Few of us, sadly in these straightened times, can maintain a fully-crewed ocean-going yacht. We can but dream of running away to sea on a sleek schooner; of elegance, comfort and privacy; of weighing anchor off secret sun-bleached beaches, or slipping into picturesque harbours that larger ships must pass by.

Silently reciting John Masefield’s ode ‘Sea Fever’ one balmy evening earlier this year, my dream became reality as I climbed on board a tall ship tied up alongside the cruise terminal at Bridgetown, the bustling capital of Barbados. With her profile sculpted in white lights, Wind Surf looked every bit like a stretched-limo of the seas.

As we nosed slowly past the charivari of floating behemoths that populated this port and headed out into the open sea, the jibs moved imperceptibly into position. One by one the seven triangular Dacron sails slowly but steadily unfurled – with not a single able-bodied seaman in sight. The last remnants of the sun were dappling on the cerulean sea as the ship’s loud speakers serenaded us with Vangelis’s rousing theme tune to ‘1492 – The Conquest of Paradise’. This was not so much a son et lumière, more son et croisière as we set a course west, north-west.

The renaissance of tall ships began twenty years ago when the Windstar Cruises trio were conceived. Unlike many sailing ships of yore, they were designed to fire no canon; to force no treasure-laden galleon to heave to; to race around no horn. Plying discrete waters of the Caribbean, Central America and the Mediterranean, these paragons exist solely for the extraordinary fun of sailing. They appeal to active passengers who are every bit as discerning as their forefathers, but eschew the trappings of formality.

Constructed at the Ateliers et Chantiers du Havre shipyard, the 14,745-tonne Wind Surf accommodates 312 passengers, looked after by a crew of 163. Despite her size – 613 feet from bowsprit to stern – she glides through the sea at up to 12 knots when stiff breezes fill the 26,910 square feet of self-furling sails; there are four diesel-electric motors employed to maintain service speed when winds are light.

The choice of accommodation is 376 square feet suites or 188 square feet staterooms. Suites have four portholes, staterooms have two; these are covered with elegant sheer curtains. The décor is a palette of brown, blue and burgundy. The Sealy Posturepedic mattresses are incredibly comfortable, as are the cotton linen sheets and duvets. The Egyptian cotton towels, terry bathrobes, and Verbena unguents from L’Occitane in the space-age, figure-of-eight shower rooms, enhance the dolce vita. There is also a mini-bar, flat-screen television, DVD/CD player Bose speakers and ipod dock.

Dining options are The Restaurant or Degrees – which features a steak house menu, as well as Italian, French and Indonesian specialities. Breakfast and lunch are served in the delightful glass-enclosed Veranda which extends out onto the Star Deck where tables with sun-shades offer an alfresco alternative. There is also The Grill for à la minute cooked breakfasts, while at lunch there’s a refreshing array of pastas and salads on offer. Dinner ensuite can be served course by course by the efficient room service team on hand 24 hours.

The focus of activity within the vessel is The Lounge, a yacht-like room with a small stage and dance floor. There is also the cosy, wood-lined Terrace Bar and larger Compass Rose Bar. The Yacht Club contains the library and Internet Centre where passengers can enjoy espressos and cappuccinos; while the Casino awaits those wanting a gentle flutter. The WindSpa offers a range of indulgent treatments, and there’s an Aerobics Room with state-of-the-art equipment as well as instructor-led classes in Pilates, yoga and kickboxing; in addition there’s a beauty salon and signature shop.

After seven magical days enjoying a close encounter with sequestered isles, Barbados once again appeared on the horizon, signalling journey’s end. I’d realised that there is something quite surreal about cruising on board a tall ship in excelsis. Thankfully the thrill of going like the clippers hasn’t gone with the wind.