Dear Members and Friends of The Royal Oak Foundation,

With its balmy island breezes and centuries-old tradition of gardening, the Caribbean is a delightful interlude to the northern winter. We cordially invite you to join us in January 2009 when we set sail from Barbados to Antigua aboard the legendary Sea Cloud II. En route we will tour elegant private plantations, lovingly restored by their owners, some of whom will greet us personally; visit botanical gardens of long standing; and have time to relax on pristine beaches, or swim and snorkel in the dazzling water.

Traveling with us will be horticulturalist Anna Pavord, author of The Naming of Names
and the bestseller, The Tulip. A lively and compelling lecturer with a passion for plants, Anna has accompanied our previous Caribbean sailings to rave reviews. Also joining us will be her husband, Trevor Ware, who will preview our call at the Iles des Saintes with a lecture on the historic “Battle of the Saintes,” a key victory for the British fleet.

Our voyage begins in Barbados where we board Sea Cloud II and sail for the island of
Trinidad, continuing to Grenada, the “Spice Island”; sophisticated Martinique; lush Dominica and the archipelago of Iles des Saintes. Our voyage concludes in Antigua. An optional prelude in Barbados features the beautifully maintained botanical gardens and National Trust properties of this colorful island.

Built in the tradition of great sailing yachts of the Golden Age of Travel, the elegant Sea
Cloud II is a Royal Oak favorite, combining comfort and an informal atmosphere with an unsurpassed standard of service. As she carries us through the turquoise waters, we will experience the heady magic of moving silently under her wind-lofted sails.

This voyage, co-sponsored by the Alumni of Harvard and Yale Universities, offers a rare opportunity to discover the fascinating heritage of the Caribbean, with its great houses and traditions of gardening, while savoring the ambiance of a classic sailing ship.

I hope that you will be aboard.

Warm regards,

John Oddy
Executive Director
The Royal Oak Foundation