"Windjammer" cruises?

[BigEasy]

Leeward,
I didn't realized the S/V Mandalay was back in operation; glad to hear it.
We had probably close to 120 passengers on board Fantome on our trip. It was the largest ship in the Windjammer fleet.
I counted approximately 62 cabins on the schematic that was included in the book, "The Ship & The Storm".
Great group of people aboard with a common goal of having a good time. We became a friends with a group of 4 or 5
couples and hung out together during the entire cruise. Killer parties every night into the early AM. Picture perfect
beaches and anchorages every morning. What a way to live for a week. Regretful that we only did one cruise; however,
we still cherish the memories. Have some photos of the trip somewhere that are in the 35mm film format from June '88.
Still have an old Fantome T shirt, that's way too small now, however; I cant bring myself to discard it! Note that
there are copies of the book available on Amazon and also in Kindle format.

 

[Leeward Rail]

@BigEasy Yeah. you could make serious friends on those ships.

They WERE GOOD parties...

When the Fantome was sailing from Mexico... they were occasionally boarded by the Mexican navy as training and to check passports.
One time they boarded the night of the PPP party.
The passengers, and crew, many dressed in drag, posed for photos with the uncomfortable cadets and officers.
It may be a coincidence but, they never boarded to check again.

I've always thought that someone needs to do a retrospective book on those trips over the years.

Crews raiding new captain's stuff during a flotilla of 3 tallships while firing a functioning cannon ? Check.

How many other cruise lines would pick just 4 people up at the dock, shuttle you to the ship, wait 5 mins, and then drop you off on the beach in the surf ? Then come back to get you hours later ?

Hearing Amazing Grace being played hasn't been the same since.
I still remember seeing the Fantome at the dock in St. John Antigua for our first trip. WOW.
Then walking back to our hurricane damaged $80 cheapo hotel and getting called into a locals party in a restaurant that was closed for Easter Weekend. We made friends and the trip had barely started.
And I can't under state how fantastic the crews, their ships and the trips were.

Those trips taught me a few things. some are:
Spend some money and enjoy life.
Rum is good. French West Indies rum is better.
Standing on the foredeck, on a tallship, during heavy weather, getting drenched, is friggin' awesome.
The average person is more fun and interesting than foo foo people.
I once looked good in a dress.

Post some of those photos if you have them....

I'll see if I can find some. I believe I scanned some years go. Alas, like @Gene Neill I take too few photos when it's really fun.

 

[BigEasy]

Leeward,
Great post! Brought back many memories.
Yes, Fantome was an awesome sight when we approached the dock at St John; thought that I was living the dream.
Know what you mean about hearing "Amazing Grace", feels like a part of me is missing.
On the beat from St John, Antigua to Dominica, we ran into a rough patch of water, closest I have ever been to being
"sea sick." Its still a mystery to me whether it was the rum swizzles that we drank all afternoon or the seas! Went down to
galley for dinner and almost lost it; skipped dinner and spent the rest of the night sleeping on deck...it was the best of
times / worst of times, on the first leg of the trip. Fair winds and seas for the remainder of cruise. Didn't get a decent
sleep the entire cruise; we had a cabin with part of the mast running thru. Rigging slapped against the mast and echoed
down into the cabin. Most of the time we were anchored by early morning and had an hour or two of quiet until the
steward came thru ringing the bell for wake up call! Probably the last time I dressed up in a Toga outfit! Farewell party
the night before departure, in a bar in English Harbor, was fantastic. Steel drums & best drinks I've ever had. Hiking
to the launch for the trip back to the ship was a challenge!

 

[Gene Neill]

Awesome ! Not sure I'd handle climbing up the rigging that high. I'd give the old college try, but anything involving heights are the admiral's job normally. LOL

I was amazed how many people DID do it! Probably 16-18 out of twenty four.

I myself did not. I poured myself a Mimosa with very little orange juice (no one allowed aloft after any alcohol) and relaxed as a spectator.

 

[Pat]

We spent a week on the Shenandoah out of Vineyard Haven, Ma. many years ago...say 20..It was a great time...coal stove,
helped with the sails each day...pump organ in the dining area and water pumps on deck for washing your hair along with someone else's hair....enjoyed 3 pound lobsters the last evening.....Captain Robert Douglas also owns the Black Dog cafe and
gift shop on Martha's Vinyard....I'd go again....in fact I have been thinking about it the last couple weeks after running into the Black Dog website...He's still sailing, but his son is taking over slowly...may have been the best bargain ever at the time...go to the Black Dog website or Shenandoah website......for me one of the highlights was a bagpiper who played from the box sprit each time we sailed into a cove for the night.....he was a member of the crew and the Royal Canadian Piper Corp....Patrick in
Wichita

 

[Leeward Rail]

We spent a week on the Shenandoah out of Vineyard Haven, Ma. many years ago...say 20..It was a great time

 

[agprice22]

I know it does not compare, but when my wife and I did our Bareboat Skipper courses in St. Thomas, we were glad to have the Beneteau all to ourselves. Not that you could get a Windjammer to yourself, but it was still worth it. We had fun.