Students aboard the Spirit of Bermuda are among the lucky few to have ever set foot on Sable Island a crescent-shaped sandbar located 180 km southeast of Nova Scotia.

Currently nine people and 400 wild ponies live on the island, though throughout the year the average number of inhabitants is five, and in order to get there people must get permission from the Canadian Coast Guard; only 50 to 100 people visit annually.

But the lucky crew aboard the Bermuda Sloop managed to get permission, giving its crew of young trainees a real insight into another world, as part of the ship's latest voyage.

Captain Simon Colley said: "Once ashore we were taught how to walk through dunes to minimise environmental impact, how horses find fresh water by digging holes, how seagulls can give you a concussion and how a darker mound of grass indicates a two-to-three-year-old horse carcass which makes nitrate rich soil.

"We followed our guide just soaking up new knowledge and the stunning beauty of this long strip of sand in the middle of the Atlantic."

Trainee Asha Jones spent her time on the island exploring, and said: "I saw the hairy awesome horses walking up and down the island.

"I also saw a seal that had been attacked by a shark and escaped but then died on the sand further up. I also saw whalebones along the trail.

"I would live on Sable Island because once I got a chance to live there I would be able to explore the island on my own and also take pictures."

After visiting the 42-km long island the crew set sail for Fort Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, a Canadian National Historic Site. The original fortress was constructed in 1720.

Though largely destroyed during the course of Anglo-French wars, it has been partially reconstructed and is now operated by Parks Canada as a living history museum.

While there the crew wasbusy and Captain Colley added: "We learnt how to load muskets, how to make fishing nets, why a well-defined calf muscle is a good indication of a gentleman, and why the French invented perfume and potpourri.

"An excellent day with a lot of walking and practising French with people in period costume."

The crew also participated in a period dress dinner.

Currently they are under sail, heading to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, where the famous Canadian Tall Ship Bluenose is based.

Trainee Brandon Simmons said the whole experience had been eye opening.

"What has surprised me about my trip so far is how much I miss my family, playing with my brother, mother and father," he said. "I miss their company and their smile. Whenever I see their smiles, whether it is my head or in person, it brightens my day.

"One thing I am willing to give up is a nasty attitude when my parents tell me to wash dishes or clean my room etc.

"A reason for this is because I realised that when everything is sparkling and clean, things flow nicely and run faster. This would not only help me be organised but take some stress offmy parents."

On Sunday the trainees will disembark the ship in Bar Harbor, Maine, and make their way home. "The Spirit will remain for maintenance before returning to being their middle school programme at the beginning of the school year.