Imagine being under full sail in the light of a full moon on calm Mediterranean seas — that's how my weeklong trip on Star Clippers' 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. 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, particularly for full-charter groups.

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. Another highlight was visiting St. Florent/L'Ile Rousse, Corsica — whose stunning harbor has boats from around the world — 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, 296-passenger sailing vessel to be delivered in 2010.