Star Clipper - a Star Turn

by Joy Crutchfield, News-Capital/Sail-World on 16 Apr 2007 If you love the idea of a sailing holiday, don’t want to bareboat charter and have a few dollars to spend, you should consider sailing on a tall ship – one of three belonging to Star Clippers.

All the magic is there - you sail away on the first night with lights in the rigging and the sails catching the wind - these tall ships are under sail as much as possible. Whether you’re an experienced sailor or a wanna-be sailor you’ll love the experience, and you can participate in the sailing of the vessel as little or as much as you choose

There’s lots of freedom - You can visit the bridge whenever you want. You can lounge in netting, learn to tie knots or listen to daily navigation talks given by the captain.

The Star Clippers are there, because in 1989, Swedish entrepreneur Mikael Krafft turned his boyhood love of sailing into reality when he founded a company dedicated to re-creating the golden age of the tall ships.

Star Clippers currently offers three vessels inspired by the speedy clipper ships of centuries past.

Meticulously researched down to the last detail, the Star Flyer and Star Clipper entered service in the early 1990s as the tallest clipper ships ever built.

The Royal Clipper joined them in 2000 as the first fully rigged square-rigger with five masts built since 1902.

Star Clippers have made every effort to avoid the worst aspects of normal cruising – for a start there are no casinos and no formal entertainment, and these cruises should only be purchased as true sailing adventures

Instead the atmosphere is informal, with most socializing taking place on the deck. The ships are in port almost every day and feature a variety of water sports, from windsurfing to banana boating. Everything except SCUBA diving is free.

Each ship offers multiple pools, a piano lounge, a library, internet access and an open-seating dining room. The Royal Clipper also features a wellness facility with a spa and fitness area.

The typical client is age 55. English is the language spoken onboard, although the clients are usually a 50/50 mix of American and Europeans. The crew is international.

The Star Flyer and Star Clipper have main masts reaching 226 feet and accommodate 170 passengers. Sea view cabins start at 120 square feet, with deluxe categories ranging from 150 to 211 square feet.

The Royal Clipper accommodates 227 passengers. Standard outside cabins range from 113 to 145 square feet and deluxe categories range from 215 to 355 square feet.

The ships currently offer itineraries in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and the Far East. However, beginning in December 2007, the line will launch year-round South Pacific sailings from Tahiti to the Society Islands, the Marquesas and the Tuamotus. The Star Flyer is committed to this region for at least four years.

These ships bring the history and traditions of authentic sailing ships to life - can you imagine yourself sunning on deck, watching the crew scurry up the rigging, hearing the snap of the sails in the wind?

Or after a delicious evening meal reclining on deck with a glass of fine wine, looking at countless stars and hearing nothing but the sound of the water slapping the hull?

If the answer is yes, then aboard a Star Clipper is where you need to be.

For more information about Star Clippers, go to their Website