Largest Sailing ship in the World - Windsurf

[kieranbennett]

On Thursday I happened to be aboard a boat entering Dartmouth harbor. From a distance I could see what appeared to be a ugly cruise ship, but I could see 5 masts which, at the time, I thought would be a large sailing vessel behind the cruise ship. Imagine my disappointment to find that, once we got closer the masts belonged to said cruise ship.

I don't think I've ever come across something so ugly on the water... Does anybody know if it was originally designed as a sailing vessel or has it been adapted to take sails? It certainly looks like it is the latter. A bit of research now I'm ashore reveals that it is part of a fleet from Windstar cruises, so there are more of these monstrosities floating around somewhere. Windsurf is apparently the largest though;



IMG_0131 by kieranpbennett, on Flickr


IMG_0244 by kieranpbennett, on Flickr


IMG_0242 by kieranpbennett, on Flickr

The tenders weren't much better;


IMG_0142 by kieranpbennett, on Flickr

[mickrick]

I´ve seen Wind Song in dry dock in Martinique, and it´s actually quite a nice shape below the waterline.
They´re diesel electric, and the sails are computer controlled. I was told they do sail and it´s not just for show.

[Hooli]

My word, that is truely horrible

[TTwiggy]

Imagine sorting out a case of halyard wrap on those furling headsails!

[DJFish]

My mate did a few years on the Windsurf & I had a look around it a while back, it's a bit more informal and smaller scale than the bigger boats, albeit a bit wierd looking.

[Fishtigua]

The first time she came to Tahiti, she anchored next to us.

I have never, ever seen so many LOUD shirts in my life. Truly bizarre.

[b14]

That might go downwind (slowly) or possibly a beam reach, but no way would that make any ground to windward whatsoever.

Marketing exercise and waste of time!

[Ayahuasca]

I saw that in Portobelo bay a while ago, not really my idea of a sailing ship.

[DamienB]

That's not an attractive vessel is it. Far more fun to sail with the JST on a proper sailing ship I think!

[FourWheelDrift]

Wind breaks or possible just there to provide a bit of shade.

[Steve_D]

DamienB said:

That's not an attractive vessel is it. Far more fun to sail with the JST on a proper sailing ship I think!

And you get to pull on the ropes.
Highly recommended.

Steve