Island Windjammers, which operates carefree, casual Caribbean cruises on the 12-passenger sailing vessel Diamant, has purchased a second tall ship that will enter service in December. The 22-passenger Sagitta will operate six-night round-trip cruises from St. Maarten, departing Sundays, to Anguilla, St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Bart’s and St. Eustatius.

Liz Harvey, president of Island Windjammers, said the three-masted motor-sail ship was purchased from Angermeyer Cruises, which has been operated Sagitta in the Galapagos Islands. Built in 1961 by the Swedish Navy, Sagitta has 10 standard cabins with a double lower berth and single upper berth, along with an owner’s suite, a large aft cabin with a double bed and small refrigerator. All cabins have a private bath, portholes and air conditioning. Harvey said the company might increase the capacity by two before the ship begins sailing for Island Windjammers. The vessel also has an outdoor lounging area, indoor bar/lounge, dining salon and a library area. It is 120 feet long and 22 feet wide.

“Things have been going really well, and we’re very excited about the future,” Harvey said. “We’re really excited about Sagritta and the new itinerary.”

Sagitta will begin operating for Island Windjammers with three shakedown cruises starting Dec. 23; one of those is already sold out. “That’s when we work out the kinks and stretch the canvas,” Harvey said.

Island Windjammers was formed by the rabidly loyal fans of the defunct Windjammer Barefoot Cruises, which went out of business in 2007. The new company started sailing in 2009, with a client base primarily made up of former Barefoot fans. “In the beginning, we had a lot of former Windjammer passengers, but now probably 80 percent of our clientele is new passengers,” Harvey said. “I think it shows that the market is out there for this type of cruise — unique, different, fun and very casual — and the word is spreading.”

The word is indeed spreading, because another new company, Windjammer Sail Adventures, began operating the 64-berth Mandalay in late July. Harvey said the Mandalay is a neighbor in Diamant’s homeport of Grenada. “We really believe it helps draw attention to this type of sailing,” she said. “It’s great to have someone else offering slightly different cruises. We’re really glad have them in Grenada.”

The Diamant operates out of Port St. Louis, Grenada, and offers six-night cruises, Friday through Thursday, to Carriacou, Union Island, Bequia, Tobago Cays and Mayreau.

Fares for six-night cruises are $1,799 to $1,999 per person, double occupancy, including port charges, taxes, meals, snacks and beer, wine and rum punch. The owner’s suite on Sagitta sells for $2,199 to $2,399. Discounted sailings are offered on the company website’s specials page. Island Windjammers also offers nine- and 12-day cruises.

Island Windjammers pays travel agents 10 percent commission on the cruise fare, minus the port charges and taxes. “We get a fair amount of business from travel agents,” Harvey said. “We have a great relationship with travel agents, and we encourage and welcome their business.” For more information, call Island Windjammers at 877-772-4549 or visit .