Bajansailor
Well-Known Member
I am just wondering if any Forumites have ever been on a Windjammer cruise in the Windies?
If so, you might be interested in the latest scuttlebutt about them.
Their website is up and running still at http://windjammer.com/, but from what I have read on other forums, things are looking bleak for their fleet of 4 windjammers - Polynesia, Mandalay, Legacy and Yankee Clipper.
They also have a motor supply ship called Amazing Grace that takes passengers on her supply trips around the islands.
There was an article in the Miami Herald a few days ago about what is happening, but the link to this story on their webpage has now expired.
Basically the bottom line now appears to be as per the report below, which was taken from the Tall Ships Sail Training Forum at www.gojabber.com and posted by the Forum Moderator :
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"The Windjammer office apparently stopped paying its bills. It reportedly stopped paying most of the crew, its venders, etc. due to "financial difficulties." It also reportedly has kept the money on trips people have already paid for in advance, and will not refund it.
The insurance companies refuse to make good on these trips because they have an exception for "financial difficulties" by Windjammer. So people are out thousands of dollars and have no recourse.
The crew is stranded and many owed up to three months of back pay. Those that can't afford a plane ticket are living on board these ships with no food, no water, no electricity. They're sleeping on the deck under extreme heat under horrible conditions.
Three of the ships are under arrest for non payment.
Mandalay was put out to anchor at Colon, Panama-- which is basically a graveyard of ships. Some of the crew were arrested for selling the dive gear aboard to try to pay for their plane tickets home since they haven't gotten paid by WJ'er in months.
Polynesia is stuck in Aruba. The Red Cross, Masons, and other philanthropy groups have been helping the stranded crew who are living under dire conditions with uncollected garbage (now there are flies and maggots) and no food, water, or electricity.
Not sure where the Yankee Clipper and the Legacy are. I think the Yankee Clipper may have also been arrested.
Meantime.. Windjammer had taken down its website, but now it's up again. I'm told they're not answering their phones.
------------------------------------------------------------
A very sad situation indeed.
If so, you might be interested in the latest scuttlebutt about them.
Their website is up and running still at http://windjammer.com/, but from what I have read on other forums, things are looking bleak for their fleet of 4 windjammers - Polynesia, Mandalay, Legacy and Yankee Clipper.
They also have a motor supply ship called Amazing Grace that takes passengers on her supply trips around the islands.
There was an article in the Miami Herald a few days ago about what is happening, but the link to this story on their webpage has now expired.
Basically the bottom line now appears to be as per the report below, which was taken from the Tall Ships Sail Training Forum at www.gojabber.com and posted by the Forum Moderator :
----------------------------------------------------------
"The Windjammer office apparently stopped paying its bills. It reportedly stopped paying most of the crew, its venders, etc. due to "financial difficulties." It also reportedly has kept the money on trips people have already paid for in advance, and will not refund it.
The insurance companies refuse to make good on these trips because they have an exception for "financial difficulties" by Windjammer. So people are out thousands of dollars and have no recourse.
The crew is stranded and many owed up to three months of back pay. Those that can't afford a plane ticket are living on board these ships with no food, no water, no electricity. They're sleeping on the deck under extreme heat under horrible conditions.
Three of the ships are under arrest for non payment.
Mandalay was put out to anchor at Colon, Panama-- which is basically a graveyard of ships. Some of the crew were arrested for selling the dive gear aboard to try to pay for their plane tickets home since they haven't gotten paid by WJ'er in months.
Polynesia is stuck in Aruba. The Red Cross, Masons, and other philanthropy groups have been helping the stranded crew who are living under dire conditions with uncollected garbage (now there are flies and maggots) and no food, water, or electricity.
Not sure where the Yankee Clipper and the Legacy are. I think the Yankee Clipper may have also been arrested.
Meantime.. Windjammer had taken down its website, but now it's up again. I'm told they're not answering their phones.
------------------------------------------------------------
A very sad situation indeed.
