ROYAL CLIPPER
ITINERARIES
ROYAL CLIPPER’S 42 SAILS
BUILD Merwede shipyard, Rotterdam
During the summer Royal Clipper sails in the Mediterranean, departing Rome, Venice and Cannes. During the winter she offers Caribbean voyages around the southern part of the Lesser Antilles area, and is able to visit smaller ports. Star Clippers have recently introduced a rail/ cruise holiday aboard the British Pullman and the Venice Simplon-Orient Express, before sailing to Montenegro on Royal Clipper.
Royal Clipper carries 42 sails with a total area of 5,202m2, while her tallest mast measures 54m in height and includes a 6m hinged top section, which can be folded down so that the ship can pass under bridges and power lines when necessary. Although she uses her sails wherever possible, she is also fitted with an engine, which is used if there is not enough wind, and enables her to keep to her sailing schedules. Her sails can be handled with a crew as small as 20 using powered controls. The Captain and crew are experienced square-rigger sailors and have training in using the modern technology found on Star Clippers’ ships, as well as the old-fashioned, traditional methods, many of which are retained. Some of the winches are powered, but muscle power is also needed, as hand-powered winches are widely used as well.