The Bermuda Sloop Foundation received $37,500 from Oil Insurance Limited in support of its training vessel, Spirit of Bermuda.

Over two years since its construction began, the Spirit of Bermuda will make its maiden voyage from Rockport, Maine to Bermuda in mid-August to commence its programmes for local students.

The Spirit programme provides traditional sail training, personal teen development and is to be applied to hundreds of school and extra-curricular student crews.

It is a global class purpose built 'pocket' sail training vessel with a capacity of 24 students and will provide Bermudian youths, regardless of economic background, the opportunity to sail. There will be 23 groups of youngsters participating in the character building training programmes during the 2006/2007 school year. The programme's curriculum will look at Bermuda's geography, geology, oceanography, meteorology, history and culture.

Students will enhance their education by adopting a "major" in one of the ship's technical areas. They will choose from electronics, engines, culinary arts and mechanical majors.

Executive director of the Bermuda Sloop Foundation, Malcolm Kirkland, explained that the programme responds to the present crisis in youth development and mentioned the disturbingly low 30 percent graduation rate of Bermudian males. Mr. Kirkland said: "The problems we are trying to help solve are very Bermudian issues and hence, to date our sponsors have been predominantly Bermudian. We are extremely grateful to Oil Management Services Ltd. for their multi-year support in recognition that the international corporate sector in Bermuda also stands to benefit from the technical training and leadership skills which will be provided to our young people by the Spirit of Bermuda."