Star Clipper

Imagine being under full sail in the light of a full moon on calm Mediterranean seas — that's how my weeklong trip on Star Clipper's eponymous sailing vessel last summer began.

I can think of few experiences more thrilling, or more restorative, for incentive winners with a sense of adventure. What distinguishes the three Star Clipper ships — Star Clipper and Star Flyer, each accommodating 170 passengers, and the Royal Clipper, accommodating 227 passengers — is that they sail (sans motor) as much as possible. These are real sailing ships. While not as luxurious as the large ocean liners, the cabins are comfortable; there's a lovely dining room, piano lounge, and library; and passengers can enjoy various outdoor spots for relaxing and socializing. It's a great environment for networking and teambuilding, particuarly for full-charter groups. And there are no long lines or crowds: The experience is leisurely from start to finish.

Star Clipper spends summer and fall seasons in the Mediterranean. My itinerary began in Nice, with port stops in four countries — France, Corsica, Italy, and Monaco. An advantage of small ships like this one is the ability to visit less-populated spots. Among my favorites was Portovenere, Italy, a UNESCO World Heritage site where tall, pastel-colored stucco buildings line the harbor, and you can walk to the “gulf of the poets,” the grotto where the poet Lord Byron began his famous swim to see fellow poet Percy Shelly across the waters in Lerici. Another highlight was visiting St. Florent/L'Ile Rousse, Corsica — whose stunning harbor has boats from around the world flying the colorful pennants of their yacht clubs — and then slowly sailing past the rugged, dramatic cliffs of Corsica dotted with medieval watchtowers.

Star Clippers has plans in the works for a new five-masted, 296-passenger sailing vessel to be delivered in 2010.