Going to the Sails ?

This week i thought i would indulge my love of sailing ships and visited The RRS Discovery, based nearby in Dundee,Angus.It was fascinating to see how these magnificent ships fared in waters such as the Antarctic, and Scott himself was a latter day Richard Attenborough without the technology !.For anyone wanting to visit, the ship is on the waterfront at Dundee which has just been re-vitalised with the new VA museum just open last week (pictured) and makes a great day out.Ir got me thinking about my own experience a few years back

How would you be able to re-create the feeling of a windrush and experiencing at least a taste of true sailing techniques in modern day cruising ? Well i have a solution from a trip i took around 12 years ago on a fabulous Star Clipper.It was hard to know in advance if i was going to like this experience but as it was an educational (thats a free trip in travel industry jargon) so that we can pass on the experience to customers , i politely accepted, and it was cruising out of Barbados !

We were lucky enough to join the Royal Clipper, the largest in the fleet, a magnificent sight when the sails are unfurled, all 5200 metres of it l when fully loaded.You can picture the crew climbing the rigging and hoisting the mainsail, but im afraid its all electric motors these days for health and safety reasons .On boarding the ship we were in time for the captain to go through itinerary and what to expect on board, after unpacking, our cabin was a little on the small side but i have stayed in smaller,we ended up spending loads more time on deck which i really enjoyed.Sailing out of Barbados with a sail away cocktail from the Tropical bar with the help of the engines, we waited an hour before the captain was happy to unfurl the sails and what a superb sight it was, very inspiring. Once  we were actually sailing the engines are then cut .

We were sailing at about half the capacity of guests of just over 100 and we quickly got to know some great people with varied nationalities on board even quite a few Australians who were great fun.Meals werent great theatrical lavish affairs but really tasty and they used a lot of local ingredients wherever we stopped.I love the Bajan cuisine with its spices and pepper sauces, that is all except the goat curry !, Im afraid i am not a fan.

There were three small swimming pools that were never that busy ,Captain Nemos an evening lounge with glass portholes in the floor  and excellent place for a after dinner drink, also a small gym and spa/sauna onboard.On day three i tried my hand at climbing up the webbing with a safety harness towards the crows nest but only managed about 15 feet before i chickened out, the rigging was moving was my excuse !

On this trip we visited Roseau in Dominica,Antigua,St Kitts,Martinique and St Maarten and still loved the look on the faces of the children ashore as she sailed into some of the harbours.They must have thought we were pirates.In St Kitts, a platform was lowered from the back of the ship and we enjoyed the bath like temperatures and equipment such as some water skis , a banana boat and windsurfing items which were free to use.So overall stunning experience, good food,great people in a casual atmosphere but i will always remember those days cruising under 30 sails  feeling like i was on my own private yacht.Highly recommend it.

l