After years of hard work, Vernon Harrison is another step closer to his dream of becoming a captain.Mr Harrison, an 18-year-old CedarBridge graduate, has been accepted into the Warsash Maritime Academy, in the UK, where he will work to become a Master Mariner.“After all this time, I feel like I’m finally making this dream a reality,” he said. “I’m starting to feel more like I’m achieving what I set out to do.”He said he grew up in a maritime family, dating back to his great-great grandfather who was a branch pilot.“I was always a big fan of the ocean. A lot of my family have boats,” he said.“What really caught my interest is when I went on the Spirit of Bermuda. I was 13 years old and I did a five-day voyage around the Island.”After that one journey he became more and more involved in the sailing world.“In 2008 I sailed to the Turks and Caicos, Nassau and West Palm Beach, Florida. Then in 2009 I sailed from Charleston, South Carolina, to Boston on the Spirit.“I had a dream to become a navigator, but my time on the Spirit took me on a different course.”He said he remained focused on that goal, despite winds, rain and a sudden case of sea sickness.“I got seasick on my first international voyage, but I have overcome that now.“It was a surprise. I had no idea what it would feel like. Once it happened, I was able to bounce back to what I was doing. I persevered.”Last summer, Mr Harrison was one of three Bermudians sent to Holland College, in Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, as part of a training course.Noel Cann of the National Training Board (NTB), who helped fund Mr Harrison through the course, said: “We could not have found a better student.”Mr Cann said that the NTB will continue to help Mr Harrison achieve his dreams by helping to fund his training at Warsash in September, but first Mr Harrison said he is going to be spending several months working aboard a Bahamian registered ship.“I’ll be doing deck work, navigation and maintenance,” he said.“It’s going to be a test for me. It’s a lot of time away from home. Of course, the career I have chosen means there will be a lot of time away from home.”He said after he graduates from Warsash he intends to sail the world before returning to the Island.“After that, I would like to travel the world, get international experience, then come back to Bermuda and become a Pilot.”Another young sailor with the Bermuda Sloop Foundation, 17-year-old Kristen Green, said he’s also hoping to attend Warsash in September, having recently getting an endorsement from Bermuda Container Lines.“It all seems to be happening so fast,” he said. “September seems so close.”He said he became interested in sailing after being on educational trips on a sloop.“Since then I have focused on moving in this direction,” he said. “I just love being on the sea.“When I graduate, I want to become a captain, mainly for cruise ships and container ships. After that, I think I would like to do marine operations.”Malcolm Kirkland, of the Bermuda Sloop Foundation, said: “Mr Harrison and Mr Green both started with Spirit when they were 13.“Young Bermudians are going global as professional mariners in growing numbers.“There is huge demand for merchant marine officers in the world fleet and the associated maritime trades, and hence great opportunity for young Bermudians.“In the past, Marine and Ports has alone sponsored branch pilots at Warsash, but Spirit is now also producing many more excellent candidates.”lUseful Websites: www.bermudasloop.org, www.warsachacademy.co.uk, www.ntb.bm