four masted sailing yacht

The Essence of Small Ship Sailing

Wind Star is a sleek, 4-masted sailing yacht accommodating 148 guests. With four decks and a gross tonnage of 5,703, Wind Star feels like your own private yacht.

Wind Star features wide open, teak decks—quite unusual for small ships. Guests will find hidden nooks for private moments giving them a feeling of being on their own private veranda.

All staterooms have ocean views, queen beds, flat-screen TV with DVD player, and the Owner’s Suite includes a sitting area.

Wind Star offers two primary dining venues. Amphora restaurant offers gourmet, course-by-course cuisine in the evenings and Veranda restaurant offers casual buffet and full-service dining for breakfast and lunch. All dining is open seating. And, for dining under the stars, make a reservation for Candles which features steaks and skewers.

Wind Star amenities include: World Spa by Windstar, Watersports Platform, Lounge, Pool, and Hot Tub.

Windstar has always been known for our iconic sailing ships, and now Wind Star has under her Setting Sails: A Wind Class Refresh . The initiative brings the tight-knit connection of the Windstar community to the forefront through the redesign of public spaces and staterooms. From a revamped lobby to a new pool and larger pool bar, new World Spa by Windstar to a redesigned lounge, this initiative also includes intricate details like new teak decks and décor for a timeless and welcoming experience.

Queen Size Bed with Luxurious Linens Waffle Weave Robe and Slippers Interactive TV Fully Stocked Mini Bar/Refrigerator Safe L'Occitane Bath Amenities Fresh Fruit Hair Dryers and 110/220 outlets Wi-Fi Internet Access (various plans available for purchase) Bathroom with granite countertop and shower Granite vanity with magnifying mirror

• CAPACITY: 148 Guests
• STATEROOMS: 73 deluxe ocean view staterooms
• OWNERS SUITE: 1 ocean view owner’s suite
• DECKS: 4 decks
• CREW:  101 international staff
• SHIP'S REGISTRY: Bahamas
• LENGTH: 360 feet (110 meters) at waterline; 440 feet (134 meters) including bowsprit
• DRAFT: 14 feet (4.1 meters)
• TONNAGE: 5,307 gross registered tons (grt)
• BEAM: 52.1 feet (15.8 meters)
• SAILS: 6 triangular, self-furling, computer-operated sails with 21,500 square feet (or 2,200 square meters) of Dacron surface area
• MASTS: 4 at 204 feet (62 meters)
• ENGINES: 3 diesel electric generating sets, 1 electrical propulsion motor
• SPEED: 10 knots with engines only; up to 15.8 knots with prevailing wind

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Ship Specifications

• ITINERARIES

Welcome Aboard Wind Star

Step aboard a vessel that is "180 °  from Ordinary," the four-masted schooner, Wind Star,  provides guests with a luxury yachting experience that is as delightfully pampering as it is uniquely personal. Renovated from stem to stern with open teak decks, Wind Star is intimate and stylish with public spaces that invite conversation and relaxation among guests.

Wind Star is a romantic, four-masted sailing ship with recently updated accommodations, a casual yet elegant atmosphere, and friendly service. While her towering sails echo a bygone era of explorers, her sleek lines and computerized controls are innovative in concept and design. Teak decking, rich wood interiors, an attentive service staff, intimate surroundings, eclectic artwork, exceptional signature cuisine featuring both light and vegetarian menu selections, and complimentary wine with dinner are the elements synonymous with your ship. Staterooms (188 square feet each) offer ocean views, new LCD flatscreen TV, DVD/CD player, IPod Nano and Bose SoundDock system, safe, mini-bar/refrigerator, international direct-dial phone, bathroom with pampering toiletries, hair dryer and plush terry robes. All are equipped with one standard U.S. 110 volt and European 220 volt, 60 cycle AC electrical outlet. Wind Star exudes a private, yacht-like ambiance creating camaraderie and lasting friendships among guests, a hallmark of small ship cruising.

See for yourself what Small Ship Cruising is all about

Lounging on the deck, lounge on one of wind star's decks with accompanying views of the water..

Wind Star is intimate and stylish with public spaces that invite conversation and relaxation. Tuck away in one of cozy nooks and crannies perfect for hiding away with a good book or conversing with friends.

Life onboard

"casual elegance" defines life aboard wind star....

Teak decking, rich wood interiors, an attentive service staff and intimate surroundings are just a few reasons that showcase the Windstar Cruises' slogan, "180 from Ordinary" to the fullest.

Pool & Jacuzzi

Take a dip in the pool to cool off or relax in the connected jacuzzi..

Enjoy a refreshing dip in the swimming pool to cool off during those hot days aboard Wind Star... or, alternatively, relax in the connecting hot tub, where you can converse with the friends you've met onboard as the jets massage your body. For those seeking a bit more adventure, a watersports platform, fitted with a variety of aquatic equipment to explore the wondrous ocean and native sea life, is yours to enjoy.

The four-masted sailing yacht, Wind Star, is designed to show guests the world with luxury in mind

Boasting beautiful teak decks, Wind Star invites you to enjoy tranquil staterooms featuring warm and contemporary color palettes and indulgent linens.

With a maximum capacity of 148 passengers, the three-masted Wind Star provides guests with a yachting experience that is as delightfully pampering, as it is uniquely personal.

Onboard, enjoy a variety of public spaces including a salt-water swimming pool, hot tub and accompanying pool bar, WindSpa, an entertainment lounge, a water sports platform and a library.

Wide open teak decks from end to end invite conversation between guests. Discover the hidden nooks in crannies throughout the ship for private moments that give guests a feeling of being on their own private veranda.

Staterooms (188-square-feet each) offer ocean views, queen-size beds, LCD flatscreen TV, DVD/CD player, Bose SoundDock speakers for Apple iPods, safe, mini-bar/refrigerator, international direct-dial phone and private bathroom with premier toiletries, hair dryer and plush terry robes with accompanying slippers.

• Equipment available for a variety of aquatic activities including kayaking, water-skiing, windsurfing and snorkeling, weathering permitting
• A choice of onboard dining available, including the gourmet AmphorA restaurant for evening meals and the casual Veranda for breakfast and lunch
• Candles Grill, an alternate option, offers dinner by candlelight under the stars, weather permitting
• With over 90 crew members on board at any given time, attentive service is a top priority
• All staterooms are equipped with one standard U.S. 110-volt and European 220-volt, 60 cycle AC electrical outlet

Welcome Aboard

Flying bridge.

View Cabin Categories

Category AX Deluxe

Category BX Deluxe

Onboard Experience

Wake up aboard the romantic, four-masted Wind Star in your sumptuous oceanview stateroom, whose amenities include a queen-sized bed and a private bathroom with pampering premier toiletries. Breakfast tempts in the casual Veranda restaurant. After breakfast, you may venture off the ship for a morning of guided sightseeing ashore, or indulge in onboard pleasures that are the mainstay of the yachting set – because this elegant sailing ship feels very much like a private yacht. Lunch as you choose… onboard in the Veranda, or perhaps staying ashore to sample the local fare in today's port of call. Beverages, from soft drinks to house wine and spirits, complement your mood and are available onboard throughout the day. Afternoon invites more exploration ashore… or relaxation onboard, whether it's cuddling up with a good book in the library… taking a dip in the ship's pool or relaxing in the hot tub… sipping a cocktail in the lounge… attending an insightful lecture by an onboard expert… enjoying a rejuvenating treatment in the WindSpa… or going snorkeling in the ocean from the watersports platform aft. This evening, dine with new friends – or enjoy a romantic dinner for two – under the stars at Candles Grill, or in the gourmet AmphorA restaurant. Nighttime brings out the stars in the sky above… and time to watch them twinkle from the open deck with Wind Star's sails unfurled. Or, you can try your luck in the Casino, or enjoy live entertainment in the lounge. When you return to your stateroom, Windstar's signature bowls of flowers and fresh fruit will be waiting for you. And when it's time to turn in, you'll close your eyes and sleep to the rhythm of the seas aboard Windstar's classic four-masted flagship, Wind Star. Read Less

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Building the largest sailing yacht in the world

Published 12 April 2021

At 141m (462.6ft), the sheer scale of Project DREAM SYMPHONY is jaw dropping, the engineering involved is ground breaking, and when a new owner is found and she sets sail, she will have pushed back the technical boundaries of yacht classification.

Currently in build at Dream Ship Victory's yard in Bozburun,  Turkey , is a sailing yacht project of quite staggering scale. DREAM SYMPHONY is a 141m (462.6ft) four-masted schooner-rigged sailing yacht. To put that in context, the largest sailing yacht under canvas today is the 106m (347.8ft) BLACK PEARL. DREAM SYMPHONY is over 30 percent longer - indeed she is only 1.8m (5.8ft) away from equalling the world's longest masted vessel, the sail assisted motor yacht A. Length, however, is only part of this story's ambition, as we will discover.

A natural solution

The yacht features hull design and engineering by Dykstra Naval Architects and interiors by Ken Freivokh, the same team that imagined BLACK PEARL and the 88m (288.6ft) MALTESE FALCON. However, whereas BLACK PEARL, A and MALTESE FALCON all feature steel and aluminium construction, DREAM SYMPHONY is being constructed from an entirely natural material: wood. Epoxy laminated iroko to be specific.

The use of wood was quite deliberate. It is entirely renewable and recyclable, it provides a warmer environment and, correctly constructed, a vessel of equal or even greater strength compared to steel and aluminium yachts.

The yard approached RINA to certify construction and there they ran into a problem: RINA had never certified any wooden structure over 30m in length. There followed an exacting scientific research project managed by Dykstra Naval Architects, involving composite experts SP-High Modulus, now Gurit, and exhaustive testing by laboratories at the Delft University of Technology in Holland and Italy's University of Messina. The results satisfied RINA to certify construction and the build began.

'Unique design'

Comfortably creative

Freivokh's interior, a contemporary interpretation of traditional nautical stylings, is designed to enhance the warm ambience of wood and echo the historical importance of wood as a vessel building material. The result is universal in its appeal and understated in its magnificence, celebrating the space.

Key features include and two deck atrium with a spiral staircase and an owner's duplex apartment with bedroom, bathroom and private lounge on the lower deck and the saloon and office on the main deck. A 'convertible conservatory' creates an all weather winter garden between the owner's living quarters and the main lobby.

Other features include a circular double height glass swimming pool on the aft deck, with a bottom that rises to serve as a dancefloor for entertainment purposes or as a helipad. She also has meeting rooms, spa facilities with hair and nail salons and a massage room, and a gym.

A new age awaits

Construction is currently on hold as she is looking for a new owner but when she does launch, she will redefine superyacht sailing for the modern age in a way that honours the past and acknowledges the future. Sleek, stylish and outstandingly impressive, she will be an utterly unmistakable feature in the finest destinations around the world.

To find out more about this extraordinary project, please  contact your Burgess broker .

To find out more about Burgess’  yachts for sale and  yachts for charter , please  contact a Burgess broker . Alternatively, get in touch with one of our offices directly:  London ,  Monaco ,  New York ,  Miami ,  Singapore or  all other locations .

- Yachts, prices and availability are correct at the time of publication.

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Top 10 largest sailing yachts in the world

The list of the top ten largest sailing yachts in the world is not easily disrupted. In fact, it had remained unchanged since the launch of the 106.7-metre Oceanco Black Pearl in 2018, which swiped the top spot from Lürssen 's 93-metre Eos . For four years, Black Pearl remained the largest yacht in the world until early in 2023 when Oceanco sent a new flagship down the slipway, the mighty 127-metre Koru . Read on to discover our official list of the largest sailing yachts in the world. 

1. Koru | 127m

Leading this list is a new entry: Oceanco 's record-breaking 127-metre sailing yacht Koru . Commissioned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Koru has been the subject of much speculation for years but was revealed in all its glory in 2021. Not only is she the largest sailing yacht in the world, she is also the largest superyacht ever to be built in the Netherlands. Her name, Koru, is the Māori word meaning "new beginnings" and she is accompanied by a 75-metre support vessel named Abeona . She was delivered in 2023 and is over 20 metres longer than the former title-holder Black Pearl.

• Builder: Oceanco
• Country of build: Netherlands
• Delivery year: 2023
• Length Overall: 125.82 m
• Beam: 16.95 m
• Gross Tonnage 3493 t

More about this yacht

More stories, 2. black pearl | 106.7m.

Instantly recognisable with her black sails and Dynarig set-up, Black Pearl is the second-largest sailing yacht in the world. Delivered during the same year as 142.81-metre Sailing Yacht A (officially designated as a sail-assisted motor yacht), Black Pearl spent five years in development at Dutch yard Oceanco . Dykstra Naval Architects , Ken Freivokh , Nuvolari Lenard , BMT Nigel Gee and Gerard P Villate all contributed their expertise to this monumental project, which looks set to turn heads the world over for decades to come. She is often compared to Maltese Falcon , the first Dynarig superyacht, but boasts a number of technological advancements. She flies 25 per cent more sail area with hinging spars that fold down to allow her to pass through the Panama Canal, but it is what lies beneath that really counts. Two variable pitch propellers harness kinetic energy while she is under sail, which can run the hotel or recharge the batteries, allowing her to cross oceans without expending a drop of fuel. 

• Delivery year: 2018
• Length Overall: 106.7 m
• Gross Tonnage 2700 t

3. Eos | 92.93m

Eos was built in Germany under a cloak of secrecy for her American media and movie mogul Barry Diller. Eos is a three-masted Bermuda rigged schooner and was refitted at Royal Huisman in 2011. After emerging from her refit the yacht caught fire in Norway and had to return to the yard to be repaired.

• Builder: Lurssen
• Country of build: Germany
• Delivery year: 2006
• Length Overall: 92.93 m
• Beam: 13.5 m
• Gross Tonnage 1500 t

4. Athena | 90m

Athena was built by the Royal Huisman in Holland for US software developer Jim Clark. Athena's advanced engineering means that she is able to sail in relatively light airs, while still offering the interior space typically only found on motor yachts. In stronger winds, Athena has been credited as attaining 19 knots under sail. The yacht's three closed decks include a large owner's suite, four guest suites, a saloon and dining room on the main deck and a sky lounge on the upper deck. Her clipper-bow and three-masted schooner sprung from the boards of Pieter Beeldsnijder (exterior styling) and Dykstra Naval Architects (naval architecture).

• Builder: Royal Huisman
• Delivery year: 2004
• Length Overall: 90 m
• Beam: 12.2 m
• Gross Tonnage 1103 t

5. Maltese Falcon | 88m

Maltese Falcon  was built for the late American venture capitalist Tom Perkins. The iconic three-masted schooner is the fifth-largest sailing yacht in the world. Maltese Falcon's rig is made up of three unstayed, 'weapons-grade' carbon fibre masts, with a fully computerised sail and rotating mast system. The system has been dubbed a triumph of design, development and engineering and Maltese Falcon has topped an impressive 24 knots under sail. The Ken Freivokh interior is a marriage of industrial chic and high tech. It features leather, glass, wood and steel as well as a modern art collection. The yacht has accommodation for 12 guests and is available for charter.

• Builder: Perini Navi
• Country of build: Turkey
• Length Overall: 88 m
• Beam: 12.47 m
• Gross Tonnage 1112 t

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6. aquijo | 85.9m.

The highly anticipated Aquijo was the result of a collaboration between Vitters and Oceanco. Both Dutch yards worked closely with the owner's representative to create a highly complex, performance-driven sailing machine that became the third largest sailing superyacht when launched. Aquijo is an aluminium ketch-rigged yacht, and features a custom steering system. Aquijo's interior layout provides clear sight lines thanks to her high-volume superstructure.

• Builder: Vitters | Oceanco
• Delivery year: 2016
• Length Overall: 85.9 m
• Beam: 14.48 m
• Gross Tonnage 1538 t

7. Sea Eagle II | 81m

Delivered in 2020, Sea Eagle II is the most recent addition to the top ten largest sailing yachts in the world. Built by Royal Huisman, Sea Eagle II features exterior styling by Mark Whiteley and naval architecture penned by Dykstra Naval Architects . Sold in summer 2016 by  Northrop & Johnson  as Project RH400,  Sea Eagle II  is the largest yacht ever built by the Dutch yard. 

• Delivery year: 2020
• Length Overall: 81 m
• Gross Tonnage 1150 t

8. M5 | 78.4m

Built by Vosper Thorneycroft in Southampton, England, M5  was launched as the iconic yacht Mirabella V in 2004. She remains the world’s largest sloop to date. M5 was designed by Ron Holland for American yachtsman Joe Vittoria, who enjoyed sailing her for seven years before she was sold on. The new owner renamed her M5 and she was extended by 3.2 metres in a refit at  Pendennis  before her relaunch in 2013. Her most recent refit , however, in 2019, saw M5 emerge from the sheds with all new paint-work, composite biminis, a reinforced mast and a new bow-thruster.

M5 has a displacement of 780 tonnes (165 tonnes of which is the keel). The carbon fibre mast is an amazing 88.3 metres tall and can carry approximately 3,700 square metres of sail.

• Builder: Vosper Thornycroft
• Country of build: United Kingdom
• Length Overall: 78.4 m
• Beam: 14.8 m
• Gross Tonnage 1009 t

9. Badis | 70m

The second largest Perini Navi sailing yacht to date, Badis was built for the multiple superyacht owner Bill Duker and launched in 2016 as Sybaris . The name comes from a Greek settlement in ancient Italy that was famed for its hedonism, feasts and excesses. Featuring naval architecture and sailplan optimisation by Philippe Briand, this all-aluminium ketch can host up to 12 guests across six cabins. Interiors are by PH Design with a total internal volume of 870GT, while the crew quarters allow for a staff of up to 11. Under power, Badis's twin MTU 16V 2000 M72 diesel engines generate a total of 3,860hp, resulting in a top speed of 17.5 knots and a maximum cruising range of 5,000 nautical miles at 12.5 knots.

• Country of build: Italy
• Length Overall: 70 m
• Beam: 13.24 m
• Gross Tonnage 887 t

10. Atlantic | 69.3m

Atlantic might have the looks of an old classic but don't be fooled, this modern three-masted schooner was delivered in 2010 to an owner with a penchant for classic sailing yachts. She was built from scratch as a replica of the famous 64.5-metre Townsend & Downey schooner by the same name built in 1903. The sailing yacht made history when she set the record for the fastest Atlantic crossing in 1905 - a record that remained unbroken for nearly 100 years - but she was sadly scrapped in 1982. Inspired by its legacy, owner Ed Kastelein built a replica as a tribute to the record-breaking classic at the Van de Graaf shipyard in the Netherlands. The new Atlantic 's three masts stand 50 metres high and support 1,700 square metres of sails with 36 winches in bronze built specially by Harken.

• Builder: Van der Graaf
• Delivery year: 2010
• Length Overall: 69.31 m
• Gross Tonnage 268 t

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Published on November 29th, 2022 | by Editor

Inside the world’s biggest sailing yacht

Published on November 29th, 2022 by Editor -->

One wonders if the pursuit by the uber-rich to have the biggest yacht is more about claiming it than having it, but there is one such yacht that somebody does need to have. While the images remain conceptual, this creation is serious eye candy. Here’s an update from Boat International:

Announced in 2010, the 141 metre sailing superyacht Dream Symphony was revealed with a number of groundbreaking promises. The four-masted schooner-rigged sailing yacht, currently in build at Dream Ship Victory’s yard in Bozburun, Turkey, would become the largest sailing yacht in the world when launched. 

Constructed entirely from wood, epoxy laminated iroko to be precise, it would also break numerous engineering feats. RINA was approached to certify construction, but there was a problem – it had never certified any wooden structure measuring over 30m in length. 

This resulted in a scientific research project spearheaded by designer Dykstra Naval Architects, which involved composite experts and extensive tests undertaken by Italian universities and Dutch laboratories. By the end of the process, RINA was satisfied and construction on the truly unique project began, with the keel laid in 2011.

Since then, progress on the project has stalled and now Burgess is seeking a new owner to bring the yacht to completion. Luckily, the project isn’t shy of unique selling points. For starters, it’s designed by Dykstra and Ken Freivokh – who also worked on the 106m Black Pearl and 88m Maltese Falcon But unlike Black Pearl and Maltese Falcon, both of which are constructed from steel and aluminium, Dream Symphony features a unique all-wood construction providing a “warmer environment”, as well as being renewable and recyclable, according to Burgess. – Full report

Tags: Boat International , Dream Symphony , epic , records

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Guide to Understanding Sail Rig Types (with Pictures)

There are a lot of different sail rig types and it can be difficult to remember what's what. So I've come up with a system. Let me explain it in this article.

What are the different types of sail rig? The sail rig is determined by the number of masts and the layout and shape of sails. Most modern ships are fore-and-aft rigged, while old ships are square-rigged. Rigs with one mast are sloops and cutters. Ketches, yawls, brigs, and schooners have two masts. Barques have three masts. Rigs can contain up to seven masts.

'Yeah, that's a gaff brig, and that a Bermuda cutter' - If you don't know what this means (neither did I) and want to know what to call a two-masted ship with a square-rigged mainsail, this article is definitely for you.

On this page:

More info on sail rig types, mast configurations and rig types, rigs with one mast, rigs with two masts, rigs with three masts, related questions.

This article is part 2 of my series on sails and rig types. Part 1 is all about the different types of sails. If you want to know everything there is to know about sails once and for all, I really recommend you read it. It gives a good overview of sail types and is easy to understand.

The Ultimate Guide to Sail Types and Rigs (with Pictures)

First of all, what is a sail rig? A sail rig is the way in which the sails are attached to the mast(s). In other words, it's the setup or configuration of the sailboat. The rig consists of the sail and mast hardware. The sail rig and sail type are both part of the sail plan. We usually use the sail rig type to refer to the type of boat.

Let's start by taking a look at the most commonly used modern sail rigs. Don't worry if you don't exactly understand what's going on. At the end of this article, you'll understand everything about rig types.

The sail rig and sail plan are often used interchangeably. When we talk of the sail rig we usually mean the sail plan . Although they are not quite the same. A sail plan is the set of drawings by the naval architect that shows the different combinations of sails and how they are set up for different weather conditions. For example a light air sail plan, storm sail plan, and the working sail plan (which is used most of the time).

So let's take a look at the three things that make up the sail plan.

The 3 things that make up the sail plan

I want to do a quick recap of my previous article. A sail plan is made up of:

• Mast configuration - refers to the number of masts and where they are placed
• Sail type - refers to the sail shape and functionality
• Rig type - refers to the way these sails are set up on your boat

I'll explore the most common rig types in detail later in this post. I've also added pictures to learn to recognize them more easily. ( Click here to skip to the section with pictures ).

How to recognize the sail plan?

So how do you know what kind of boat you're dealing with? If you want to determine what the rig type of a boat is, you need to look at these three things:

• Check the number of masts, and how they are set up.
• You look at the type of sails used (the shape of the sails, how many there are, and what functionality they have).
• And you have to determine the rig type, which means the way the sails are set up.

Below I'll explain each of these factors in more detail.

The most common rig types on sailboats

To give you an idea of the most-used sail rigs, I'll quickly summarize some sail plans below and mention the three things that make up their sail plan.

• Bermuda sloop - one mast, one mainsail, one headsail, fore-and-aft rigged
• Gaff cutter - one mast, one mainsail, two staysails, fore-and-aft rigged
• Gaff schooner - two-masted (foremast), two mainsails, staysails, fore-and-aft rigged
• Gaff ketch - two-masted (mizzen), two mainsails, staysails, fore-and-aft rigged
• Full-rigged ship or tall ship - three or more masts, mainsail on each mast, staysails, square-rigged

The first word is the shape and rigging of the mainsail. So this is the way the sail is attached to the mast. I'll go into this later on. The second word refers to the mast setup and amount of sails used.

Most sailboats are Bermuda sloops. Gaff-rigged sails are mostly found on older, classic boats. Square-rigged sails are generally not used anymore.

But first I want to discuss the three factors that make up the sail plan in more detail.

Ways to rig sails

There are basically two ways to rig sails:

• From side to side, called Square-rigged sails - the classic pirate sails
• From front to back, called Fore-and-aft rigged sails - the modern sail rig

Almost all boats are fore-and-aft rigged nowadays.

Square sails are good for running downwind, but they're pretty useless when you're on an upwind tack. These sails were used on Viking longships, for example. Their boats were quicker downwind than the boats with fore-and-aft rigged sails, but they didn't handle as well.

The Arabs first used fore-and-aft rigged sails, making them quicker in difficult wind conditions.

Quick recap from part 1: the reason most boats are fore-and-aft rigged today is the increased maneuverability of this configuration. A square-rigged ship is only good for downwind runs, but a fore-and-aft rigged ship can sail close to the wind, using the lift to move forward.

The way the sails are attached to the mast determines the shape of the sail. The square-rigged sails are always attached the same way to the mast. The fore-and-aft rig, however, has a lot of variations.

The three main sail rigs are:

• Bermuda rig - most used - has a three-sided (triangular) mainsail
• Gaff rig - has a four-sided mainsail, the head of the mainsail is guided by a gaff
• Lateen rig - has a three-sided (triangular) mainsail on a long yard

The Bermuda is the most used, the gaff is a bit old-fashioned, and the lateen rig is outdated (about a thousand years). Lateen rigs were used by the Moors. The Bermuda rig is actually based on the Lateen rig (the Dutch got inspired by the Moors).

Other rig types that are not very common anymore are:

• Junk rig - has horizontal battens to control the sail
• Settee rig - Lateen with the front corner cut off
• Crabclaw rig

Mast configuration

Okay, we know the shape of the mainsail. Now it's time to take a look at the mast configuration. The first thing is the number of masts:

• one-masted boats
• two-masted boats
• three-masted boats
• four masts or up
• full or ship-rigged boats - also called 'ships' or 'tall ships'

I've briefly mentioned the one and two mast configurations in part 1 of this article. In this part, I'll also go over the three-masted configurations, and the tall ships as well.

A boat with one mast has a straightforward configuration because there's just one mast. You can choose to carry more sails or less, but that's about it.

A boat with two masts or more gets interesting. When you add a mast, it means you have to decide where to put the extra mast: in front, or in back of the mainmast. You can also choose whether or not the extra mast will carry an extra mainsail. The placement and size of the extra mast are important in determining what kind of boat we're dealing with. So you start by locating the largest mast, which is always the mainmast.

From front to back: the first mast is called the foremast. The middle mast is called the mainmast. And the rear mast is called the mizzenmast.

What is the mizzenmast? The mizzenmast is the aft-most (rear) mast on a sailboat with three or more masts or the mast behind the mainmast on a boat with two masts. The mizzenmast carries the mizzen sail. On a two-masted boat, the mizzenmast is always (slightly) smaller than the mainmast. What is the purpose of the mizzen sail? The mizzen sail provides more sail area and flexibility in sail plan. It can be used as a big wind rudder, helping the sailor to have more control over the stern of the ship. It pushes the stern away from the wind and forces the bow in the opposite way. This may help to bring the bow into the wind when at anchor.

I always look at the number of masts first, because this is the easiest to spot. So to make this stuff more easy to understand, I've divided up the rig types based on the number of masts below.

Why would you want more masts and sail anyways?

Good question. The biggest advantage of two masts compared to one (let's say a ketch compared to a sloop), is that it allows you to use multiple smaller sails to get the same sail area. It also allows for shorter masts.

This means you reduce the stress on the rigging and the masts, which makes the ketch rig safer and less prone to wear and tear. It also doesn't capsize as quickly. So there are a couple of real advantages of a ketch rig over a sloop rig.

In the case of one mast, we look at the number of sails it carries.

Boats with one mast can have either one sail, two sails, or three or more sails.

Most single-masted boats are sloops, which means one mast with two sails (mainsail + headsail). The extra sail increases maneuverability. The mainsail gives you control over the stern, while the headsail gives you control over the bow.

Sailor tip: you steer a boat using its sails, not using its rudder.

The one-masted rigs are:

• Cat - one mast, one sail
• Sloop - one mast, two sails
• Cutter - one mast, three or more sails

The cat is the simplest sail plan and has one mast with one sail. It's easy to handle alone, so it's very popular as a fishing boat. Most (very) small sailboats are catboats, like the Sunfish, and many Laser varieties. But it has a limited sail area and doesn't give you the control and options you have with more sails.

The most common sail plan is the sloop. It has one mast and two sails: the main and headsail. Most sloops have a Bermuda mainsail. It's one of the best racing rigs because it's able to sail very close to the wind (also called 'weatherly'). It's one of the fastest rig types for upwind sailing.

It's a simple sail plan that allows for high performance, and you can sail it short-handed. That's why most sailboats you see today are (Bermuda) sloops.

This rig is also called the Marconi rig, and it was developed by a Dutch Bermudian (or a Bermudian Dutchman) - someone from Holland who lived on Bermuda.

A cutter has three or more sails. Usually, the sail plan looks a lot like the sloop, but it has three headsails instead of one. Naval cutters can carry up to 6 sails.

Cutters have larger sail area, so they are better in light air. The partition of the sail area into more smaller sails give you more control in heavier winds as well. Cutters are considered better for bluewater sailing than sloops (although sloops will do fine also). But the additional sails just give you a bit more to play with.

Two-masted boats can have an extra mast in front or behind the mainmast. If the extra mast is behind (aft of) the mainmast, it's called a mizzenmast . If it's in front of the mainmast, it's called a foremast .

If you look at a boat with two masts and it has a foremast, it's most likely either a schooner or a brig. It's easy to recognize a foremast: the foremast is smaller than the aft mast.

If the aft mast is smaller than the front mast, it is a sail plan with a mizzenmast. That means the extra mast has been placed at the back of the boat. In this case, the front mast isn't the foremast, but the mainmast. Boats with two masts that have a mizzenmast are most likely a yawl or ketch.

The two-masted rigs are:

• Lugger - two masts (mizzen), with lugsail (a cross between gaff rig and lateen rig) on both masts
• Yawl - two masts (mizzen), fore-and-aft rigged on both masts. Main mast is much taller than mizzen. Mizzen without a mainsail.
• Ketch - two masts (mizzen), fore-and-aft rigged on both masts. Main mast with only slightly smaller mizzen. Mizzen has mainsail.
• Schooner - two masts (foremast), generally gaff rig on both masts. Main mast with only slightly smaller foremast. Sometimes build with three masts, up to seven in the age of sail.
• Bilander - two masts (foremast). Has a lateen-rigged mainsail and square-rigged sails on the foremast and topsails.
• Brig - two masts (foremast), partially square-rigged. The main mast carries small lateen-rigged sail.

The yawl has two masts that are fore-and-aft rigged and a mizzenmast. The mizzenmast is much shorter than the mainmast, and it doesn't carry a mainsail. The mizzenmast is located aft of the rudder and is mainly used to increase helm balance.

A ketch has two masts that are fore-and-aft rigged. The extra mast is a mizzenmast. It's nearly as tall as the mainmast and carries a mainsail. Usually, the mainsails of the ketch are gaff-rigged, but there are Bermuda-rigged ketches too. The mizzenmast is located in front of the rudder instead of aft, as on the yawl.

The function of the ketch's mizzen sail is different from that of the yawl. It's actually used to drive the boat forward, and the mizzen sail, together with the headsail, are sufficient to sail the ketch. The mizzen sail on a yawl can't really drive the boat forward.

Schooners have two masts that are fore-and-aft rigged. The extra mast is a foremast which is generally smaller than the mainmast, but it does carry a mainsail. Schooners are also built with a lot more masts, up to seven (not anymore). The schooner's mainsails are generally gaff-rigged.

The schooner is easy to sail but not very fast. It handles easier than a sloop, except for upwind, and it's only because of better technology that sloops are now more popular than the schooner.

The brig has two masts. The foremast is always square-rigged. The mainmast can be square-rigged or is partially square-rigged. Some brigs carry a lateen mainsail on the mainmast, with square-rigged topsails.

Some variations on the brig are:

Brigantine - two masts (foremast), partially square-rigged. Mainmast carries no square-rigged mainsail.

Hermaphrodite brig - also called half brig or schooner brig. Has two masts (foremast), partially square-rigged. Mainmast carries a gaff rig mainsail and topsail, making it half schooner.

Three-masted boats are mostly barques or schooners. Sometimes sail plans with two masts are used with more masts.

The three-masted rigs are:

• Barque - three masts, fore, and mainmast are square-rigged, the mizzenmast is usually gaff-rigged. All masts carry mainsail.
• Barquentine - three masts, foremast is square-rigged, the main and mizzenmast are fore-and-aft rigged. Also called the schooner barque.
• Polacca - three masts, foremast is square-rigged, the main and mizzenmast are lateen-rigged.
• Xebec - three masts, all masts are lateen-rigged.

A barque has three or four masts. The fore and mainmast are square-rigged, and the mizzen fore-and-aft, usually gaff-rigged. Carries a mainsail on each mast, but the mainsail shape differs per mast (square or gaff). Barques were built with up to five masts. Four-masted barques were quite common.

Barques were a good alternative to full-rigged ships because they require a lot fewer sailors. But they were also slower. Very popular rig for ocean crossings, so a great rig for merchants who travel long distances and don't want 30 - 50 sailors to run their ship.

Barquentine

The barquentine usually has three masts. The foremast is square-rigged and the main and mizzenmast fore-and-aft. The rear masts are usually gaff-rigged.

Faster than a barque or a schooner, but the performance is worse than both.

The polacca or polacre rig has three masts with a square-rigged foremast. The main and mizzenmast are lateen-rigged. Beautiful boat to see. Polacca literally means 'Polish' (it's Italian). It was a popular rig type in the Mediterranean in the 17th century. It looks like the xebec, which has three lateen-rigged masts.

Fun fact: polaccas were used by a Dutch sailor-turned-Turkish-pirate (called Murat Reis).

The xebec is a Mediterranean trading ship with three masts. All masts are lateen-rigged. I couldn't find any surviving xebecs, only models and paintings. So I guess this rig is outdated a long time.

A boat with three or more masts that all carry square-rigged sails is called a ship, a tall ship, or a full-rigged ship. So it's at this point that we start calling boats 'ships'. It has nothing to do with size but with the type of rigging.

More sails mean less stress on all of them. These ships use a lot of sails to distribute the forces, which reduces the stress on the rigging and the masts. Square sails mean double the sail area in comparison to triangular sails.

They are quite fast for their size, and they could outrun most sloops and schooners (schooners were relatively a lot heavier). The reason is that tall ships could be a lot longer than sloops, giving them a lot of extra hull speed. Sloops couldn't be as large because there weren't strong enough materials available. Try making a single triangular sail with a sail area of over 500 sq. ft. from linen.

So a lot of smaller sails made sense. You could have a large ship with a good maximum hull speed, without your sails ripping apart with every gust of wind.

But you need A LOT of sailors to sail a tall ship: about 30 sailors in total to ie. reef down sails and operate the ship. That's really a lot.

Tall ships are used nowadays for racing, with the popular tall ship races traveling the world. Every four years I go and check them out when they are at Harlingen (which is very close to where I live).

Check out the amazing ships in this video of the tall ship races last year near my hometown. (The event was organized by friends of mine).

What is the difference between a schooner and a sloop? A schooner has two masts, whereas the sloop only has one. The schooner carries more sails, with a mainsail on both masts. Also, sloops are usually Bermuda-rigged, whereas schooners are usually gaff-rigged. Most schooners also carry one or two additional headsails, in contrast to the single jib of the sloop.

What do you call a two-masted sailboat? A two-masted sailboat is most likely a yawl, ketch, schooner, or brig. To determine which one it is you have to locate the mainmast (the tallest). At the rear: schooner or brig. In front: yawl or ketch. Brigs have a square-rigged foremast, schooners don't. Ketches carry a mainsail on the rear mast; yawls don't.

What is a sloop rig? A sloop rig is a sailboat with one mast and two sails: a mainsail and headsail. It's a simple sail plan that handles well and offers good upwind performance. The sloop rig can be sailed shorthanded and is able to sail very close to the wind, making it very popular. Most recreational sailboats use a sloop rig.

What is the difference between a ketch and a yawl? The most important difference between a ketch and a yawl are the position and height of the mizzenmast. The mizzenmast on a yawl is located aft of the rudder, is shorter than the mainmast and doesn't carry a mainsail. On a ketch, it's nearly as long as the mainmast and carries a mainsail.

There are a wonderful lots of DIY changeability shows on the cable airwaves these days.

Rick the rigger

There are SO many errors on this site it really should be taken down.

First major mistake is to say you are no longer afraid of the sea.

One that truly gets up my nose is the term ‘fully’ rigged ship. It’s a FULL rigged ship!! Your mast names are the wrong way round and just because there may be 3 it doesn’t automatically mean the one in the middle is the main.

I could go on and totally destroy your over inflated but fragile ego but I won’t. All I will say is go learn a lot more before posting.

Shawn Buckles

Thanks for your feedback. If you like to point out anything more specific, please let me know and I will update the articles. I’ve changed fully-rigged to full-rigged ship - which is a typo on my part. I try to be as concise as I can, but, obviously, we all make mistakes every now and then. The great thing about the internet is that we can learn from each other and update our knowledge together.

If you want to write yourself and share your knowledge, please consider applying as a writer for my blog by clicking on the top banner.

Thanks, Shawn

Well, I feel that I’ve learned a bit from this. The information is clear and well laid out. Is it accurate? I can’t see anything at odds with the little I knew before, except that I understood a xebec has a square rigged centre mainmast, such as the Pelican ( https://www.adventureundersail.com/ )

Hi, Shawn, You forgot (failed) to mention another type of rig? The oldest type of rig known and still functions today JUNK RIG!

Why are so many of the comments here negative. I think it is wonderful to share knowledge and learn together. I knew a little about the subject (I’m an Aubrey-Maturin fan!) but still found this clarified some things for me. I can’t comment therefore on the accuracy of the article, but it seems clear to me that the spirit of the author is positive. We owe you some more bonhomme I suggest Shawn.

As they say in the Navy: “BZ” - for a good article.

Been reading S.M. Stirling and wanted to understand the ship types he references. Thank you, very helpful.

This site is an awesome starting point for anyone who would like to get an overview of the subject. I am gratefull to Shawn for sharing - Thanks & Kudos to you! If the negative reviewers want to get a deeper technical knowledge that is accurate to the n-th then go study the appropriate material. Contribute rather than destroy another’s good work. Well done Shawn. Great job!

Good stuff Shawn - very helpful. As a novice, it’s too confusing to figure out in bits and pieces. Thanks for laying it out.

First of all I have to say that Rick ‘the rigger’ is obviously the one with the “over inflated but fragile ego” and I laughed when you suggested he share his knowledge on your blog, well played!

As for the content it’s great, hope to read more soon!

Alec Lowenthal

Shawn, I have a painting of a Spanish vessel, two masted, with. Lateen sails on both masts and a jib. The mainsail is ahead of the main mast (fore) and the other is aft of the mizzen mast. Would this be what you call lugger rig? I have not seen a similar picture. Thanks, Alec.

Thank you for your article I found easy to read and understand, and more importantly remember, which emphasises the well written.. Pity about the negative comments, but love your proactive responses!

This vessel, “SEBASTIAN” out of Garrucha, Almería, España, was painted by Gustave Gillman in 1899.

Sorry, picture not accepted!

Thank you for a very informative article. I sail a bit and am always looking for more knowledge. I like the way you put forth your info and I feel if you can’t say anything positive, then that person should have their own blog or keep their opinions to their-self. I will be looking for more from you. I salute your way of dealing with negative comments.

Thank you for a great intro to sailing boats! I searched different sailboats because I use old sails tp make bags and wanted to learn the difference. Way more than I ever expected. Thanks for all the work put in to teach the rest of us.

Your description of a cutter is lacking, and your illustrations of “cutters” are actually cutter-rigged sloops. On a true cutter, the mast is moved further aft (with more than 40% of the ship forward of the mast). A sloop uses tension in the backstay to tension the luff of the foresail. The cutter can’t do this.

Also, a bermuda-rigged ketch will have a line running from the top of the mainmast to the top of the mizzenmast.

wow great guide to rig types! thanks

Interesting guide, however I am confused about the description of the brig. You say the main mast on a brig can have a lateen sail, but in your picture it looks like a gaff sail to me. How is it a lateen sail?

Hi Shawn, thank you for taking the time to share this information. It is clear and very helpful. I am new to sailing and thinking of buying my own blue water yacht. The information you have supplied is very useful. I still am seeking more information on performance and safety. Please keep up the good work. Best Regards

mickey fanelli

I’m starting to repair a model sailboat used in the lake I have three masts that have long been broken off and the sails need replacement. So my question is there a special relationship between the three masts I do have reminents of where the masts should go. they all broke off the boat along with the sails I can figure out where they go because of the old glue marks but it makes no sense. or does it really matter on a model thank you mickey

Cool, total novice here. I have learnt a lot. Thanks for sharing - the diagrams along with the text make it really easy to understand, especially for a beginner who hasn’t even stepped on a sailing boat.

Daryl Beatt

Thank you. Cleared up quite a few things for me. For example, I was familiar with the names “Xebecs” and “Polaccas” from recent reading about the Barbary War. I had gathered that the two Barbary types were better suited to sailing in the Med, but perhaps they were less able to be adaptable to military uses,(but one might assume that would be ok if one plans to board and fight, as opposed to fight a running gun duel). Specifically, the strangely one sided August 1, 1801 battle between the USS Enterprise under Lt. John Sterett and the Polacca cruiser Tripoli under Admiral Rais Mahomet Rous. On paper both ships seemed nearly equal in size, guns and crew, but pictures of the battle are confusing. While the Enterprise is usually rendered as the familiar schooner, the polacca Tripoli has been pictured in radically different ways. Thus the Wikipedia picture by Hoff in 1878 used to illustrate the Battle shows a Brig design for Tripoli, indicating 77 years later, polaccas were no longer common.

Lee Christiansen

I am curious as to what you would call a modern race boat with a fractional jib,not equipped for full masthead hoist? Thanks Lee

Thanks Guy: The information and pictures really eliminate a lot of the mystery of the terminology and the meanings. Also appreciate the insight of the handling idiosyncrasies “hand” (staff) requirements to manage a vessel for one that has not been on the water much. I long to spend significant time afloat, but have concern about the ability to handle a vessel due to advancing age. The Significant Other prefers to sit (in AC comfort)and be entertained by parties of cruise line employees. Thanks again for the information.

Gordon Smith

Your discussion made no mention of the galleon, a vessel with either square-rigged Fore and Main masts and a shorter lateen-rigged Mizzen, or, on larger galleons, square-rigged Fore and Main masts, with a lateen-rigged Mizzen and a lateen-rigged Bonaventure mast, both shorter than either the Fore or Main masts. Also, it was not uncommon for a galleon to hoist a square-rigged bowsprit topsail in addition to the usual square-rigged spritsail.

Emma Delaney

As a hobbyist, I was hesitant to invest in expensive CAD software, but CADHOBBY IntelliCAD has proven to be a cost-effective alternative that delivers the same quality and performance.

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A private yacht with an eventful history

Golden swan-shaped water taps, magnificent marble fireplaces, French antiques – as heiress to a fortune worth millions, Marjorie Merriweather Post was able to give free rein to her imagination when building her private yacht, which was launched in Kiel in 1931. Even today, every detail on the SEA CLOUD radiates the glamour of a bygone era. Her elegance seems timeless, as she has retained her unconventional charm.

Captain Sergey Komakin & Captain John Svendsen

• Public areas
• Ground Plan

CAT. A Owners’ Suite 1

Like all the original accommodations, Marjorie Merriweather Post furnished the owner’s suites herself. Whenever she traveled aboard the SEA CLOUD, these posh, private quarters were her home, so she outfitted them in opulence. Today, her personal owners’ suite maintains her exquisite touch with white Carrara marble in the fireplace and bathroom, gold-plated swan fixtures, Louis Philippe chairs, an elaborate floor-to-ceiling dressing mirror and ornate golden-trimmed ceilings. The high-end design and furnishings reflect the successful entrepreneur’s penchant for luxuriating on this private yacht in ultimate comfort.

• approx. 410 sq. ft.
• Marble bathroom approx. 97 sq. ft. with shower and bathtub
• dressing table and golden fittings
• California king bed, 71 x 79 in.
• walk-in closet
• marble fireplace (electric)

CAT. A Owners’ Suite 2

In addition to her exquisite taste, Marjorie’s attention to detail is also on display in the owners’ suites, richly reflected in the chambers of her first husband Edward Hutton, who gifted her the majestic SEA CLOUD sailing yacht. The maple wood paneling and furnishings create a feeling of warmth and solidity offset by a light, coffered ceiling. Hutton’s bureau-bookcase secretary with mirrored glass is a particularly stunning piece. In contrast to her white bath, his is done in red Carrara marble and includes a chest of drawers and golden fixtures.

• approx. 366 sq. ft.
• marble bathroom approx. 97 sq. ft. with shower and bathtub

CAT. B Deluxe Suite 3

The hospitality Marjorie cultivated still characterizes a stay on board the SEA CLOUD today. The original colonial style of this deluxe suite continues to welcome guests with the posh comforts and ambiance of a private yacht. Renowned nobility, celebrities and industry titans have all called these deluxe suites home on legendary sailings.

• approx. 258 sq. ft.
• marble bathroom approx. 43 sq. ft. with shower, bathtub, and golden fixtures
• two twin beds, 36 in. x 79 in.

CAT. B Deluxe Suite 4

Throughout the commissioned construction of the SEA CLOUD in Kiel, Germany, and later when Marjorie was already living on board, she collected precious antiques from all over the world. This deluxe suite is one of the many examples of how skillfully she integrated the valuable pieces into the interior, and thus, into the overall appearance and ambiance of her private luxury yacht.

• approx. 237 sq. ft.
• marble bathroom approx. 54 sq. ft. with shower, bathtub, and golden fixtures
• queen bed, 63 in. x 79 in.

CAT. B Deluxe Suite 5

Marjorie frequently mentioned her goal of making family, friends and notable guests feel at home every minute on board the SEA CLOUD. Accordingly, she designed spaces like this deluxe suite to feel like the ultimate in comfort, five-star accommodations. Antique mahogany chests of drawers, marble in the bathroom and by the fireplace and unique pieces create cozy elegance.

• approx. 215 sq. ft.
• marble bathroom approx. 58 sq. ft. with shower, bathtub, and golden fixtures
• two twin beds arranged as a double, 36 in. x 79 in. each

CAT. B Deluxe Suite 6

Exclusive getaways on the SEA CLOUD are also journeys through time. The original design and decor of the deluxe suites feel like a portal to a bygone era of glamor. In the spirit of private yachting, this antique mahogany furniture was selected so as not to overwhelm the space, and the fabric palettes complement the light ambiance of elevated comfort.

• approx. 194 sq. ft.

CAT. B Deluxe Suite 7

As the SEA CLOUD’s original owner, Marjorie designed the interiors of her luxury sailing yacht with such attention to detail because she wanted to offer her daughter, Dina Merrill, a wonderful and safe home on board. This is especially noticeable in this deluxe suite where Dina spent a large part of her childhood. The warm maple finishings stand out with dramatic mahogany inlays. The unusual floor plan, including an angled fireplace makes the space feel even larger.

• marble bathroom approx. 75 sq. ft. with shower, bathtub and golden fixtures

CAT. B Deluxe Suite 8

The main deck, where the original suites are located, is the heart and soul of the SEA CLOUD. This deluxe suite envelopes guests in its spirit of an exclusive private yacht. It is on display in the all the details, from fixtures to furnishings to finishings, complemented with a regal red and coral palette. Built-in cabinetry creates extra space.

• approx. 268 sq. ft.
• marble bathroom approx. 65 sq. ft. with shower, bathtub, and golden fixtures
• California king bed (2 mattresses), 71 x 79 in.
• additional fold-out bed

CAT. C Deluxe Suite 9

Deluxe Suites 9 and 10 are also part of the original accommodations on the main deck. Once used as single cabins for the former shipowners’ staff and their guests, they were redesigned into large luxury lodgings during renovation of the SEA CLOUD.

• marble bathroom approx. 35 sq. ft. with shower, bathtub, and golden fixtures
• generous storage space

CAT. C Deluxe Suite 10

The design of Deluxe Suites 9 and 10 is based on historical models with a modern aesthetic in warm fabrics and light wood tones. Both suites are located at the end of the original hallway and connect to the promenade deck by a separate staircase.

• approx. 198 sq. ft.
• marble bathroom approx. 39 sq. ft. with shower and golden fixtures

CAT. 1 Staterooms

Like all staterooms on the captain’s and lido deck, these two were built as recently as the late 1970s and offer all the comforts of private yacht accommodations. Panoramic windows cornering the head of the bed create a bright, airy vibe with views to match.

• approx. 140 sq. ft.
• marble bathroom with shower and golden fixtures
• queen bed (2 separate mattresses), 63 in. x 79 in.
• spacious closet

CAT. 2 Staterooms

Even though the staterooms on the captain’s and lido deck were harmoniously integrated into the SEA CLOUD after her initial construction, they still follow the design standards set on the original. Their tasteful interiors are a contemporary interpretation of Marjorie’s aesthetic from the 1930s. The elevated comfort of the spaces is complemented by spectacular sea views from double windows.

• approx. 145 sq. ft.
• two twin beds, 36 in. x 79 in. (convert to queen upon request)

CAT. 3 Staterooms

These plush staterooms have a special maritime charm due to their location between the stations for hoisting and lowering the sails. The deckhouse, which was added during the renovation of the SEA CLOUD, is an oasis of peace, and due to its location on the promenade deck, the staterooms are also only steps away from the restaurant and lounge.

• approx. 135 sq. ft.
• two windows with sea views

CAT. 4 Staterooms

In addition to the luxurious comfort that defines the SEA CLOUD, both staterooms offer a special feature: direct access to the most charming place on the tall ship, the Blue Lagoon. The semi-circular, blue-cushioned space is the traditional onboard area for relaxing under the daytime sun or dreamy night views of starry skies twinkling off the ocean.

• approx. 113 sq. ft.
• window with sea view

CAT. 5 Staterooms

These special staterooms were made for sailing enthusiasts. In Marjorie’s time, these were accommodations for SEA CLOUD officers, thus, the vibe is authentically nautical. The best part, which is exclusive to these staterooms, is direct access to the promenade deck, directly below the bridge. Open the door to breathe in the salty sea air and experience the charming maritime ambience.

• approx. 102 sq. ft.
• upper and lower beds, 32 in. x 79 in.
• porthole and door to promenade deck

Guaranteed double cabins (limited allotment; upon request)

Our guaranteed cabins allow you to book our voyages at a lower rate. A specific cabin number or category cannot be selected. You will receive your exact cabin number when arriving on board. On the SEA CLOUD, the range of accommodation starts from Cat. 5. The allotment for this category is very limited.

Stateroom (twin beds), category 3, No. 20

These comfortable cabins have a special maritime charm due to their location between the manoeuvring stations for hoisting and lowering the sails. The deckhouse, which was added during the renovation of the SEA CLOUD, is an oasis of peace, but due to its location on the promenade deck, the cabins are also only one step away from the restaurant and lounge in the superstructure amidships.

Cabin at a glance:

• approx. 12,5 m² (135 sq. ft.) large
• Marble bathroom with shower
• two single beds 80 cm x 200 cm (32 in. x 79 in.)
• Panorama window

Guaranteed De luxe outside cabins (limited allotment; upon request)

Our guaranteed cabins allow you to book our voyages at a lower rate. A specific cabin number or category cannot be selected. You will receive your exact cabin number when arriving on board. On the SEA CLOUD, the accommodation for the guaranteed De luxe outside cabins is provided in Cat. B or C. The allotment for this category is very limited.

Guaranteed stateroom: Space is limited. Allocations are at SEA CLOUD CRUISES’ discretion starting in Category 5. You will receive your exact stateroom number when arriving on board.

On a course that made history

Technical data and sail diagram

Length overall:

109.50 m / 360 ft

14.94 m / 50 ft

5.13 m / 17 ft

Height of main mast above waterline:

56 m / 184 ft

Total sail area:

3,000 m² / 32,000 sq ft

Number of sails:

Passengers:

Year of construction:

32 outside cabins (of those 10 cabins are located in the luxury area)

Cabin equipment:

Bathrobes, hair dryer, telephone, air conditioning, private safe, exclusive cosmetics

Public areas:

Lido deck with bar, restaurant with free seating in one session, lounge with library and desk area with laptop, hospital, WI-FI, water sports equipment, 2 zodiacs

Your expert on board: Hillwood Curator Thomas Wu

• CruiseMapper
• Windstar Cruises

Cruise line Windstar Cruises

• Piraeus-Athens (Greece)
• Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica)
• Colon (Panama)
• Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands)
• Bridgetown (Barbados)

Wind Star current position

Wind Star current location is at North East Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 32.12799 N / -25.07636 W) cruising at speed of 10.6 kn (20 km/h | 12 mph) en route to LISBON. The AIS position was reported 24 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Wind Star

Wind Star current cruise is 15 days, one-way from Bridgetown to Lisbon , themed as "Easter". Prices start from USD 1599 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 27 Mar, 2024 and ends on 11 Apr, 2024 .

Specifications of Wind Star

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Wind Star Itineraries

Wind star review, review of wind star.

The 1986-built cruise ship Wind Star is the first and oldest of the Windstar's sailing yachts, together with Wind Surf and Wind Spirit (sistership). These four-masted ships are uniquely designed for tall sailing cruises.

The vessel (IMO number 8420878) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 309163000) and registered in Nassau .

History - construction and ownership

Windstar Cruises is a luxury brand operating a fleet of smaller-sized ships (mega-yachts) with capacity up to 310 passengers. The company call at 150 ports throughout the Caribbean, Central America, South Pacific, Asia, Europe. Currently, Windstar is a subsidiary of Xanterra Parks and Resorts (USA's largest national and state park concession management company).

Windstar's namesake vessel, the 180-passenger ship Wind Star, is a 4-masted, motorized sailing yacht and the first of three in the Windstar's fleet. Yet, continuous maintenance and recent repair have kept it fresh and youthful. In the staterooms, scratchy old bathrooms have been spruced up with granite countertops, high-piled towels and nice shower sprayers; and new combination DVD/CD/iPod Nano players have upped the ante in the department of tech toys. Public places and dining venues have been updated, too.

Decks and Cabins

Wind Star yacht staterooms (74 total, in 5 grades) include 1x Suite and 73 Oceanview cabins. All accommodations are with Queen-size double beds, LCD TV, DVD player, Bose speakers, SoundDock for Apple iPods. The Owner's Suite is sized 220 ft2 / 20 m2 but like the rest of the cabins lacks a step-out balcony.

The boat has 5 decks , of which 2 are with cabins.

Windstar Wind Star ship 2012 renovations included a full update of the public rooms' decor. The staterooms are newly enhanced with leather headboards, linen wall coverings, armchairs, new lighting features, carpeting, window coverings, new artworks, stylish bed cushions and throws. With large windows and skylight, the ship's lounge is full of natural light the whole day.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Wind Star ship has two primary dining venues, both open seating: the AmphorA Restaurant in the evenings which offers course-by-course gourmet cuisine and Veranda restaurant with casual full-service and buffet dining (breakfast and lunch). A reservation is needed for Candles if you choose to dine under the stars. In 2012 The Restaurant was redesigned, renamed Amphora, and a new menu was launched. The Pool Bar also was redesigned to make additional alfresco seating for sunset dining at Candles Grill with a new awning and deck furniture.

Follows the complete list of Wind Star restaurants and food bars.

• AmphorA Restaurant (boat's dining room, open-seating; offers 5-course gourmet dinner menu which is changed daily; along with onboard-made bread, in all ports of call the executive chef goes to the local markets to shop for fresh ingredients)
• Candles Cafe & Veranda (a smaller "dining room" which offers buffet-style breakfast and lunch, as well as a la carte menu through the wait staff; its indoor area is called "Candles Cafe" and features floor-ceiling panoramic windows; the outdoor seating area is called "Veranda" - in the evenings, it transforms into "Candles Grill" (alfresco steakhouse).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

With teak wide-open decks of over 10,000 sq.feet of space, generous for this size ship, and 21,500 ft2 (2,000 m2) new sail overhead, Wind Star guests may find hidden nooks for their private moments with the feeling of their own veranda. Be sure you'll benefit from small Star ship's access to unreachable otherwise ports of call. Onboard amenities are the WindSpa, Casino, Library, Lounge, Pool, Watersports Platform, and Hot Tub. During 2012 renovation The Reception Zone received a make-over, as did The Lounge with new hardwood flooring and a new AV system.

Follows the complete list of Wind Star lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• The Marina (retractable water sports platform for water skiing, windsurfing, snorkeling, kayaking; the ship provides a banana boat, waterski boat, sea kayaks, Sunfish sailboats, wakeboards, boards for windsurfing, paddleboards, scuba diving and snorkeling equipment, plus four Zodiacs; the steel cage forms a swimming pool in the sea)
• Lounge (boat's theatre/main show lounge for live evening entertainment); Library
• The Signature Shop/Boutique Shop (sells duty-free luxury fashion clothing and accessories)
• The Casino (with blackjack/roulette gambling tables, slot machines)
• WindSpa (operated by Steiner; has a treatment room, Sauna and Beauty Salon. Windstar's "Spa Under the Stars" program offers outdoor spa treatments (on the open deck).
• The Fitness Center (with free weights, exercycles and treadmills; offers complimentary exercise classes)
• Pool Area (with one swimming pool, a waterfall cascading from the whirlpool, sunbathing area served by the Pool Bar)
• The Flying Bridge deck is designed to resemble the traditional navigation point.

Itineraries

Wind Star itinerary program is based on Caribbean cruises from Barbados and Mediterranean Sea voyages with departures from homeports in Turkey and Greece. The ship offers Transatlantic repositioning crossings between Europe and the Caribbean.

In 2021, Tauck Travel (USA-based travel company) chartered Wind Star for a seasonal Eastern Mediterranean program based on the new "Treasures of the Aegean" cruise itinerary.

• The 10-day voyage had scheduled visits to Mykonos Island , Delos Island , Santorini Island , Patmos Island , Monemvasia , Piraeus (with included 2-night Athens City premium hotel stay), Ephesus (from Port Kusadasi, Turkey) .
• Tauck's 2021 schedule included as departure dates June 17 and 24, July 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, August 12, 19 and 26, September 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, and October 7.

Following the Coronavirus crisis 2020-21, Windstar restarted operations with Wind Star on June 19, 2021. The 7-night "Greek Islands" itinerary (roundtrip from Piraeus-Athens ) visited Mykonos, Kusadasi-Ephesus (Turkey), Patmos, Syros, Santorini, Monemvasia, Nafplio. The crew was vaccinated and all passengers were required to provide COVID vaccination proof. Also on June 19th restarted operations Star Breeze (7-night Caribbean itinerary roundtrip from Philipsburg, St Maarten ).

Wind Star - user reviews and comments

Photos of wind star.

Wind Star ship related cruise news

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•   show more news

Other Windstar Cruises cruise ships

• Star Breeze
• Star Legend
• Wind Spirit

Wind Star Wiki

Wind Star cruise ship was built as the first tall sailing ship in the fleet of Windstar Cruises. She is a member of a very specific class of three sister vessels - Wind Star, Wind Spirit and Wind Song. Wind Song had fire in the engine room in 2002, and the ship was scuttled. Windstar sailing yachts have a modern design, but still feature 6 sails on 4 masts, that are handled via a sophisticated computer program.

The yacht's design is based on smaller 5,350-ton motor sailing yachts constructed by the French shipbuilding company "Societe Nouvelle des Ateliers et Chantiers du Havre". Among those are the Windstar sail ships Wind Surf and Wind Spirit, and also Club Med 2 .

During Wind Star's last drydock refurbishment (2023, at Navantia Cadiz) a new mast was installed.

In 2012, Windstar completed an extensive (18-month long) drydock refurbishment project for renovations of the company's all three sail yachts - Wind Star, Wind Spirit and Wind Surf. Works included overhauls of all passenger staterooms, dining venues, public spaces, as well as new sails.

The ship Wind Star has fleet's first female Captain - Belinda Bennett (born on St Helena Island - a British Overseas Territory in South Atlantic Ocean). Her maritime career started at age 17, as a deck cadet on the cargo-passenger ship RMS St Helena . In September 2005, she joined Windstar as Second Officer and became Captain (Master) of Wind Star in January 2016.

Opening for the Season: May 17th, 2024! Click to book your next sail on board Tall Ship Windy!

About the Windy

The Tall Ship Windy, sailing from Navy Pier in Chicago, is a 148-foot, traditional four-masted gaff topsail schooner. She offers fireworks cruises, pirate cruises, and a variety of other public and private cruises in Chicago. She is built of modern materials, however, like old trading schooners and sail training ships, the WINDY has all the character and charm of the great Age of Sail.

Windy was built by Detyens Shipyard, Inc. of Charleston, SC. A custom design, she was conceived by Captain Robert Marthai “Captain Bob,” longtime sailor and traveler, who also became a maritime adventurer, maritime historian, designer, and shipbuilder. Windy was welcomed as the biggest and newest schooner to the Lake Michigan Fleet in July 1996. Windy reveals her designer’s love of the traditional sailing ship, yet integrates modern amenities and safety items such as pressurized plumbing, bow thrusters for docking, and a 300 hp Cummins diesel engine.

From the beginning, her mission was intended to bring Tall Ship sailing to the public, for enjoyment, personal and spiritual growth, and self-discovery. In the years since coming to Navy Pier, Windy saw many thousands of students, Girl Scout, Boy Scouts, youth groups, families, and other guests across her decks for educational cruises, daysailing, festivals, and religious, corporate, and private celebrations. Her skyline cruises became legendary and Windy was awarded the status of official flagship of the City of Chicago, by Mayor Richard M. Daley in 2006.

Since 2008, Tall Ship Windy is now the pride and joy of husband-and-wife owner/management team Captain Bruce Randall and Karen Randall . She continues the mission envisioned by her previous owners, gracing Chicago’s skyline with her majestic sails and noble and unmistakable profile. Windy provides an opportunity for people from all walks of life to experience an authentic tall ship and crew while sailing in a safe and protected waterway.

Windy’s Mission: Our goal is to inspire those who may have never been sailing, as well as to intrigue those who are experienced sailors. An adventure on Tall Ship Windy is ideal for families and groups wanting a fun/educational time, romantics of all ages, history buffs, those seeking creative and spiritual inspiration, or just friends out to have a wonderful sailing experience AND a truly unique view of our fair city of Chicago.

Windy Specifications

Windy is the first certified four-masted traditional sailing vessel built in the U.S.A. since 1921. Constructed of steel, combined with wooden booms, gaffs, and deck ornamentation, she has three spacious decks with seating, a grand salon and galley (kitchen), 4 pressurized “heads” (marine toilets), and two showers. On day cruises, Windy is certified for 150 persons on their three decks: the fore deck, midship deck and aft deck. On overnight cruises, Windy can accommodate up to 36 persons in 12 cabins including a 12 bunk “dorm” style accommodation. A favorite spot for guests is the aft great cabin (salon) with its large stern windows and varnished planked interiors, deep traditional gold, burgundy and blue colors, all adding a bright warmth to the practical décor.

Windy in the News For the most recent Tall Ship Windy news, check out our updates below!

Amphitrite digital reports first half revenue growth of 40%.

This growth was driven by the company’s integration into Amphitrite Digital’s digitally enabled advertising, marketing and operating platforms. Windy of Chicago’s Tall Ship Windy came off Navy Pier at a record pace, achieving 42% growth for the first half of the year. New this year, guests can enjoy a concert sail, the Monday Night Blues, every Monday night. The Educational Sail, sailing three days a week, was moved from Fridays to Mondays and continued Saturdays and Sundays.

Five-Year Contract to Operate Tall Ship Windy on Chicago’s Navy Pier

Amphitrite Digital’s Windy of Chicago has been awarded a five-year contract to berth and operate Tall Ship Windy from Navy Pier. Tall Ship Windy is the official flagship of the City of Chicago which Amphitrite Digital, one of the nation’s leading tour activity operators, has operated since 2022 when Windy of Chicago was acquired by the company.

Amphitrite Digital Announces Employee Stock Grant Program

The innovative Amphitrite Digital, which is bringing digital technology to the tour activity operator industry, is now offering a stock incentive program to its employees.

To kick off the program, the company awarded 1.52 million stock shares in Amphitrite Digital to 16 employees and contractors.

Tall Ship Windy Launches Discovery Sails for Youth Groups Hands-on Learning Experiences

Amphitrite Digital, in partnership with Navy Pier, has launched the new fun and educational Discovery Sails program to provide hands-on, onboard experiences on the famous Tall Ship Windy. The free program will be open to local youth-oriented (7-17 years old) nonprofit organizations. “Hands-on training through Discovery Sails gives young people a rare chance to apply real-world physics, ecology, history and storytelling while taking an active part in sailing the ship,” said Amphitrite Digital President Hope Stawski. “History comes alive on the ship with an exciting educational adventure for curious minds of all ages. Best of all it’s fun.”

Tall Ship Windy Makes Way Down Chicago River to Summer Berth at Navy Pier

CHICAGO (WLS) — There was a majestic sight on the Chicago River Wednesday as the “Tall Ship Windy” made her way from winter storage to her summer mooring spot at Navy Pier.

Amphitrite Digital Acquires Seas the Day Charters and Tall Ship Windy

Leading tour activity company Amphitrite Digital is poised for continued expansion after its recent acquisitions of Seas the Day Charters in the United States Virgin Islands and Tall Ship Windy, the official ambassador for the City of Chicago. As the owner of predecessor operations of Seas the Day Charters USVI and Tall Ship Windy in Chicago, Amphitrite Digital is poised to leverage its digital operating foundation to expand its tour activity operator business in both the United States and the Caribbean,” said Scott Stawski, Amphitrite Digital’s chairman and chief revenue officer.

These 3 lesser-known cruise lines offer amazing voyages on sail-powered ships

There is nothing quite as magical — or romantic — as a cruise on a sailing ship.

To stand on the deck of a vessel topped with dozens of billowing sails, propelled through the waves by the power of the wind alone, is to go back in time to an earlier age of travel, when crossing the world's oceans was as adventurous as it was challenging.

It's an experience that's all about the feeling of the wind in your hair, the lean of the vessel (known as the heel) as it's pushed by the wind and the sway from the waves (which is actually smoother than what you get on a motor ship).

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

In contrast to what you'll find on so many motor-powered ships, cruising on a masted ship is about the simple thrill of traveling across the sea and not about all the many attractions you'll find on board.

Only a handful of small cruise brands — so small that you might never have heard of them — offer trips on sailing ships. Here, we look at the three biggest players in this niche subset of the cruise industry.

Sea Cloud Cruises

If it's an authentic, old-style sailing experience you want, then Sea Cloud Cruises is the line for you. The Germany-based company operates three large sailing ships where the sails are unfurled by hand, just as they were on sailing ships centuries ago.

On the biggest of these three vessels, the 136-passenger Sea Cloud Spirit , 18 deckhands scurry high into the rigging on sea days to manually untie and prepare the sails, an amazing sight. Unveiled in 2021 , it's a full-rigged, three-masted sailing ship of the sort that hasn't been common on the world's oceans for more than a century.

Related: Why Sea Cloud Spirit is a sailing vessel you'll want to try

Sea Cloud Cruises' two other vessels — Sea Cloud 2 and Sea Cloud — are smaller but offer a similar show as the sails are set by hand the old-fashioned way. The former is a 23-year-old, three-masted barque propelled by 23 sails (five fewer than Sea Cloud Spirit); the latter is a 93-year-old, four-masted barque with 30 sails and a storied past.

Now configured to carry 64 paying passengers, Sea Cloud was originally the private yacht of Postum Cereals heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and her husband, the famed financier E. F. Hutton. At the time, the vessel was the largest private yacht in the world. It later served the U.S. Navy as a weather ship during World War II, after which it became the presidential yacht for the Dominican Republic. It only began sailing as a cruise vessel in the 1980s.

If you have money to spare, you can still book Post's opulent private quarters on Sea Cloud, now its owner's suite. It'll set you back around $5,000 per day per couple. Her husband's slightly smaller quarters are also available to book at a similar rate.

Post, the wealthiest woman in the U.S. during her lifetime, notably also built Mar-a-Lago, the massive estate in Florida that is now the official residence of Donald Trump.

Sea Cloud Cruises is the most all-inclusive and upscale of the three brands listed in this story, with pricing to match. Expect to pay nearly $1,000 per person per day or more for many sailings.

Sea Cloud Cruises' three vessels offer a diverse array of sailings in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Canary Islands and Morocco, the Caribbean or along the west coast of Central America.

Related: Cruising Costa Rica, Panama with Sea Cloud Cruises

Windstar Cruises

Founded in the 1980s, Windstar Cruises got its start as a sailing ship line. While it now operates traditional motor-powered ships, too, voyages on sailing ships are still a big part of its business.

Three of the Seattle-based brand's six vessels — Wind Spirit, Wind Star and Wind Surf — are sailing vessels, and they all offer a similar yacht-like, small-ship experience.

Two of the three vessels (Wind Spirit and Wind Star) are particularly intimate, measuring 5,407 tons and carrying just 148 passengers with every berth full.

Related: The 2 types of Windstar ships, explained

The line's third sailing vessel, Wind Surf, is nearly three times the size at 14,745 tons. It's one of the biggest sailing ships in the world (only a sister vessel that sails for Club Med is bigger). Wind Surf carries 342 people, an enormous number for a sailing ship.

Unlike on the vessels operated by Sea Cloud, the sails on Windstar's sailing ships aren't unfurled by hand in the old-fashioned way but by the push of a button from the bridge. It's a fully automated system that is much more modern, if less dramatic.

Still, the experience of slicing through the waves by the power of the wind alone on Windstar ships is as glorious and romantic as it is on the Sea Cloud ships.

Windstar Cruises is less all-inclusive and pricey than Sea Cloud but still offers a relatively upscale experience. Its dining program is done in partnership with the food-focused James Beard Foundation, which also brings James Beard Award-winning chefs to the ships regularly for food-themed itineraries.

For an extra $89 per person per day, passengers can also make the experience more all-inclusive with included Wi-Fi, unlimited beer, wine and cocktails, and gratuities (three things that aren't included in regular fares).

The line's three vessels typically spend nearly all of their time sailing in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean or along the west coast of Central America.

Related: Read more about Windstar's itineraries

Star Clippers

Like Sea Cloud and Windstar, Star Clippers operates three sailing vessels that are among the biggest and most elegant sailing vessels in the world.

The belle of the ball at the line is Royal Clipper, a stunning five-masted ship that is billed as the largest square-rigged ship in the world. Its enormous array of 42 sails has a sail area of 56,000 square feet — significantly more than the sails atop any of the Sea Cloud or Windstar vessels. (Only Sea Cloud Spirit comes relatively close with a sail area of 44,100 square feet spread across 28 sails.)

Built to resemble Preussen, a legendary tall ship of the 19th century, the 24-year-old Royal Clipper shares the spotlight at Star Clippers with two smaller sister vessels, Star Flyer and Star Clipper.

Carrying 166 passengers apiece, the smaller vessels were designed to resemble the speedy clipper ships of the 19th century, which were known for their narrow profile and large sail area. Each vessel has a sail area of 36,000 square feet spread across 16 sails, a large amount for the size.

When it comes to the setting of sails, Star Clippers vessels offer a level of old-style authenticity that is in between the ships of Sea Cloud and Windstar. Like on Sea Cloud vessels, the sails are pulled into position by a team of deckhands using hand power and winches to tighten the "sheets," or ropes.

Unlike on Sea Cloud vessels, the deck hands don't climb high into the rigging to untie and prepare the sails for winching. That part is done automatically at the push of a button from the bridge, as it is on Windstar vessels.

In one key difference, though, Star Clippers lets passengers harness up and climb into the crow's nest of its vessels — a thrilling experience. Just be prepared for your knees to go a bit wobbly as you get to the top; it's way up there.

Star Clippers sailings are the most affordable option among the three sailing brands, in part because the onboard experience is less all-inclusive and upscale.

The three Star Clippers vessels mostly operate sailings in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, the Caribbean and along the west coast of Central America.

Bottom line

It's still possible to get a taste of what traveling the world's oceans was like in the days before motor power. Three small cruise companies — Sea Cloud Cruises, Windstar Cruises and Star Clippers — offer voyages on large sailing ships that are as majestic as anything that has sailed the seas in centuries past.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

The 2 classes of Windstar ships, explained

Windstar Cruises has a surprisingly varied fleet for a cruise line with only six small ships.

The cruise line was known for years for its fleet of three-masted sailing yachts (imagine a hybrid of a small cruise ship and a large four- or five-masted sailing vessel). But in the mid-2010s, in a bid to expand without building new ships, the line acquired three small, aging cruise ships from luxury line Seabourn and completely refurbished them.

Windstar's fleet is now equal parts sailing ships (known as the Wind class) and yachts (the Star Plus class), tied together by a casual-yet-upscale vibe, friendly crews and port-intensive itineraries.

While Windstar loyalists happily cross from masted yacht to regular ship, depending on the itinerary, newcomers will want to understand the differences between the line's two classes of ships because the onboard amenities are different enough to affect your vacation experience.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

An introduction to Windstar ships

Windstar Cruises specializes in small ships carrying between 148 and 342 passengers each. Though the line calls them yachts, the ships are structured more like tiny cruise ships with indoor lounges and communal dining rooms.

The Wind-class sailing ships come in two sizes: the 5,307-ton Wind Spirit and Wind Star and the 14,745-ton Wind Surf. The non-sail motor yachts are all identical at 12,995 tons.

Most of Windstar's fleet was not originally built for Windstar. Wind Surf originally sailed as a Club Med cruise ship. The motor yacht trio started their lives as Seabourn vessels.

That does not mean you should expect worn-out ships. Windstar recently spent $250 million to not just update but also lengthen the three motor yachts of its Star Plus class. The ships were cut open and a new midsection was added to create more space for additional cabins (Windstar calls them suites, even if they have only one room), new dining venues and expanded outdoor deck areas.

The ships function more as a comfortable home base than destinations by themselves. Onboard attractions are limited to a few restaurants, a small spa and fitness center, a pool and hot tub, and a tiny boutique. You'll find two or three bars, rather than a large assortment. There's no kids club because children younger than 8 aren't allowed onboard.

Related: 5 cruise lines to try if you just can't stand being around kids on vacation

The biggest difference between the classes, besides the sails, is that cabins on Star Plus-class ships are marketed as suites. While most aren't true, multiroom suites, the cabins are spacious with separate living and sleeping areas, French (step-out) balconies on most rooms and good-size bathrooms. The cabins on Wind-class ships are more compact and nautical in design, with porthole windows and small living spaces tricked out with hidden storage to maximize space.

What all the ships have in common is a water sports platform. On select days when the ship is anchored (not docked at a pier) and the weather and government regulations align, crew members can offer water sports, such as swimming and kayaking, right off the back of the ship.

Ships in class: Wind Surf (1989), Wind Spirit (1988) and Wind Star (1986).

Size: 5,307 tons (Spirit and Star) to 14,745 tons (Surf).

Technically, Windstar's Wind-class ships comprise two different types of ships, but the line categorizes all of its ships with sails together.

The 148-passenger Wind Spirit and Wind Star are the only ships in the current fleet custom-built for Windstar. Each has four decks and as many masts for sails. The ships each feature one 220-square-foot Owner's Suite, and the rest of the cabins are 188-square-feet rooms. Each cabin, including the suite, features a window; you will not find a private balcony on these ships.

Most of the public areas are found on the upper two decks with cabins on the lower two, with the exception of a small gym and the exit to the water sports platform on Deck 2. Deck 3 features the majority of the indoor spaces, including the Amphora main restaurant, boutique, reception desk, library, tiny spa, main lounge and a cafe serving coffee drinks and small snacks.

The topmost deck features the indoor-outdoor buffet restaurant Veranda, which transforms into the waiter-served Candles restaurant in the evening. A pool, hot tub and pool bar round out the alfresco offerings.

The 342-passenger Wind Surf joined the Windstar fleet in 1998 after sailing for Club Med. It follows the same basic idea as its two sailing sisters, but with more space and a few more attractions.

It's got six decks, five masts and four types of cabins (again all with windows only, no balconies). These include 188-square-foot regular cabins and 18 suites measuring 376 square feet, which are essentially double cabins with two bathrooms, two vanities and a sitting area where the second bed should be. These rooms are found throughout decks 1 through 3.

One 242-square-foot Officer's Suite and two 495-square-foot Bridge suites are located on Deck 5 (Bridge Deck).

Like its smaller sisters, Wind Surf contains the Amphora Restaurant and Veranda/Candles, main lounge, Yacht Club Cafe, pool and hot tubs, boutique, spa and fitness center. In addition, the ship adds a third dining venue – Stella Bistro – and the Terrace Bar, both on the ship's top deck.

Windstar deploys its sailing ships to destinations with more concentrated routes, where the romance factor is high (to complement the ships' beautiful sails). These include Tahiti and French Polynesia , Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, and Greece.

Related: 5 things to love about Windstar's stretched and refurbished Star Pride

Star Plus class

Ships in class: Star Legend (1990), Star Breeze (1988) and Star Pride (1988).

Size: 12,995 tons.

The Star Plus-class ships are all pre-owned cruise ships. They debuted in the late '80s and early '90s for luxury cruise line Seabourn and Windstar purchased them and brought them into the fleet 25 years later in 2014 and 2015.

The trio came to Windstar as 212-passenger, 9,975-ton cruise ships. Windstar refurbished the ships to clean them up and add the line's branding before they debuted but quickly realized more was needed to bring the ships in line with modern standards, both under the hood and in passenger-facing venues.

So the line announced a $250 million refurbishment project that included lengthening the ships by adding a new midsection. Extensive below-decks work was done to replace the existing engines with more efficient ones, as well as improve environmental standards. Above decks, each ship received 100 new cabins and suites, additional restaurants and expanded deck space to host a new infinity pool and more space for the line's famous deck barbecues.

Work on the project began in 2019, with the renovated ships debuting in 2021 and 2022.

Similar to Wind Surf, the Star Plus-class ships feature six passenger decks, a water sports platform, Amphora and Veranda/Candles restaurants and a boutique.

Each ship has a lounge that serves as an excursion assembly station and a theater for live entertainment and talks, as well as the large Compass Rose bar and lounge for dancing, drinking and whiling the evening away. Dining venues exclusive to this class include the alfresco Star Grill by Steven Raichlen and the Spanish Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso.

The spa and fitness center is much larger on these ships, featuring a complimentary thermal suite with heated lounges and saunas, as well as a separate workout room and fitness studio for group classes. A tiered infinity pool and hot tub are the focal point of Deck 7, but there's a somewhat-secret hot tub on Deck 5 forward, as well.

The Yacht Club is a gorgeous circular hangout and library space with board games and a little cafe area, and the Star Bar is surrounded by comfortable patio furniture one deck above the pool. There's also a screening room on Deck 5.

Related: Everything you need to know about Windstar Cruises' loyalty program

Cabins come in nine varieties. Five of them are the same size — 277 square feet — with two key differences. The first is whether the room offers a porthole, picture window or French balcony (which is big enough for one person to step out onto, but too small for a seating area); the second is whether the room has the original furnishings and the bed by the bathroom or is a newly built cabin with more modern furnishings and the bed by the window.

You can tell which style of cabin you're getting by the name. Star porthole, ocean-view and balcony suites are the new suites; plain ocean-view and balcony suites are the originals.

All cabins have updated bathrooms, some with tub-shower combos and others with shower only.

True suites range from 400 to 820 square feet, and include the Classic, Deluxe, Owner's Suite Forward and Owner's Suite Midship. The latter can be combined with surrounding standard suites to transform into a three-bedroom, 1,374-square-foot Grand Owner's Suite.

Related: The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship

The Star Plus-class ships are the line's traveling class, taking the longer, more sightseeing-focused routes in places like Alaska , Asia, Australia and northern Europe. With more indoor space, these ships can better handle destinations like Iceland and Alaska where the weather may prevent passengers from spending large amounts of time outdoors when sailing.

Bottom line

Windstar's two classes of ships can be quickly summarized as either sailing ships with smaller cabins and limited public spaces or upscale small ships with spacious cabins and more choices of restaurants and hangouts.

No matter which you choose, you'll get a similar experience. That's because each of the six ships honors the brand's themes of a casual onboard vibe with adult-focused upscale touches, fine dining in partnership with the James Beard Foundation, low-key outdoor fun, destination exploration and a friendly, helpful crew.

Windstar's fleet is so small that many cruisers find that the destination guides their vacation choice more than the ship. As the line carefully matches ship style to the itinerary, you'll likely find yourself content with whichever class of ship you find yourself sailing.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
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• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

Four Seasons Unveils First Yacht Itineraries and Suite Interiors

By Jessica Puckett

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Four Seasons loyalists have a lot to be excited about, with the launch of the brand’s first yacht nearing in 2026.

The 14-deck luxury vessel, which is partly being modeled off of Aristotle Onassis’ iconic yacht Christina O , will offer some of the most opulent amenities at sea. Initial renderings released in October 2023 show a 66-foot saltwater pool, a marina deck built for swimming and watersports, sophisticated dining concepts, and 95 guest suites. Now, the Four Seasons has released the first renderings showcasing the spacious suites on board—and we got a first look.

The ship's sleek design seeks to translate “the Four Seasons guest experience in terms of comfort level and the luxury standards" to life at sea, Fredrik Johannson, partner and executive director of Tillberg Design of Sweden and the lead designer on the Four Seasons Yacht, tells Condé Nast Traveler. Even the hotel group’s beloved mattresses will be offered in every room.

The first renderings of the Four Season Yacht's suites were released Tuesday, showcasing spacious guest rooms with ocean views.

Also just revealed: the first destinations the yacht will call upon throughout its inaugural year. Passengers can expect to visit a wide variety of exclusive and jet-setting locales, as the yacht is slated to visit more than 130 destinations across 30 countries in its first year alone. And of course, guests will have the option to book pre-and-post cruise extensions at iconic Four Seasons resorts along the way.

“We’re incredibly proud to announce the first itineraries aboard Four Seasons Yachts, and know that these experiences will exceed our guest expectations when we set sail in 2026,” says Alejandro Reynal, Four Seasons President and CEO.

Each voyage calls upon small ports that are typically considered “yacht playgrounds," Thatcher Brown, the Chief Commercial Officer at Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings LTD and co-owner of Four Seasons Yachts, tells Traveler. Passengers can expect to sail between Caribbean and Mediterranean coastal havens almost exclusively visited by private vessels .

When the yacht launches in January 2026, it will first head to the Caribbean, where it will complete seven-night, island-hopping itineraries between St. Barths, Nevis, the Grenadines, St Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Curaçao, and Aruba.

Then in March 2026, the ship will cross the Atlantic and begin sailing its Grand Mediterranean voyages , which include visits to alluring towns in Croatia, Gibraltar, Montenegro, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey. Travelers can also expect to access “under-the-radar” Greek islands , like Ios and Milos, as well as more popular Grecian destinations like Athens and Santorini, according to a Four Seasons release.

Guests will have the option to adjoin suites to accommodate families or other groups traveling together.

Sure the destinations sound glamorous—but it might be difficult for passengers to depart the ship and leave behind the luxe accommodations on board. Specifically the guest suites—which will offer 50% more living space per guest than any other competitor currently at sea, according to the company’s release.

Each space will offer floor-to-ceiling windows framing views of the sea, bathrooms with double vanities, and large closets. “Almost every single bed on this whole yacht is facing the sea,” Johannson says. “All the rooms there have this clarity to them. They are very exclusive, but they have a beautiful simplicity.”

Every suite will also offer private outdoor terraces. What’s more: guests will have the option to adjoin suites to accommodate families or other groups traveling together. There are more than 100 different adjoining configurations, including the option to reserve the entire side of a deck—an opportunity that would afford a group of travel companions more than 13,000 square feet of living space.

The Four Seasons Yacht will be divided between Funnel and Loft Suites, each with private outdoor terraces.

But the true showstopper on board is sure to be the Funnel Suite. Located on the very top deck where the funnel or smokestack would traditionally be, the Funnel Suite is essentially the ship’s penthouse, spanning four floors and 9,975 square feet. The massive space will feature three bedrooms and a terrace with outdoor dining space, splash pool, and outdoor showers. But the suite’s best amenity will be its views. The four-story, floor-to-ceiling windows have been fitted with the largest piece of contiguous curved glass at sea, offering sweeping 280-degree views of the ocean as the yacht sails from port to port.

Voyages on board the Four Seasons yacht haven’t yet opened for general booking, but interested travelers can join the yacht’s waitlist in hopes of securing one of the elegant suites on the 2026 itineraries.

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Vintage St. Pete: MGM’s Bounty

Her father was ship’s carpenter – he repaired, repainted and replaced every wooden inch of the 180-foot, three-masted sailing vessel, which in those days rarely sailed anywhere more exotic than Tampa, for the Gasparilla Festival “pirate invasion.”

Regan Garnett was 12 years old when she and brother spent that final summer at the Bounty exhibit. “It’s funny,” she says, “even going into Home Depot now, I smell the Bounty. That wood smell. And it was so hot! They had these big fans in there. All I wanted to do was walk down to the beach and get in the water.”

Captain/general manager Hugh Boyd and his son Tom. Boyd family photo.

The memories are even more visceral for Tom Boyd, whose own father was captain of the ship and general manager of the exhibit. The Bounty was Tom’s second home.

From memory, he can recite the narration that greeted visitors once they’d purchased their tickets, a recording of his dad’s voice giving a simple, easy-to-understand history lesson:

Well, ha-ha, hello there mates. Welcome to the Bounty. Say, have you noticed a special kind of flavor in the air since you came? Why it’s oakum, tar, black spruce, oak, pine and manila … yes, and even old sweat. That’s one way of knowin’ that you’ve not come aboard a phony, but a real wind-battlin’ timber-shakin’ swell-bustin’ windjammer. Ah, you could drop a sea-bag in any port in the world, and not see the likes of the ship you’re aboard right now. Say, if you’ve got a minute to spare and are partial to a little yarnin,’ I’ll tell you why that is. My name’s Hugh Boyd, I’m bosun on the Bounty and I’ve been with this barnacle-bottomed old wind harpy ever since she came down the ways in Lunenberg, Nova Scotia in 1960 and kissed into the Atlantic.

When Tom Boyd was 10, in 1979, his father put him to work. “They had me cleaning the toilets so that nobody thought I was a captain’s son,” Boyd laughs. “He said ‘Well, you can always say you worked your way up from the bottom.’”

The ending first

In 2012, the ship known as Bounty sank off the Coast of North Carolina during Hurricane Sandy. The then 62-year-old vessel was in the possession of the HMS Bounty Organization LLC, out of Fall River, Massachusetts, which sent her around the world on educational missions, film shoots and promotional tours.

The tragedy, in which Captain Robin Walbridge and crew member Claudene Christian died, marked the final leg of a remarkable journey.

Bounty was conceived in England, midwifed in Hollywood and birthed in Nova Scotia – but the square-rigger’s formative years were spent in St. Pete, where up to 250,000 visitors annually took above- and below-decks tours.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer commissioned the construction of Bounty in 1960, for use in the filming of Mutiny on the Bounty, the second American cinematic treatment of an actual 1789 rebellion aboard a British military vessel in the South Seas.

In MGM’s $19 million adventure, Marlon Brando played chief mutineer Fletcher Christian, driven to near-madness by the sadistic captain William Bligh (Trevor Howard).

In 1938, California’s Catalina Island stood in for Tahiti and Pitcairn, where the actual events took place. For its Ultra Panavision 70mm Technicolor spectacular, MGM sent actors and crew halfway around the world, to the original locations.

Using the original Bounty plans located in the British Admiralty Archives, a replica – slightly larger, to accommodate cameras, crew and equipment, and with twin diesel engines tucked away – was built in a shipyard in Lunenberg, Nova Scotia at a cost of $1 million. The faux Bounty set sail for the South Seas in August, 1960.

Aboard as an able-bodied seaman was Hugh Boyd, from nearby Dartmouth. Like most of the young crew, he’d signed on because the adventure – a voyage to Tahiti to make a movie with Marlon Brando? – sounded like heaven.

Upon arrival in Tahiti, as a rite of passage Boyd received his first earring. A fellow sailor punched a nail through his earlobe, and sterilized the wound with urine.

As Mutiny on the Bounty opened around the country in 1962, MGM sent its million dollar baby to coastal cities, as promotion. (The film, however, turned out to be a costly flop, and nearly bankrupted the studio).

While Bounty was berthed at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York, MGM’s marketing chief closed a deal with the St. Petersburg City Council to give the ship a permanent home in the Vinoy Basin, where it would remain tied up near the entrance to the pier as a tourist attraction.

Creating the bayfront

The attraction – officially called MGM’s Bounty Exhibit – opened on Friday, July 2. St. Petersburg mayor Herman Goldner gave a speech, and the ribbon was cut by former Miss America Mary Ann Mobley, flown in by the studio for the occasion.

Admission was 90 cents for adults, 50 cents for children.

Hugh Boyd was soon promoted to captain. His assistant exhibit manager, Jeff Frank, had also been on that voyage from New York to Florida, as an engineer.

Frank reported 85,000 visitors during Bounty’s first six months.

“We were never that sophisticated in our marketing to see how Disney drew our customers away from us.”

Anonymous visitors, date unknown.

Through she rarely left the dock, Bounty was maintained as a fully operational tall ship. “Gasparilla was a yearly trip, and everybody got so excited because we were actually moving her,” Tom Boyd reflects. “We didn’t put much sail up in those days, but we had good engines, and Dad was always an expert at picking out good engineers.”

Sometimes the crew would get hired out to raise the sails and visit Pensacola, or Fort Lauderdale, as a sort of mobile historical artifact.

Painter Don Fournier as the Bounty Santa. With Regan Garnett and her brother Paul. Garnett family photo

Hugh Boyd did a little bit of everything, although he wasn’t much for public speaking and conducting tours. He hired more gregarious people to talk to the customers.

“It was a surprising assemblage of skills,” his son says. “He’s immensely patient, and extraordinary generous, and really committed to the ship.

“I don’t know that he ever realized, but he took his role as steward of this ship in such high regard. And he was always one for restoring it, and bringing it back to its original grandeur.”

Recalls carpenter Paul Garnett: “Hughey knew everything about that ship inside out and backwards and forwards. I learned a lot about the way she was constructed in Canada. He was always our link to the past.”

Garnett was invited to join the team in 1979, after he’d hand-delivered a stunning 14-foot replica Bounty he’d created in his Boston workshop.

As planking, mast sections or trim cracked or rotted out, Garnett would replace them using – when it was available – the original lumber, and working from the original British blueprints.

Like Hugh Boyd, Jeff Frank, rigger Royd Wheedon and the others constituting the fulltime crew, Garnett took tremendous pride in his ship.

“After she went down in the hurricane,” Garnett says, “people were saying ‘Oh, well, it wasn’t a real ship – it was a movie prop.’ I saw red when I heard that. Because she was never, ever intended as a movie prop. The studio had built a ship made to go all the way to Tahiti under her own sail power. And then go around the world on a publicity tour.

“Now, you can’t do that on a ship that’s just a floating platform. How the hell do you send something like that across an ocean?”

She was, indeed, a  real wind-battlin’ timber-shakin’ swell-bustin’ windjammer.

Pirate ships

Garnett wasn’t able to go on Bounty’s biggest adventure, in 1982. Hired out to “play” a pirate vessel in the British/American comedy Yellowbeard, the ship motored across the Gulf of Mexico and through the Panama Canal to the shooting locations in Mexico.

His daughter, 9-year-old Regan, had been ill. She wrote him a letter – which he still has – imploring him not to take the trip, and, she admits today, guilt-tripping him.

Tom Boyd went along, however. At 13, he helped out in the kitchen and stood night watch.

Assistant manager Jeff Frank was on the voyage, too, but flew home to St. Petersburg before actual work on the movie began. Although the ship was gone, the Tahitian village and the gift shop remained open, and he had to get back to work.

Headed into Tampa for Gasparilla, from left: Jeff Frank Jr., unknown, Tom Boyd, Paul Garnett Jr. and Regan Garnett. Garnett family photo

Upon Bounty’s return, six months later, things quickly got back to normal.

The Bounty kids resumed their regular weekend routines of hanging around, getting sodas and chips from the vending machines and eating “lunch” with their feet up in the 18-foot longboat display.

An outdoor cage was added to the village, with a quartet of tiny squirrel monkeys inside. “And I had to clean up after the little buggers,” Tom Boyd says. “Occasionally, they would get loose – and they were just dying to get over to that ship. They hauled ass and would not be caught.”

Anonymous visitor, date unknown.

Regan Garnett: “My dad would be like, ‘You guys go sit and do something.’ He’d be in the back, carving and painting, and doing other stuff back there. And we’d terrorize the squirrel monkeys. I’d pitch rocks in the longboat. My shoe got stuck in one of the drain holes on the ship and went halfway down.”

“Kids would run around. The parents would try to get the real tour, with Mr. Boyd or whoever was giving the tour, so I’d take the kids and walk around. I’d try to do the same tour. It was like one of my first acting jobs.”

In 1985, cable TV magnate Ted Turner purchased MGM, including its legendary film library. He was surprised, the story goes, to find he was also the owner of a fully-operational sailing ship.

The exhibit at the St. Pete Pier was dismantled, and Bounty – still captained by Hugh Boyd – was completely refurbished, including a full set of sails, using Turner money. On Independence Day weekend 1986, it participated in the massive Parade of Tall Ships in New York harbor.

After a trip up and down the Eastern Seaboard, where Turner used the ship to entertain affiliates, he sent it south, where it was moored for three years at a Miami development called Bayside Marketplace.

Hugh Boyd stuck it out for a while, but resigned after the Bayside venture. Frank, Garnett and Wheedon had already bailed by that point.

Turner ultimately donated the vessel to the Fall River Chamber Foundation, which continued to bring Bounty to the Vinoy Basin for the winter months for much of the 1990s. There, without the Tahitian village, the squirrel monkeys or any mention of Marlon Brando, it would be available – a working historical artifact – for visitors to tour.

HMS Bounty Organization LLC bought the ship in 2001, and continued to lease her for film and TV work. Bounty appeared in the second Pirates of the Caribbean movie, and in the 2005 big-budget pornographic film Pirates (the filmmakers reportedly lied to the ship’s owners about the sort of movie they were making).

Then came Oct. 29, 2012. The last photos of Bounty show her foundering and sinking, 90 miles southeast of Hatteras, N.C.

For Paul Garnett, it was like losing a member of the family. “They had done so much to her,” he says. “To my way of thinking, she wasn’t even the Bounty any more. They had changed so much.

“All you have to do is look at pictures or her from the early years, and look at her later – right up to the time they took her out and lost her.”

Tom Boyd has a unique way of thinking about Bounty’s demise. “One of the more rebellious sailors on the ship decided to paint the bell orange with black polka dots,’ he remembers. “And I think about that bell resting on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, with a big ol’ octopus using it as a carapace.

“That’s where I’ve put her in my mind.”

This story appears in the book Vintage St. Pete: The Golden Age of Tourism – and More .

Rest in peace Hugh Boyd and Paul Garnet t.

William James

April 17, 2023at2:41 am

Watching the movie again, and decided to explore the ship’s history. Having been born in St. Pete (Mound Park), drove cab there, payroll clerk during building of Bayshore Towers, I’ve always regretted not touring the Bounty. So sorry to learn of her demise, and the loss of life.

Walter Circle

April 11, 2022at8:27 am

I was born & raised in St.Pete.,Fl(aka: DaBurg by locals). When The Bounty was docked at the end of the inverted Pier in the 1960’s my Mother used to take me to tour The Bounty very often. I just wanted to walk around The Bounty & the village as often as Mom was willing to take me there. We went so often that Mom decided it would be cheaper at one point to purchase a pass good for one year of tours & I still have that Bounty pass. I’ll never forget walking around on the Bounty & was so sad to hear that she had sunk during hurricane Sandy. When I was in my 30’s I drove the trolley at the St.Pete. Pier for a couple years. I’ve bought a home & lived in Hudson,Fl for the past 12 years. 😎

Linda Schneegold

January 27, 2022at8:49 pm

Back in the mid 70s I was a sunken Gardens model and a model for the city of Saint Petersburg and I did several shots on the bounty ship. and I’m still alive and well and kicking and wished I could’ve been there in your archives, for this boat brings back a lot of memories. I climbed the mast and sat on the plank and it was wonderful

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