Caribbean Spirit's schooner rig was chosen by the owner to keep the sail sizes down. The boat operates in Key West, and the route the boat sails frequently involves reaching, a point of sail where the schooner rig excels. She is USCG certified for 125 passengers on an exposed route. The boat is of course equipped with daggerboards, so she will still go to windward.
On her delivery at one point leaving the Bahamas she averaged 18 knots for 3 hours. She proved easy to handle with a small crew; the delivery crew consisted of the owner, his 12 year old son, and two others.