsory!

CAN WE DO INTERNSHIPS OR APPRENTICESHIPS IN YOUR COMPANY?
Our capacity is currenlty limited on our premises, but you can surely send us your CV and your cover letter to rh@graindesail.com. Please specify the dates of your internship or apprenticeship. We will do our best to respond to your request as needed. But for the moment we don’t have any vacancies.

I WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF THE GRAIN DE SAIL TEAM. WHAT CAN I DO TO JOIN?
Our Human Resources department is there for you. Send us your CV and your cover letter to rh@graindesail.com. But fot the moment we are not actively searching for new talents to complete our crew.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A CORPORATE GIFT. WHAT OPTIONS DO YOU OFFER?
We suggest you to get in touch with our sales department via the contact form or directly to contactusa@graindesail.com to specify your needs:How much do you need? Which exact product(s) do you want? The timing, etc.?

I AM A PROFESSIONAL STRONGLY INTERESTED IN THE COMMERCIALIZATION/SALES OF YOUR PRODUCTS. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Grain de Sail is constantly growing. You can discuss your sales projects with our sales department using the contact form available or directly by email at contactusa@graindesail.com.

DOES YOUR CARGO SAILBOAT TRANSPORT GOODS FOR OTHER COMPANIES?
Since 2022, Grain de Sail is an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO). This international recognition has allowed Grain de Sail to cement its cargo sailboat transportation operations. We are now able to service the companies willing to decarbonize their exports on commercial routes across the Atlantic and in Europe. To learn more, do not hesitate to visit our webpage about our transportation services or to send us an email at cargo@graindesail.com.

I HAVE WHITE OR RED SPOTS ON MY CHOCOLATE. IS IT STILL EDIBLE?
Our chocolates have a best-before date of 1 year. Chocolate is a sensitive product requiring optimal storage conditions (neither stored in a humid place nor at too high temperatures) because otherwise this alters the product by separating the cocoa butter from the other ingredients: Fat Blooming. When recrystallizing (changing from liquid to solid) the cocoa butter leaves these white marks.
The chocolate is however perfectly edible and its nutritional values remain unchanged. The taste may however vary somewhat.

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A PRODUCT FROM GRAIN THE SAIL. WHAT CAN I DO?
Our customer service is available to answer all your questions. Send a picture of the problem, the batch number concerning the product, the place and the date of purchase of your product to service.client@graindesail.com. You can also fill in our contact form. We will do our best to find a suitable solution.

CAN WE TASTE CHOCOLATE AND COFFEE TRANSPORTED 100% BY SAIL?
Today, we are not yet self-sufficient in the supply of our raw materials. We hope to become one as soon as possible, but it takes time and funds to develop our carbon-free maritime armament. We therefore have to go through so-called conventional transport and our raw materials transported by sail are mixed with other raw materials transported in conventional ways, for the moment. Our consumers contribute every day, with each of their purchases at Grain de Sail, to make this sailing project possible. We are counting on you to move our projects forward!