By Robert Luckock
Around 40 invited guests enjoyed a mid-April morning sail on the three-masted Clipper Stad Amsterdam, thanks to an agreement established between the ship’s directors and the non-profit Caribbean Sail Training Association (CST) for this unique experience.
Invitations went out to CST members and several youngsters for the educational sail. The event was combined with an “Open Ship Day” for the public that afternoon, that attracted 560 visitors.
The ship had arrived in Marigot from Johannesburg, South Africa, after starting a round-the-world voyage in August 2023.
Unlike today’s ubiquitous giant cruise ships, Stad Amsterdam offers guests the best of both worlds – modern day comforts and amenities, safety features such as smoke detectors and alarms, while recreating the experience of sailing on an authentic 19th century traditional tall ship.
The three masts towering overhead, rigging, acres of sails, miles of heavy rope, teak decks and polished brass fittings were indeed impressive, capturing the imagination of how seasoned seafarers handled these huge vessels back in the day.
Owned by Randstad Holdings and the Municipality of Amsterdam, construction of Stad Amsterdam began in 1997/98 before its launch in 2000, and a major refit to its engines in 2020/2021. Stad Amsterdam offers a choice of adventure and luxury cruises.
Swiss Captain Andi Manser gave a short safety briefing before the departure. “Please don’t fall overboard as that will cause a lot of extra paperwork,” he joked at the end.
At 76-metres in length, 47-metres in height, and width 10-metres, Stad Amsterdam carries 2,200 square metres of sail area (32 sails), but for this short cruise, only a few sails were used. She sails at an average speed of 10 to 15 knots.
Once the sails were hoisted by the crew, the ship was underway, gliding silently over the waves in Marigot Bay. Refreshments were served from a bar on deck by hostesses Tamara and Inez.
Guests were free to tour the ship (but not the crew quarters) and for some tasks guests could join in helping the crew, but not when there was a precise manoeuvre to be done involving all hands on deck.
On scheduled paid cruises, guests can take part in the watch system, choosing the time to participate with the crew, to learn a lot about sailing the ship. Most of the crew work is manual, hauling in lines requiring muscle and fitness, although there are some modern winches too.
“I’ve been sailing on Stad Amsterdam for two years now,” said 22-year-old crew member Sieme Boomstra, from Texel in the Netherlands. “I’m what’s called an Ordinary Sailor, so my job is on deck, which includes sail handling, deck scrubbing, cleaning. I also take part in the watches at night sometimes. There is maintenance to do as well on woodwork, rigging and steel work. I love it. I wanted to see the world and in two years, I’ve already seen most of it. We have a great crew, super cool, lots of energy.”
Head Housekeeper Geraldine van Harn gave a tour below decks, starting with the beautiful mahogany dining room and bar, called the “Long Room.” She is also in charge of the merchandising boutique on board.
“When we have an adventure trip, the crew also eat here, and if it’s a luxury cruise, the guests eat up on deck – tables set up with white tablecloths, nice wines, lunches and three-course dinners – the whole works,” explained van Harn.
There are some 14 cabins with portholes for guests, equipped with telephone (satellite connection), air conditioned and with heaters, bathrooms and shower, and on the lower deck cabins for 30 crew. The ship has its own laundry facilities on board too.
“I have been Captain of Stad Amsterdam since 2009 – that’s 16 years – in fact, we are two captains, rotating every eight weeks at different legs of the voyage,” Manser explained. “It’s very special and I enjoy working with a young crew. The average age of the crew is 20-25 years old. The most important quality is that they are motivated. Prior experience isn’t always necessary, and we do have experienced crew from Danish training vessels as well.
“Other crew such as housekeeper, officers, technicians and chief engineer are older and of course experienced. The Quarter Master is the leader of a group on deck, and Officer of the Watch is on the bridge in charge of navigation.
“The ship is not that heavy, and she rides over the waves, so it’s quite dry on deck,” he adds. “But if the wind is coming from the stern, she rolls easily. The guests really enjoy the cruises and they feel part of the team. There’s a lot of social interaction. When they come on board for the first time, they get a welcome presentation and every evening a Captain’s presentation on what to expect, activities, weather forecasts, fire drills, etc.
After leaving Saint-Martin, Stad Amsterdam completed a 10-day luxury cruise in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) with 26 guests. The ship is due back in its home port of Amsterdam in August, where she will take part in the Sail Amsterdam Festival.
CST President Jan Roosens said there are possibilities in the future for Stad Amsterdam to become a CST member.
“We would hope to reach agreements that the ship will take Caribbean youngsters as trainees from time to time and continue to cooperate in organising a Maritime Experience Day at a Caribbean island. That does not mean they will receive all the free advantages everywhere, but certainly some,” Roosens said.
“Even if a commercial vessel cannot receive all the free advantages in the ports, etc., Caribbean Sail Training will look at the possibility to reimburse some costs to the ship when they want to cooperate with CST. The future will tell what is possible and what is not. This will all be under discussion with Stad Amsterdam.”
Pictured: Stad Amsterdam under full sail (Jean Jarreau photo).
