jetsetter current Affair A Caribbean sailing adventure may seem like the stuff of daydreams, but there’s a way—you’ll be hoisting the mainsail in no time.Emili e Dingfeld gets her sea legs.

lug out of the grid,” advises TradeWinds co-founder Carina Ludvigson in charming Swedish-accented English when I arrive at the sailing com- pany’s base on St. Maarten. BlackBerrys and iPhones are stowed away, and all connection to city life is left where it belongs: on the plane.A golf cart drives me and my four sea mates along the narrow dock at Port de Plaisance, on the Dutch side of the 96-square-kilometre island, to the 56-foot catamaran we’ll be calling home for the next five days. First- time-sailor anxieties float away as our beamingD utch captain, Ewout Franse, and Austrian first mate,S imone Embacher, welcome us aboard. The frown line in my forehead relaxes at the sight of bird of paradise flowers and bowls of tropical fruit strewn on deck, andI take the first sip of a fruity cocktail while treading water in the Caribbean Sea. While a chartered sailing vacation is but a remote bucket-list item for many, TradeWinds (tradewinds-experience.com) makes it acces- sible by offering all-inclusive luxury catamaran sailing on its 25 yachts throughout the world (including Belize, Greece and Turkey). Rent an

above: the entire catamaran with family or friends, or just one room (with private author, a newly bathroom) for a fraction of the cost of boat purchase or rental, moorings minted sailor and sailing lessons. “I haven’t quite got my sea feet yet,” I say as I stumble onto the deck. A more seasoned guest from Toronto corrects me: “It’s ‘sea legs.’” Embacher calls me to attention for sailing lesson number one: winching to draw in the jib. “Make sure you keep your pinky finger towards the winch rather than your thumb,” she counsels. “If your finger gets stuck, it’s much easier to live without your pinky than your thumb.” As the rope slides gently through my fingers—andI make a silent prayer to the sea

gods to keep my digits intact—the jib flaps like a proud flag.I smile » photography: dingfeld by lorne bridgman

164 FASHION | summer 2011 fashionmagazine.com 166 The crackling sounds oflifemarine with a little help from the crew vibrant flock hereto fishes’ world, far from everything. which somehow manage to stay sepa Crocus below the surface pull me in hot spot for French holidaymakers in ulated island of lifting dumbbells atthe gym. that tangy, sweet banana salsa tastes trium thank myself for all those hours spent rated neatly on the barbeque with his mining mechanical engineer by trade, mans ing to cook and is also a proficient kicks from the boat. kicks meals take place on board: than-fresh seafood and Paris-perfect island through through the coral reefs just 10 flipper pain au chocolat surprise surprise aperitif picnic on changed the course of a 28-ton boat of the boat. of the bowl, despite the gentle rocking strapped to his head. sommelier. spent time in the downright downright delightful with beef. cauliflowerand -carrot soups, evening, we’re served a mélange of squids and glowing anemone. capital of the Caribbean. Gourmands coloured and,parrotfish later, longfin of the group sets offin adinghy to go diving, diving, islands await dotted with tiny idylli c W O S oves and horizons t. n the evening,third we dock for a e sail on to our first destination, F M ASHION phantly at having ) is often calledthe culinary c I B V artin artin sandy stay back to swim leisurely ay, on the lush, sparsely pop ilebrequin shorts. L A mmm ater in the week, s the sun sets, Franse, a ( the French part of the

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learn , and O ( ur ur ok - , - - I your captain.” -knuckle grip. wake, wheel and steer around the downpour; wheel. we pile into the dinghy and head for Gilligan wading ashoreGilligan and scouting passport overboard? Grand Case, where we dig our toes power of the boat, the trust of the before being whisked away to the begin plotting ways to stay longer: being the presence of beachfront bars turquoise dream. half-joke to the teal and , as the sun glimmers the water rolling under the boat in really really want to be a firstmate,” roofs. to chart my bumpy course— the helm. ingly dilapidated bustling buildings, tropical undercocktails the stars. into the sand at Calmos Café and sip airport. Theyairport. laugh,and present my and restaurants hatted with straw around the island—the difference shades of , emerald, turquoise, challenge: “ off ofthe sealike molten . once the little rainstorm is leftin our sailors quickly furls the jib as captain and the need to short strips of string do their erratic stroll through town, passing charm can hardly believe dance, it means it’s time to crank the desire to see what life off thedi water is like. watch the telltales flapas A In the quiet moments, scos and street satiatesstalls, the fter a few more lessons, sailing L I W sigh with relief and loosen my ater, afterdinner onthe “cat,” e hit rain, so our team of I t all comes together—the S ure, ure, you just have to find I smile and bask in my T

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photography by jochem wijnands/photolibrary