![]() Watching the crew set the sails (somewhat disappointingly hydraulically in today’s age - with the push of a button and lots of rope maneuvering) and standing beneath an array of billowing white polyester sails is a humbling moment. That magic moment when the Captain gives the nod to weigh the anchor and set the sails is an experience in itself. ![]() Here, quality and attentiveness trumped quantity at every turn. Only a few days into the sailing, no-one was a stranger, which made this cruise so much more personal and enjoyable than being just one more anonymous face on a mega cruise liner. The crew, a veritable United Nations of 14 different nationalities from Brazilian to Polish, Belgian to Philippine, was super attentive with a seemingly endless supply of smiles and hellos. With almost as many crew as passengers, we all soon got to know each other. No balconies here nor nine stories of cabins, glass elevators, or thousands of strangers. ![]() The clever use of mirrors made the room seem larger than it was, and with two portholes, it was light and airy. A separate bathroom with shower completed our temporary home. A large space under the bed was ideal for storing empty suitcases. Our ocean view stateroom was more spacious than we had anticipated: a double bed, a wardrobe, and plenty of cupboard space. We received our “pass” - a plastic credit card of sorts that would be key to everything over the next couple of weeks it opened our cabin door and was essential to getting on and off the ship. Onboard, everything was polished wood and mirror-sharp brass fittings. Our initial paperwork was quickly completed at the quayside, and we were tendered smartly to the great ship. A framed certificate from the Guinness Book Of World Records, which hangs in the ship’s library, informed us that we were aboard the world’s largest square-rigger.Īnchored a few hundred yards off the shore in Cannes, the majestic clipper simply dazzled as the sunlight bounced off her blue and white hull. Star Clippers - a privately owned Swedish company – owns and operates three (soon to be four) tall ships, the largest of these being the 440-foot steel-hulled Royal Clipper which, with five masts and 42 sails, is indeed a regal sight. We experienced the same awesome splendor of the sunrise another twelve times as we sailed around the Mediterranean with 218 fellow passengers. I wondered if anything she was imagining could be as beautiful, calm, and awesome as the birth of a new day. Over on the left, a beautiful lady was sitting cross-legged, straight-backed, and eyes closed. A few steps to my right stood another man, coffee mug in hand. The only sound was the gentle flapping of 42 sails in the breeze keeping us steady on course.Īfter what seemed like an age of waiting, a fiery bright red sun started to rise majestically and lift itself slowly but surely upward into the sky. The sun was teasing us, waiting to peek from behind the Italian coastline we were now approaching, ready to usher in the start of another day. I was standing on deck with camera in hand. On the horizon a thin sliver of land was just visible - it was difficult to detect where land ended and the sky started. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |