Students are confident that they will be able to successfully analyse ocean data and monitor weather systems from a miniboat that is set to be launched into the Atlantic early next month.

The Crawl Tempest was designed by 14 Saltus pupils who have worked on the vessel since September in what the school said was a first-of-its-kind project for the island.

They plan to launch it on January 6 in collaboration with BIOS, and excitement is building among the students about the vessel’s prospects.

Their efforts combine ocean science, student innovation, global collaboration and real-time adventure on the high seas.

The project is part of Education Passages, a global non-profit movement that offers an extraordinary way for people of all ages to learn crucial Steam skills, discover maritime careers and build connections that will last a lifetime.

The programme introduces participants to sailing and engages them in collaborative learning through international cultural experiences.

Weather permitting, the Crawl Tempest will be launched from the BIOS vessel Atlantic Explorer.

The miniboat, which bears a sail that was designed to symbolise unique features about Bermuda, was built from scratch by the pupils with guidance from Paul Wright, their physics teacher.

Students were responsible for building, ballasting, decorating and sealing the vessel and will track its movement across the globe using GPS satellite technology when it hits the water.

Chloe Burns, who took part in designing the technical components of the vessel, said that in her oceanography class she learnt about ocean patterns, weather and salinity.

She added: “We were split up into different teams and I was on the technical team.

“We installed the sensors, the solar panel and the GPS onto the boat and made sure they were working.

“We all have different roles on the team and it is all student-led.”

She said water and air temperature sensors as well as a camera were installed on the boat.

Ms Burns added: “We drilled holes to connect them and we connected the wires to the centre box.

“We called the organisers of the miniboat project and we made sure everything was working.”

Jaeda Grant said she was confident that the vessel will deliver research results.

She is part of the media group responsible for marketing the project through the school’s social-media accounts.

Jordan Talbot is part of the graphics team and said he and his colleagues designed the boat’s sail, on which images of a longtail were painted on the back.

“We just did things that relate to Bermuda’s culture, including the boat’s name, and we also were responsible for what goes inside the vessel, things that are connected to the island,” he added.

Rory Savage was on the team that built the fibreglass vessel, which includes about 25 pounds of concrete in its keel.

“We painted it as well and basically did all the things to ensure that it is intact,” he added.

Mr Savage highlighted the efforts of his friend Tristen Burgess and said that the team spent one class each week building the vessel.

Mr Wright said that the “great” project combined technology with science.

He added: “It also will see the use of weather models to predict where the boat’s going to be each week.”

The Crawl Tempest will be driven solely by wind, with information on its progress to be publicly available.

Mr Wright said that the overall objective is for the students to learn more about the ocean, climate and how weather models work.

He added: “And also to appreciate the sheer size of the ocean, so it is going to take quite a few months to get across the ocean.”

Mr Wright said some vessels that took part in the programme and were launched from the US have ended up in Norway and the Canary Islands.

“It would be nice if it ended up in the Azores, but we really don’t know where fate will take it,” he added.

Mr Wright said: “As long as the sun is shining on it and charges the solar, we can track it but it can go about a week without the sun.”

He added that Saltus students wrote notes that were laminated and will be placed inside the vessel before its launch.

Residents will be able to view the boat — which is about 4½ feet long — at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, where it will be on display from the holiday period until it is launched.

The school will also hold a competition to see which student can predict where the Crawl Tempest will land in the months ahead.