Sea Cloud Spirit gracefully floated in the Pacific, its 32 majestic sails undisturbed by even the slightest breeze – an exquisite sight resembling a painting. Unlike the Ancient Mariner, however, we were not at the mercy of the wind. Equipped with silent diesel-electric engines and an abundance of refreshments on board, our focus was not the lack of wind. Spirit, constructed in 2021, is the latest addition to Sea Cloud’s fleet of sailing ships and is also the largest, standing tall at 138m (453ft). As a fully-rigged, manually operated three-masted vessel, Spirit captures the romance of 19th-century sailing without the discomforts associated with that era.
Captain Heiner Eilers explained to me that the essence of slow travel is embodied in the ship’s itinerary. It is a journey that prioritizes the experience of sailing rather than the race to reach each destination. Even with favorable winds, there was no sense of rush aboard Spirit. Our speed under sail ranged from a leisurely 5 to 11 knots. While I have been on numerous small-ship cruises, this was my first time aboard a sailing ship. I had previously participated in a wind propulsion course in the Mediterranean, taught by two extraordinary Olympic sailors. Regrettably, I retained but a few skills from that experience – namely, how to keep my champagne glass steady as we maneuvered at daring angles (it was a personalized course, to say the least). However, this was an entirely different adventure, and thankfully, there was no requirement for guest participation aboard Spirit.
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