There may have been limited showers, seasickness and 6.30 a.m. starts but students from Bermuda High School for Girls declared their first voyage aboard the Spirit of Bermuda a resounding success.

A group of 13 and 14-year-old girls from the private school, accompanied by two student mentors, two teachers and a parent, spent five days on the schooner last week as it navigated its way around the Island.

They were the latest youngsters to benefit from one of the Bermuda Sloop Foundation's youth programmes, aimed at creating a team-building spirit, raising self-esteem and providing leadership opportunities.

Ariel Kaplen, 13, of Hamilton Parish, was a first-time sailor and said the trip was nothing like she expected. "It's hard work but you get so much out of it.

"You build relationships with people you never thought you would. It's a whole building process. You find your own strength, you see how strong you are. You build confidence and character."

She added: "It would have been nice to have one shower but the girls used up all the water. That's my only complaint!"

Hailey Manuel, 13, from Devonshire, said she was the only girl to actually throw up on the journey — but it didn't spoil her fun.

"I only got seasick once," she said. "Other than that, it was great. It was really exciting when there were big waves; you could ride them and I really liked pulling up the sails. It was so much about teamwork and it was great to have that."

Genevieve Gordon, 16, from Sandys, chaperoned the younger pupils, along with Natacha Kneeland. Genevieve trained as a watch leader during the week, meaning she can crew on the Spirit in the future. "I had an excellent time," she said. "I want to go back right now."

Chief officer Sarah Robinson said the students had adapted well to life at sea, done all the tasks assigned to them and coped with "hot bunking" and night watch duties.

"They have been really into absolutely everything," she said "They have been a great group — loud but great."

The sailing vessel has trained 500 people in the past 18 months and the BHS voyage was the fifth school trip this year.

To find out more about Spirit of Bermuda programmes visit www.spiritofbermuda.bm. The ship also has a page on the Facebook internet site, where stories and pictures from last week's trip have been posted.