OceanShooter : Ship and Boat

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MSY Wind Song (Wallpaper 4)
4. MSY Wind Song Sailing Ship images gallery. 4. MSY Wind Song Sailing Ship photos and pictures collection.
In 2004, the 148-passenger Wind Song continues year-round adventure in Tahiti with its trademark voyages through the famed Society Islands, making 46 voyages of 7-days that begin and end in Papeete and call on renowned islands of Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine and Raiatea. Overnight stays in Bora Bora, Moorea and Papeete allow passengers to experience lingering sunsets, nightlife and around-the-clock atmosphere. For truly exotic South Pacific sailing, the ship embarks from Papeete in June and September on 14-day voyages to the remote Marquesan islands of Fatu Hiva and Hiva Oa, among others, as well as stopping at the Tuamotu group island of Rangiroa on one of the world�s largest natural lagoons. Teak decking, eclectic artwork, wood-trimmed interiors, an attentive service staff, intimate surroundings, exceptional signature cuisine featuring both light and vegetarian menu selections, and an extensive wine list are among elements synonymous with Wind Song�s Wind Song, built at the Socite Nouvelle de Ateliers et Chantiers du Havre. Four masts at 204 feet have six triangular, self-furling, computer operated sails with 21,500 square feet of Dacron surface area. The ship�s beam is 52.1 feet and the length is 360 feet at water line, and 440 feet at bowsprit. The draft is 14 feet. Also aboard for smooth sailing are two sets of stabilizers, a sails control system and a seawater hydraulic ballast system to limit heel. There are three diesel electric generating sets, and one electrical propulsion motor.

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MSY Wind Song (Wallpaper 3)
3. MSY Wind Song Sailing Ship images gallery. 3. MSY Wind Song Sailing Ship photos and pictures collection.
Passengers are cradled in comfort as all staterooms and suites offer ocean views, sitting area, new LCD flatscreen TV, DVD, CD player, safe, mini-bar/refrigerator, international direct-dial phones, bathroom with luxurious pampering toiletries, hair dryer, plush terry clothe robes, and an abundance of closet space. The library on board stocks an array of international newspapers, books and games, as well as a multi-media selection of more than 500 DVD titles and compact discs available for complimentary check-out. Carrying just 148 to 308 guests, Wind Song ships exude a private-yacht-like atmosphere creating camaraderie and lasting friendships between fellow sailors. Every day aboard Wind Song brings the promise of new horizons and harbours to explore. An interesting mix of shore excursions and complimentary water sports activities are available at each destination. Passengers may find themselves slicing through Caribbean waters aboard an actual America's Cup racing yacht, or exploring archaeological ruins in Greece, the "Cradle of Civilization." Water buffs can enjoy complimentary water-skiing, windsurfing, kayaking from the ship's aft Water Sports Platform. The company's cruise vacations offer a sea-side window on the world, combining the refinement of a luxury hotel with a moveable feast of cultural experiences. Seattle-based Wind Song Cruises operates the 308-passenger Wind Surf and 148- passenger Wind Star and Wind Spirit. The three sailing yachts cruise to over 47 countries worldwide offering an affordable luxury vacation.

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MSY Wind Song (Wallpaper 2)
2. MSY Wind Song Sailing Ship images gallery. 2. MSY Wind Song Sailing Ship photos and pictures collection.
Now known for a splashy "180 From Ordinary" tag line, Seattle-based Wind Song Cruises owned by Holland America Line under the Carnival Corporation portfolio first made waves in the mid-1980s as a radical alternative to typical cruising. Passengers aboard Wind Song vessels see the world from under billowing sails with cushy accommodations, exquisite cuisine, and attentive service, all combining for casual yet elegant sojourns at sea. Avoiding hackneyed routes and itineraries, Wind Song's sleek ships sail to exotic locales and hidden harbors that larger vessels often can't access. And wherever they go, Wind Song sailing vessels turn heads -- from the Caribbean, Europe, and Far East to the South Pacific. Pages of Wind Song history started unfolding in 1986 when Wind Star, the first commercial sailing vessel built in 60 years, slipped out of a French dry-dock in Le Havre. Towering sails echoed a bygone era of exploration, yet the msy Wind Star was revolutionary in concept with computerized controls. Wind Song ships are officially masted-sail-yachts (msy), although the designation belies the rigging. Unfurling in two minutes at the push of a button, white sails head quickly for the sky, snapping smartly in the breeze. An "open-bridge" operation allows passengers to drop by at a whim to watch officers demonstrate ship capabilities and sailing functions operated by computer micro-chips and navigational devices. The 148-passenger Wind Star was joined by sister ships the msy Wind Song in 1987, and msy Wind Spirit in 1988. A decade later, the 308-passenger msy Wind Surf was acquired by Wind Song. Originally sailing as the Club Med I, Wind Surf was built in 1990 in the same shipyard to similar specifications as Wind Song�s smaller ships. Among the line�s original three vessels, Wind Song was retired in January, 2003. Carrying from 148 to 308 guests, Wind Song�s four- and five-masted ships provide a private yacht-like atmosphere creating camaraderie and sometimes lasting friendships among fellow sailors. Wind Song vessels cruise to nearly 50 nations, calling at more than 100 ports throughout Europe, the Caribbean and Tahiti.

image dimensions : 1092 x 682

MSY Wind Song (Wallpaper 1)
1. MSY Wind Song Sailing Ship images gallery. 1. MSY Wind Song Sailing Ship photos and pictures collection.
The msy Wind Song was a 4-masted motor sailing yacht used as a cruise ship by Wind Song Cruises from 1987 until 2002, when the ship suffered an engine room fire. The Wind Song was one of an unusual class of only three vessels (msy Wind Star, msy Wind Spirit and msy Wind Song), designed as a modern cruise ship but carrying an elaborate system of computer-controlled sails on four masts. The ship's usual itinerary was an inter-island cruise in French Polynesia. On December 1, 2002, an engine room fire forced evacuation of 127 passengers and 92 crew members to Raiataea, a nearby island. The French Navy put out the fire and towed the ship to Papeete, where examination showed extensive damage to engineering spaces, although the passenger areas were mostly intact. Subsequently the Navy demanded compensation for its services, and French Polynesian government seized the Wind Song. However, Holland America Line (owner of Wind Song Cruises at the time, itself a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc) was unwilling to pay the costs involved, and even scrapping was uneconomical, because of the ship's small size and remoteness from shipbreakers in India, China, and elsewhere. On January 22, with the agreement of Holland America and Carnival, the President of the Territorial Government of French Polynesia, Gaston Flosse, ordered the scuttling of the Wind Song. That night the ship was towed into the Sea of the Moon between Tahiti and Moorea and sunk in 9,843 feet of water, at latitude 17.45S, longitude 149.48W. Sailing under the banner of its appropriate tag line "180º From Ordinary," Wind Song was created in the mid-1980's with the vision to offer an alternative to the typical cruise or resort vacation. The Wind Song passenger sees the world from a romantic sailing ship with luxurious accommodations, a casual yet elegant atmosphere, and exquisite service and cuisine. The Ships In late 1986, the first commercial sailing vessel built in 60 years slipped out of a French dry-dock in Le Havre. Although the towering sails echoed a bygone era of explorers, the msy Wind Star, with its sleek lines and computerized controls, was revolutionary in concept and design. Wind Song's ships are officially motor-sail-yachts (msy), but the designation belies the vessels unique rigging. Unfurling in two minutes at the push of a button, billowing white sails reach to the sky. All functions are operated from the bridge by computer micro-chips and navigational devices. The unusual "open-bridge" operation allows guests to drop by and acquaint themselves with the veteran captains and officers who demonstrate the ship's intriguing capabilities to modern day explorers. The 148-passenger Wind Star was joined by sister ships the msy Wind Song in 1987, and msy Wind Spirit in 1988. A new era in luxury cruising was now being pioneered by Wind Song Cruises. Nearly a decade later in 1998, the 308-passenger msy Wind Surf was acquired by Wind Song. Sailing originally as Club Med I, the Wind Surf was built in 1990 in the same shipyard to strikingly similar specifications as her sister ships, making her a perfect match for the four fleet family. Shipboard Life Wind Song's unique concept of sailing has led the cruise industry in the luxury small ship, casual attire, and alternative dining arenas. Pioneering and refining these concepts has earned Wind Song an excellent reputation and market niche, winning the allegiance of a new generation of contemporary cruise vacationers, one-third of whom are first-time cruisers. Teak decking, rich wood interiors, an attentive service staff, intimate surroundings, eclectic artwork, exceptional signature cuisine featuring both light and vegetarian menu selections, and an extensive wine list are some of the extraordinary elements which have become synonymous with Wind Song. Features unique to the Wind Surf include 31 deluxe suites, a Business/Internet Centre, The Bistro, The Terrace Bar for small intimate getaways and the nearly 10,000 square foot WindSpa offering a full array of spa treatments, consultative, health and fitness programs.