Banning plastic and focussing on introducing sustainability, the mighty yacht Club Med 2’s owners have embarked on a project to recycle the five master’s replaced sets of Dacron sails. The original sails have been repurposed into small bags the size of a clutch or into wrist purses and wallets and will be sold along with other products made from the sails in the onboard boutique.

Michelle Davies

Michelle Davies, General Manager, Club Med for the Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand, will implement a plan to increase awareness of the distinctive yacht with the public and aim at Australian couples who want to experience small ship cruising. “There is currently a high demand for small ship cruising and Club Med 2 can provide this,” she said. Club Med has a good news message for Agents also, not only about their maritime pride and joy, Club Med 2 but for all their popular resorts around the globe.

“Agents can benefit from a package which is 100% commissionable, with all pre-bookable services included,” she said. “Club Med offers commissions on packages including air. The Club Med culture of all-inclusive still rules but we need to educate Australians about Club Med 2. We also know that luxury travellers are looking for suppliers providing sustainable options and we do,” she said.

The Club Med 2 is a yacht with a modern appeal. It is ideal for travellers who want to experience the thrill of the wind when under sail, combined with the luxury and ease of cruising. The 187-metre yacht with 2,700 square metres of teak decking, 184 cabins and eight decks was refurbished in 2022 at AUD$15 million, and staff take pride in the initiative to use the sails for this enterprise. They are working towards a fully sustainable target.

Club Med 2 Captain on the bridge

The ship features seven triangular Dacron self-furled sails on five masts that a computer system can control. The sails can provide up to 80% of the propulsion power, depending on the wind conditions. The ship also has four diesel generators that power two electric motors for backup and manoeuvring. She can do 14 knots without sails, 18 with a combination and, when conditions are perfect, up to 22 knots. Utilising the sails saves up to 20% of the total fuel costs over a 12-month period.

There are several public areas, including two restaurants, three bars, a lounge, a spa, a fitness centre and a boutique. Apart from the gourmet meals in the restaurants, there is a Room Service menu with a delicious list of entrees, mains, and desserts. A popular feature is the water sports deck deployed from the stern, where guests can enjoy water skiing, sailing, snorkelling, kayaking, windsurfing, pedal paddle boarding, and the recent introduction of Tiwal inflatable sailing boats.

The ship sails the Mediterranean from April to September and the Caribbean from November to March. Transatlantic voyages in the spring and fall are also on offer.

There are mini cruises of just four days. The seven-day experience starts in Nice and calls at Sete, Barcelona, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Mahon, and St Tropez, then back to Nice. A qualified local guide walks guests through the city’s highlights at each port.

Security on board and when disembarking or joining the ship is stringent, with onboard identification cards scanned. Easy cabin access is by way of a coin size wrist band which is waterproof and can be worn 24/7.

Club Med was founded in 1950 in France and was introduced with a revolutionary initiative that all Club Med products would be “all inclusive”. The resorts are available in 40 countries worldwide and feature 67 premium and exclusive collection resorts offering carefree holidays in stunning destinations. Club Med has over 20,000 employees, including GOs (gentle organizers) and GEs (gentle employees), covering 110 nationalities.

Written by: John Savage

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