The Chain Ferry Challenge set out to do something no one has ever done before: cross all seven vehicle chain ferries in the UK, from Windermere in the Lake District to King Harry on the River Fal in a single electric car, in under 24 hours. That's a 750-mile journey, one island crossing, and a race against some very unforgiving timetables!

The challenge was dreamed up in memory of Dan Demissie, a much-loved friend of the team who died in 2019, and the whole adventure has been raising money for CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), the suicide prevention charity.

On 11th June 2026, they did it, rolling onto King Harry Ferry at Phileigh just in time to catch the last crossing, and the one that would keep them inside the 24-hour mark. We caught up with the team, still buzzing from the finish line, to find out how they pulled it off.

For anyone who hasn't heard of the Chain Ferry Challenge, can you give us a brief summary and tell us whether you actually did it?

The challenge is to complete a journey including every vehicle chain/cable ferry in the UK, in an EV, in under 24 hours – something no one had attempted before! There are seven ferries in total, in the Lake District, Norfolk, isle of Wight, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, spread out over a 750 mile route. Seasonal and weekly changes in timetables and traffic conditions make it impossible on all but a few days a year. We completed the challenge in 23:56:56! We did a huge amount of research and analysis to pick the best date, and to be honest are still amazed we actually pulled it off!

The challenge is dedicated to your friend Dan Demissie and raises money for CALM. Can you tell us a little about Dan, and why supporting a suicide prevention charity felt like the right way to honour him?
The Chain Ferry Challenge team went to school with Dan on the Isle of Wight. One day one in the summer after our A-Levels, I was on the IoW chain ferry with Dan. Somehow we got into a conversation about how we would criss-cross the globe with transoceanic chain ferry services, and make our fortunes. Years later, tragically Dan took his life, and in his funeral that conversation came back to my mind, and the idea of the challenge grew from there. Dan was an excellent friend: kind, patient, gentle and giving. He was also brilliantly talented, and went on to become a film producer. His death was a devastating loss. We chose to raise money for CALM so that more people who might be feeling unable to go on can access life saving support.

There are seven vehicle chain ferries in the UK - from Windermere in the Lake District all the way down to King Harry on the Fal. Had you visited them all before, or were some of them a surprise when you finally crossed them?
We knew the IoW one well obviously, but that was it! So other than that, all of them were a surprise then, and each one is unique its own way. Every second counted though, so sadly there was no time to hang around and enjoy them! In fact, just looking at pictures and descriptions online, it is quite hard to determine what is chain ferry and what isn’t. I even went up to the Highlands to confirm with my own eyes that one crossing (the Corran ferry on Loch Linnhe) wasn’t on chains.

Your modelling suggested only a handful of days a year make this even theoretically possible. How did you go about identifying 10th June as your window, and how confident were you that it would work?
We did A LOT of research, analysis and modelling of ferry timetables, driving times at different times of day/days of the week/weeks of the year, EV charging curves, charger locations and capacities, big traffic causing events, etc. To have even the slimmest chance of completing the challenge, it had to be June to August to have the earliest first crossings and latest last crossings on the ferries; mid-week to avoid weekend traffic; outside school holidays to avoid holiday traffic; when the days are long to make driving easier; and it had to avoid major music festivals and other events. I think there are only 5 or 6 days a year in early June when it can be done. The modelling convinced us it was possible in theory on the right day, but there was so little room for error, that deep down I wasn’t completely sure we could do it when the rubber hit the road.

You started the clock at Windermere at 10pm and ended here on the Fal - that's a 750-mile route crossing to the Isle of Wight and back. Walk us through the route: which ferry came first, and how did the day unfold from there?
Our route started with last crossing of the ferry across Windermere at 10pm. We then drove through the night to get the first crossing at the Reedham Inn in Norfolk at 6:30am. From there it was a round trip to the IoW for the Cowes chain ferry, then along the South Coast via Sandbanks, Dartmouth, Torpoint and finally King Harry.

June is a busy time of year - which ferry gave you the most anxiety on the day - and did any of them throw up an unexpected delay?
Pretty much every one of them gave us anxiety! It was a relentless for 24 hours. It was absolutely critical to get the 1120 ferry to the IoW, and we made it with zero seconds to spare (literally). When we got back off the IoW in Hampshire we had an EV charging disaster that set us way back. Every ferry after that and before King Harry had to go perfectly to win back the time. Sandbanks, Dartmouth and Torpoint all knew we were coming, and when we were a few minutes out we called ahead. Amazingly they all held the ferry for us and gave us the prime spot at the front to make a quick getaway. We would never have done it without that help. It turns out chain ferry operators are a top bunch!

What challenges were you faced with during the attempt and at what point during the 24 hours did it feel most precarious, like it might not come together?
Hope ebbed away when we had to divert round a huge traffic jam on the M25, and it looked as if we might miss the critical 1120 ferry to the IoW. When we did get it though, and then miraculously got the 1305 off the IoW at the other end, we were elated and thought we were right in the mix. But we had used all our battery, and arrived at a charger with 0%, only to have to spend 30 minutes to get it working. At that point it felt as if it had slipped out of reach, but with the amazing help of the ferry operators though we gradually reeled it back in.

King Harry Ferry was your finish line. You arrived at Phileigh in the evening mist to catch the final crossing. What was going through your minds as you rolled down the road towards the slipway knowing you were going to succeed?
It really was the most incredible moment, one we will never forget! We’d never been here before, and as we drove down the narrow lanes through the woods, we were doubtful there could even be a ferry. Finally we emerged on the banks with a few minutes to spare before the 9:50pm crossing (the very last that would get us in under 24 hours). We had time to get out of the car and stand in the drizzle and mist. The massive chains pulled tight on their anchors and the rhythmic metallic clanking grew steadily louder and the King Harry Ferry, cast in an eery halo by its floodlights, heaved itself towards us. It was an unforgettable scene and scarcely possible to believe that all the planning, all the team work and all the support along the way had come together to deliver the record with just 3 minutes and 4 seconds to spare!

Garrick and Nigel on the King Harry Ferry were there to greet you - how did that moment feel, and did the King Harry crew know what was at stake?
I had Garrick’s number and rang ahead to let him know when we were 10 minutes out so that he might possibly hold the ferry a minute if it made the difference, but we didn’t need to in the end. The CFC team was on cloud nine as we rolled down the ramp onto the ferry, high fiving Garrick on the way. Nigel was very tolerant and let us up on the bridge to film the moment the ferry stopped on the Feock side and we stopped the clock at 23:56:56. They were both great (I have to say, like everyone we have met who work on chain ferries, up and down the country!)

Nigel at the helm delivering the team safely to the Feock side

King Harry is one of only a handful of chain ferries left in the UK, and it's been crossing the Fal for over a century. Did the history and character of these ferries add something to the challenge beyond just the logistics?
Oh yes, absolutely! I love a bit of local history, and King Harry’s is especially long and fascinating. They all have a unique character and setting though and all have a fascinating story to tell. Many people we have never met, but who loved the challenge sponsored us – and a couple of the messages said the challenge had inspired their next holiday! I must say that King Harry seems the most enterprising, I would love to come back for Film on the Ferry one day.

What's the one thing about the Chain Ferry Challenge that surprised you most - either in the planning or on the day itself?
It might sound over the top, but the surprising thing was just how intense it was! When every second counts, there are new decisions to make every minute, you haven’t slept for hours, its dark and wet and you don’t know where you are, and you have to keep this going relentlessly for 24 hours, it becomes exhausting. The other thing that surprised us was just how few people actually know what a chain ferry is! I hope we have raised their profile a bit.

Your website says others can "give it a go" - what advice would you give to any team mad enough to try and beat your time?!
Good on anyone who does! Our advice – it’s all about the charging. To minimise time find chargers close to the road, and charge frequently but shallowly, between 20 and 80%.

Finally - the fundraising. How much has been raised for CALM so far?
We have raised an absolutely amazing £11,000, but we are still going! Please go to www.chainferrychallenge.com to contribute!

You can find out more about the Chain Ferry Challenge team, including where to make a donation, here.