For black history month, one Marine and Ports pilot will retrace some of the Atlantic Slave Trade route aboard a Tall Ship.

Odwin (Mickey) Berkley will join the crew of the Freedom Schooner Amistad as they cover 14,000 nautical miles and visit 20 ports, retracing the slave industry triangle.

It is part of the Amistad America Corporation's 18-month Atlantic Freedom Tour. But this is not the first time Mr. Berkley has been at sea, he grew up in a sailing family and as a sea cadet he sailed aboard the Portuguese Tall Ship Sagres.

"I love being at sea," he said. "There are no distractions or cell phones or TVs. It is hard work but when you get to relax there is nothing better."

Most of the year he operates the tugs that guide ships in and out of Bermuda's narrow channels, but from time to time he is given leave to sail with the Spirit of Bermuda and Freedom Schooner Amistad.

The crews and captains of both vessels appreciate Mr. Berkeley's knowledge of the ocean and sailing as well as his affable nature.

Mr. Berkeley will join the crew at the mid-point of their journey on Goree Island, Senegal West Africa and sail with them Cape Verde Island and then continue on across the Atlantic to Barbados.

The aim of the Atlantic Freedom Tour is to visit ports that are part of the African Diaspora and help people recognise the "strength, survival and contributions of slaves to the countries of the Atlantic Basin as well as our need in today's society to be vigilant that the values of respect, honour and collaboration serve to benefit our global society" the Corporation's website states.

Due to its location off the coast of Africa, Cape Verde became an important watering station and hub of the Atlantic Slave Trade meanwhile Barbados was also a centre of the trade because slaves were brought there to work on the vast sugar plantations.

The Freedom Schooner Amistad is a replica of the original Amistad, which was made famous in the Steven Spielberg movie by the same name.

The movie was based upon the US Supreme Court trial which found that Sierra Leonean men illegally captured and transported across the ocean were free men and not slaves.

This is the second time Mr. Berkeley will be joining the Freedom Schooner Amistad crew.

"I would recommend it to anyone," he said. "Although the sea does not agree with everyone, which is what is great about the Spirit of Bermuda.

"People can get their sea legs first on the shorter sails before they sign up for any long sails.

"Sailing a Tall Ship is an amazing experience and teaches you a lot about yourself and others. Team work is the most important thing.

"You are stuck out there, in the ocean, no one is going to save you other than each other.

"You can take boys from different gangs and stick them out there and they will learn to get along, they have to.

"They don't have any other choice because they need to rely on one another for their safety."

Mr. Berkley will be with the Freedom Schooner Amistad for several weeks, to follow his voyage which starts on February 14 go to www.amistadamerica.org.

For more information about the Bermuda based Tall Ship Mr. Berkley sails with go to www.bermudasloop.org.