Pink and yellow flowers were strewn into the turquoise waters of St. George's yesterday as we remembered the Island's first inhabitants.

Descendants of Bermuda's original settlers were among those to make the pilgrimage to the wreck of the Sea Venture for a Ceremony of Thanksgiving.

A flotilla of boats headed by the Spirit of Bermuda made the short journey to give thanks for the providence which brought them here.

The calm waters on a clear summer's day were in sharp contrast to the raging seas and howling winds which first forced the Sea Venture upon these shores on July 28, 1609.

Four hundred years later, and it is pleasure seekers who sail here rather than those seeking survival. The flotilla of small craft was briefly joined by the 'Grandeur of the Seas', which saluted the party with three noisy blasts of its horn as it travelled out to sea.

The Ceremony of Thanksgiving began with the firing of a cannon off the Spirit of Bermuda.

The Town Crier of St. George's, David Frith, then welcomed visitors and dignitaries, and Reverend David Raths gave the Blessing.

A fanfare by two trumpeters from the Bermuda Regiment Band followed, giving the signal for flowers to be strewn over the site of the wreck.

Mr. Frith then gave a Toast to the survivors of the Sea Venture and their descendants.

He himself is a descendant of Christopher Carter, one of two crew members who remained in Bermuda when the other settlers eventually sailed to Jamestown in 1610.

Mr. Frith told The Royal Gazette: "It was a moving experience to know that we were at the site of the original Sea Venture and that I was a descendant of one of those people. It is quite amazing when you think about it."

Clydia Davenport, 59, of Boston, is a descendant of John Rolfe and Pocahontas. Rolfe sailed on the Sea Venture with his wife but she later died and he then married Pocahontas. Miss Davenport is a descendant of their child Thomas.

She said: "Of all the places in the Atlantic where the ship could have been blown, it came here. It's incredible. I feel humbled and honoured to be here.

"When we threw the flowers in the water it brought a tear to my eye, to know that 400 years ago, one of my relatives would have been in awe that he and his wife had just been saved."

Eric Somers, a 67-year-old photographer from New York State, is a descendant of Sir George Somers' family.

He said: "We are not sure of our exact family connection because Sir George didn't have children, but we think we are related to his brother John Somers.

"I thought the ceremony today was very nicely done. It is very exciting and interesting to be here, to soak up all this history."