16 - Sunday, July. 30, 1989 — North Shore News

WIND SPIRIT Enormous sailboat makes Alaska run

THE ALASKA cruise con- voy, joined this summer by the immense ingenue Star Princess, will have another striking mewcomer next year —- the Wind Spirit.

No ordinary cruise ship, the Wind Spirit is in fact a sailing vessel complete with four masts towering 204 ft. above teak decks, a dimension that rules out passage under the Lions Gate Bridge, where clearance is 198 ft. at high tide.

Wind Spirit will be based in Prince Rupert for a run of 16 cruises to Juneau. Northbound cruises will visit Ketchikan, Misty Fjords national monument, Wrangell Narrows and Petersburg,: Tracy Arm, Sitka, Skagway and Juneau. Southbound cruises will have the same itineracy in reverse.

The vessel is one of three vessels operated by Windstar Sail Cruises, a subsidiary of Seattle-based Holland America Line-Westours. Both companies were bought in January by Carnival Cruise Lines of Miami, and Windstar’s head office has just been moved to Seat- tle.

As Jean-Claude Potier, presi- dent of Windstar, said in announc- ing the program: ‘‘The concept cf sail cruising in Alaska offers an entirely new kind of vacation ex- perience — a combination of both luxury and nature never before ex- perienced in the beautiful waters of B.C. and Alaska.”

Wind Spirit is certainly !ux- urious. The interior has the feel of a private yacht, with rich panelling and furnishings. The 74 cabins are large, beds can be made up as twin or queen, there is TV, VCR and the best bathrooms afloat.

Passengers can dine when they want, the food is a cut above regu- lar cruise rations, and waiters do not sing Happy Birthday three times a night nor parade with Bak- ed Alaska as a finale. In fact, it’s a very elegant scene, but not at all stuffy.

Last summer I cruised the Mediterranean cruise on Wind Spirit, and at several Italian ports teamed up with a New York hotelier for purchases of excellent, and inexpensive, wines. Back on board the waiters were happy to open them at our table without any suggestion of corkage. Try that on the QEII.

Dress on board is casual, which is perfect for Alaska. But so is the vessel, whose teak decks and sail- ing rig wiil commune with the rug- ged scenery of fjords, and par- ticularly Wrangell and Tracy Arm, two highlights not accessible to larger ships (draught is just 14 ft).

Wind Spirit has been clocked at 12 knots in a Caribbean trade, but it's tikely that in Alaska waters she

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can visit the bridge at any time and watch the captain set the sails by computer. This clever gadget con- stantly shifts ballast so the vessel never heels rnore than six degrees, maintaining a perfect equilibrium for your martini in the aft salon.

Another good idea is Wind Spirit’s stern swim grid, a platform for sailing, sailboarding, water- skiing and swimming. The vessel’s Zodiac-type boats will be ideal for shore excursions.

Just a pity we won’t see her in Vancouver, but, anyone for Prince

travel Rupert? t jl nk .

oo, Gulf Islands Cruises has launch- David Wishart

ed a summer cruise program to Victoria via the Gulf Islands using the motor vessel Laurier II.

The 120-ft. vessel departs Van- couver Monday, Wednesday and will run mainly on her diesel-elec- Friday, with Tuesday, Thursday

tric motors. See Guif As in a private yacht, passengers Page 17

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