S/V Mandalay to Return in 2026: Windjammer Revival Charts a New Course for Caribbean Cruising
The Windjammer Way is restoring the historic schooner S/V Mandalay for a 2026 relaunch, offering classic Caribbean cruising powered by wind and heritage.
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands — A century after her maiden voyage, a legendary schooner is preparing to sail again. The S/V Mandalay, a 163-foot, three-masted windjammer originally launched in 1923, is undergoing a major restoration and is expected to return to the Caribbean charter scene by Spring 2026. The vessel is the flagship project of The Windjammer Way, a Miami-based initiative dedicated to reviving the golden age of sail and reconnecting travelers to the sea through heritage cruising.
Mandalay began life as a luxury yacht commissioned by financier E.F. Hutton for his wife Marjorie Merriweather Post, the Post Cereal heiress and philanthropist. Over the decades, she transitioned from private yacht to oceanographic research vessel for Columbia University, and later to a cherished Caribbean charter ship—earning a devoted following among sailors and adventurers alike.
Now, in a sweeping, stem-to-stern restoration, Mandalay is being rebuilt to meet modern safety and comfort standards while preserving her classic lines and spirit. Once relaunched, she will embark on voyages to off-the-beaten-path Caribbean islands, offering guests a slower, more immersive experience powered by the wind, steeped in history, and guided by local hospitality.
“This isn’t just a rebuild—it’s a renaissance,” says The Windjammer Way founder. “We’re honoring the tradition of wind-powered exploration while creating unforgettable journeys that connect people with place, purpose, and the sea.”
This summer, US Sailing, the national governing body for the sport based in Bristol, Rhode Island, announced a new partnership with The Windjammer Way. The collaboration aims to highlight sailing’s rich cultural heritage, create member experiences rooted in tradition, and offer storytelling that inspires future generations.
“Partnering with The Windjammer Way represents a celebration of sailing’s roots and future,” says Charlie Enright, CEO of US Sailing. “Their mission to restore historic vessels and offer them to the world resonates with our commitment to legacy and connection through the water.”
Learn more at: www.thewindjammerway.com
Carol Bareuther has written for ALL AT SEA since 2004.
Worth your time?
Thanks — noted.
My father and I toured the leeward Islands on the Mandalay. In 1992, and it has been so long that I am overjoyed to see her back in service.
My wife and I sailed on the Flying Cloud and the Mandalay. When is your first sailing scheduled?
I still have some tokes for drinks.
The only SV I wasn’t on was the Amazing Grace. So many fond memories of BareFoot Windjammers and Windjammers Cruises. I can’t wait till she is sailing again!! And keeping the Windjammer name in company. Sail-on to all jammers and rum punch for all.
I sailed the Virgin Islands as one of the earlier cruise passengers in 1965 on the 200′ windjammer “Yankee Clipper”. It was one of its earliest commercial cruises with only about 50 passengers. Accomodations were rough but interesting. Surprisingly I myself was permitted to pilot the ship for extended periods because I had some limited sailing experience and was comfortable and capable of keeping the 200′ ship sailing within a few degrees of full sail into the wind.
Our young Norwegian captain did not run a tight ship and the sails were not always properly secured when furled. I remember scrambling one night to properly secure a sail I was sleeping on topside, when an unexpected gust of wind loosened it. I also remember hearing later that the Yankee Clipper had run aground somewhere in the Carribean.
Yes, that sounds like “the Barefoot way”, unfortunately.
Blows my mind that they let you on the helm
My wife and I took our honeymoon cruise aboard the Mandalay in 1990 and it still ranks among my favorite memories. Would love to do it again!