Crossing the Atlantic aboard a sailing ship, the Star Flyer Archives

Crossing the ocean on a sailing ship: Is It For You?

December 30, 2014November 25, 2014 by Dave Houser

Assessing this voyage and your suitability for it, I must caution that such a crossing is not for everyone. If your sea-going experiences have been limited to traditional cruise ships you’ll have to ask yourself if you’re willing to forgo the casino action, night club shows, specialty restaurants, spa treatments, mani-pedis and daily shore excursions. On the other hand, if you’re a sailing enthusiast you’ll definitely want to consider a Clipper crossing — nobody does it better …

Star Flyer mealtimes — Best of times!

December 30, 2014November 24, 2014 by Dave Houser

ABOARD THE STAR FLYER — No doubt, mealtimes were the most popular event of the day, offering both good food and stimulating conversation. Although I rarely eat lunch at home, I didn’t miss a single meal – but surprisingly, I gained only a couple of pounds during the voyage. The ship’s menu included plenty of “healthy” options, including lots of fruits and veggies. The trick was to avoid the rich desserts, appealing and delicious though they may …

Out To Sea…a crossing of 13 days!

December 30, 2014November 23, 2014 by Dave Houser

ABOARD THE STAR FLYER — Dawn on Monday, October 27 found us bound for the open Atlantic and 13 days of sailing – without sight of land. I must confess that I was becoming a bit nervous about the crossing, wondering how I would take to the repetitive, day after day process of inching at 8-10 knots across the Atlantic. I’ve always loved cruising but had never taken a voyage that involved more than two or three …

Tenerife — Lofty Heights & Lava

December 30, 2014November 22, 2014 by Dave Houser

ABOARD THE STAR FLYER — A short overnight voyage landed us on Sunday, October 26, at the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Largest of the seven Canary Islands, Tenerife is also the highest, topped by soaring Pico del Teide, a dormant volcano of 12,198 feet, making it Spain’s highest peak. Teidi also ranks as the world’s third largest volcano, behind Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa in Hawaii. Naturally it was the object of the day’s excursion. …

Las Palmas’ hidden charms

December 30, 2014November 21, 2014 by Dave Houser

ABOARD THE STAR FLYER – I questioned the appeal of Las Palmas, which has mushroomed from a cozy seacoast getaway of 60,000 people in 1970 to its present population of more than 400,000. Although the city center and its historic Old Town district of Vegueta are easily reached from the harbor, I decided to join the ship-sponsored excursion, figuring I’d see and learn more on the guided five-hour tour than I would poking around on my own. …

Tangier plus sherry & horses

December 30, 2014November 20, 2014 by Dave Houser

ABOARD THE STAR FLYER — Once underway from Malaga, a quick overnight run to Tangier, Morocco set the stage for our first shore call. On Sunday, October 19, most passengers joined the ship’s “Secrets of Tangier” excursion – a three-hour mostly walking tour through the city’s ancient medina – an intriguing labyrinth of narrow streets and bazaars. Highlight of the guided tour was a stop at an elaborately decorated tearoom for some refreshing mint tea and local …

Marrying romance & modernity

December 30, 2014November 19, 2014 by Dave Houser

Star Flyer was the first of three sailing vessels built by Star Clipper founder Mikael Kraft, a Swedish-born entrepreneur and life-long sailing enthusiast. She was built in Ghent, Belgium in 1991, followed a year later by sister ship Star Clipper – and in 1994 by Royal Clipper– a larger five-masted 439-foot rendition of the same basic design, built in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Meant to marry the traditions and romance of the past with the comforts and amenities of …

Crossing the Atlantic aboard a sailing ship, the Star Flyer

November 19, 2014November 18, 2014 by Dave Houser

Crossing the Atlantic on a sailing ship had been on my bucket list for many years – inspired largely by a couple of voyages I made with Star Clipper vessels Star Flyer and Royal Clipper in 1991 and 1995 respectively. When the opportunity came about to join Star Flyer on a 22-day transatlantic crossing from Malaga, Spain to Bridgetown, Barbados in October, I jumped at the chance. To sail before the mast, following the trade winds along …