On Royal Clipper the two tallest of the five masts are hinged so that mast tops can be easily cranked lower by 19 feet for clear passage under low bridges and power lines without interfering with the ship’s standing rigging.

Jim and his wife, Eileen, sailed on Royal Clipper in March in the Caribbean. He took a lot of photos, and we’re thrilled to share them with you over the next few posts. Enjoy, and thanks Jim!
Here are Jim and Eileen climbing the mast. It’s one of the most popular activities offered on Star Clippers.

Yesterday we asked, what does “right sailing” mean and where did the term originate?
Right sailing refers to running a course on one of the cardinal points of a compass, only altering the latitude or longitude. An early meaning still often used is straight.

Today’s challenge is: Right Sailing. Do you know what this phrase means and how it originated?
Sailing Lingo aims to test your knowledge of the peculiar and sometimes indecipherable language of sailing. We pose a question and see who can answer it most accurately in the comments on the post. The following day we’ll post the [...]

Yesterday we asked, what is a “carrick bend” and where did the term originate?
The carrick bend is a knot used for joining two lines. It is particularly appropriate for very heavy rope or cable that is too large and stiff to easily be formed into other common bends.  It will not jam even after [...]