Suddenly Diosdado Quiao pulls hard on the throttle and the tiny Zodiac jumps over the bumpy waves like a young springbok. Frantically, I hold on to the reins of the black rubber boot and I am really glad that the third officer gave me a life jacket. We shoot across the slightly troubled Mediterranean sea somewhere between Ibiza and Mallorca, there is no land in sight! The seven other adventurers in the boat look partly curious, partly hooked on the young sailor.
After a few hundred meters with full speed he stopps the rubber boat and turns it out of the waves. Immediately we grab our cameras and smartphones, finally the large sailing ship in front of us fits fully on the displays. On this sunny day, the Sea Cloud has set all sails and glides majestically over the open sea. But after a few minutes the photo safari is over and the Zodiac jumps back to the mother ship.
Her first name was “Hussar”, when the Sea Cloudas left the Germania shipyard in Kiel as the largest private yacht in the world. The New York heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post ordered the 110-meter-long ship and spent many years with her family on board. With her new husband the new name came into play. From now on politicians and famous guests met at the Sea Cloud. After turbulent years during the Second World War she became famous as the party ship “Angelita“, Hollywood stars stayed in the noble chambers. After the death of the owner the yacht broke down until it was discovered in the seventies in Panama and restored as a cruise ship. Eight of the 32 outside cabins are now back in the original condition with gold fixtures, fireplace and four-poster bed.
With 3.8 knots the white windjammer sails westwards. On the port side the gangway hangs down and our Zodiac stops. The third officer takes my hand with a safety grip and I jump over to the Sea Cloud. With soft knees I climb up the gangway back on deck, where Patissier Marc Hetzer waits with a beaming smile and comfort food in the form of Sachertorte, iced chocolate and nut biscuits. Strengthened I let myself fall on a blue and white striped deckchair and look into the cloudless sky.
The sun is shining, the 3,000 square meters of sail rattle in the wind. It dawns slowly and the international deck crew roll up the ropes. The boys and girls climb up the poles and attach the sail back to the yards. Some hobby skippers talk about Besan, Bram, Upper Mars and other sailing facts while landlubbers like me look cluelessly at the colorful sails diagram the first officer gave me in the morning.
During the day, shorts and boat shoes are hip, also the dinner is surprisingly casual. Tie and evening dress are just necessary at the Captain‘s Dinner. Chef Uwe Pöhlmann has heaved a huge swordfish on deck. “I found that fish in Palma on a local market and had a new idea for today’s menu plan,” says the chef from Wiesbaden. Since 2011 he travels with the Sea Cloud around the world and buys local food at the most beautiful market halls. “On board I combine local food with recipes from Germany.” Cause there are many German speaking guests on board, the shipping company is based in Hamburg.
At exactly half past seven he cuts the swordfish under the prying eyes of some German sailors and serves grilled fillets on the open Lido deck. The Hungarian pianist Peter Czifra is playing classical evergreens, while the red sun drops near at Ibiza into the sea.
Further information:
SEA CLOUD CRUISES GmbH www.seacloud.com This text has been translated to the best of my knowledge into English. Note: This trip was supported by Sea Cloud Cruises. The report represents our own opinions.
