Crossing the Atlantic by Art Netzer

July 20, 2008

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Crossing the Atlantic by Art Netzer

Art Netzer, fearless skipper of the Photo Information Booth, was albe to live out a dream and sail across the ocean.

Article rating: 7.09

Two advantages of working with the Photo Information Booth is that all of the shows we attend during any season fall between September following April and often there is 2 to 4 weeks between shows. This allows us to travel and take pictures between shows and between show seasons. One such trip gave us the opportunity to do something we have always wanted to do and that is sail across the Atlantic Ocean.

That became a reality when my wife Gloria and I booked passage to sail on the annual repositioning of the 5-masted Royal Clipper leaving Barbados mid April and arriving in Malaga, Spain mid May.

Barbados is one of the most easterly islands in the Caribbean with wonderful rainforests gorgeous orchards, beautiful beaches and cliffs that rival those along the coast of the US.

The only land we saw after leaving the port in Barbados was Ponta Delgada, in the Azores where we stopped for a day.

Then we passed the northern tip of Africa and southern tip of Portugal and Spain while going through the Straight of Gibraltar. Although we disembarked in Malaga the Royal Clipper continued on to Rome which was the final destination. The 19 day sail to Malaga covered 3,400 miles averaging 9.5 knots per hour. The 439 foot Royal Clipper accommodated 114 passengers and 104 crew members from 34 countries. Wit h 42 sails displayed she navigates under 56,000 feet of sail letting the passengers experience the power of a multitude of square sail driving a large ship of 5,000 tons across the ocean. All 42 sails could be raised in less than 15 minutes putting the ship under full sail. Being a passenger ship with a schedule to keep the Royal Clipper also used her 2 5,000 HP engines to keep on schedule when winds were in the wrong direction or non existent. Accommodations were comfortable whether you booked steerage or a first class cabin. Everyone ate in a majestic dining room, or weather permitting, on the deck.

No one lacked for good food and lots of it. The day we left the Azores they stocked up with a load of fresh sardines which were cooked in local extra virgin olive oil and served for lunch on deck.

Believe me they were delicious! Even people who didn’t like sardines came back for seconds. Passengers were mainly from 3 countries Germany, England and US with a few Australians, Irish and Swiss mixed in. Every day started with a mile walk on the deck with Jacob, then stretching exercise with Hampus.

These were 2 blond Swedish students who were part of the sports crew. Each morning poolside there were daily lectures given by Captain Oleg.

There were discussions and presentations about the Royal Clipper’s construction in 2000, the maiden voyage, names of each sail and what the function was along just about every aspect of sailing this vessel to its fullest capacity. There was also an afternoon "Jack Tar" lecture series presented by sailing historian Robert Black This series covered the history of sailing for the last 300 years.

Almost every day was a sun day although toward the end of the sail you were looking for a place to get out of the wind.

As usual there were those that can and those that shouldn’t be sunning on deck, but almost everyone had a good time either reading or just relaxing with new friends.

After 12 days at sea, our one day in the Azores gave us a chance to get used to walking on land again. It’s a beautiful island with lush rolling landscapes and hot sulfur springs.

Several different days weather permitting Captain Oleg announced different activities like mast climbing, bow sprint walking and motor launches to allow photo opportunities of the Royal Clipper under full sail. The ship was in immaculate condition continuously undergoing routine maintenance and repair.

On a continuous cycle every piece of wood on the deck from benches to tables to wooded garbage barrels are sanded and re-varnished.

Several times a week you can watch the sailmaker use his industrial sewing machine to repair torn sails or canvas covers. Every morning before sunup dozens of crew members are wiping down the entire outside area of the ship getting rid of the salt spray form the overnight sail not to mention all the continuous maintenance and painting above and below deck.

It was a wonderful trip meeting lots of new friends and doing something different. We left the ship in Malaga, Spain 19 days after leaving Barbados. It was a sad evening watching the Royal Clipper sail away from the Malaga harbor just after sunset. while it continued on to Rome.

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