American Tall Ship SSV Oliver Hazard Perry made its first visit to Bermuda this weekend, arriving in port on Sunday.

The 200ft-sailing school vessel, named after US Navy Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry who defeated the British in the battle of Lake Eire, is Rhode Island’s official sailing education vessel and the largest of its kind built in the US in more than 100 years.

Jessiza Wurzbacher, executive director of Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island, stated: “2017 is going to be a historical year for OHPRI; we are so proud of how far our programmes have come and the exciting schedule ahead of us.

“Simply visiting somewhere like Cuba or the Arctic is exciting in itself, but it’s quite another thing to arrive on a Tall Ship where you have been fully immersed in the adventure and responsible for actually getting yourself there.”

Ms Wurzbacher explained that the Oliver Hazard Perry is a United States Coast Guard-approved sailing school vessel, and all who participate in her sailing programmes become part of the crew.

“No one is a passenger. Instead, everyone lives aboard and works side-by-side with professional crew to learn square-rig seamanship, including bracing the yards, steering the ship and even going aloft if they wish to do so.”

The three-masted ship sailed to Hamilton as part of a partnership with Ocean Navigation magazine, teaching those on board about offshore celestial navigation and marine meteorology.

According to Ms Wurzbacher, she is expected to depart Bermuda for her home port of Newport, Rhode Island, on Saturday.