When the largest tallship, cruise liner in the world does a handbrake turn to dock at Motril Port, you can't fail to be impressed by its beauty.

This majestic ship, with its five masts and 42 sails, boasts the imposing dimensions of 137 metres in length by 16 metres in width, docked yesterday in Motril Port yesterday.

The Royal Clipper is a true symbol of luxury and elegance that combines the classic aesthetics of the great sailing ships of yesteryear with the modern comforts that characterise the most exclusive cruise ships.

She is listed in Guinness World Records as the largest square-rigged ship in service, with 5,202 square metres (55,990 sq ft) of sail.

Funnily enough, the Royal Clipper was originally built by Polish communist authorities as the Gwarek, intended as a floating holiday home for miners before being sold because of financial problems. The Merwede shipyard (London) completed the ship’s interior in July 2000.

Operated by the Star Clippers shipping company, this sail ship was designed along the same lines as the legendary German sailing ship, The Preussen, which was laid down in 1901. She was the only 5-masted sail ship ever built until the Royal Clipper came along much later, Unfortunately, the Preussen was wrecked near Dover in 1910, fortunately with no loss of lives.

With capacity for 186 passengers, the Royal Clipper provides an exclusive and refined atmosphere, thanks to its careful crew ratio, almost one crew member per cruise passenger.

(News: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)

Keywords: Tall Ship, Fully Rigged, Five Masts, 42 Sails, Luxury Sail Ship, Clipper