As the Spirit of Bermuda prepares to mark the twentieth anniversary of its arrival on the island, its charitable arm is to reignite its popular Pirates of Bermuda fundraiser for residential youth voyages.

“Hostages” are being sought to walk the plank to help raise funds for the Bermuda Sloop Foundation.

Following a two-year hiatus, the event is due to make its return on April 19 when volunteers from across Bermuda will get tossed overboard from Bermuda’s flagship and into Hamilton Harbour.

In the lead-up to the event, supporters are invited help raise their ransoms and donate to either “sink” or “save” the hostage of their choice.

The charity is emerging from well documented financial challenges that almost saw the ship sold off — but with John-Paul Doughty on board as its new executive director, along with fresh hires in the works and fundraising back on track, there are great hopes on the horizon.

The foundation recently hired Mario Swainson as the Bermudian captain of the Spirit and Tristan DeSilva as its first officer, while recruitment is ongoing for other important positions.

Mr Doughty said: “Pirates of Bermuda was an annual tradition for the organisation and a fixture in the calendar for the community. It was always the foundation’s way of connecting with the community outside of its core mission being youth voyages.

“During our twentieth anniversary, which coincides with the relaunch of the foundation, we thought it was important to do this event this year.

“The mission is the same as it has always been. It is our biggest public fundraiser, it’s unique, we utilise the vessel and we enjoy a playful association with Bermuda’s privateering history.”

Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, has agreed to preside over the event in April.

Mr Doughty said he hoped that more schools would get involved this year as the main beneficiaries of the sloop’s youth voyage programme.

“It would be great if a school wanted to put a team in. It could be a teacher and student team and money they raise will go towards future voyages,” he said.

As the foundation begins to settle into favourable winds, the plan is to resume the voyages in time for the new school year in September but details are still being finalised.

The charity used to provide free, weeklong voyages for almost all of the island’s middle school students in public education.

The Government also used to provide substantial funding to the foundation, based on its educational impact, but that funding has not been available for the last five years, including those during which the charity was not operational.

Mr Doughty said: “Funds raised through Pirates of Bermuda will support crew recruitment and training, vessel readiness and delivery of our revitalised experiential learning voyages.

“We have to have quite a lot of infrastructure in place to deliver a school voyage.

“The ship is not ready to take anybody on at the moment yet. It is still undergoing quite a bit of maintenance.”

Mr Doughty said that the educational programme is being enhanced, adding: “We are redesigning a Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics education programme that will have a multi-tiered pathway allowing students to achieve maritime career designations.

“It involves a lot of work as there are different partner organisations we are working with. I hope the soft launch will be September.”

Plans will soon begin on events celebrating the 20 years since the Spirit’s arrival in Bermuda in 2006 from Rockport, Marine where it was built.

The Spirit will be participating in the Newport to Bermuda Race in June, leaving Bermuda for Newport, Rhode Island at the end of May.

Mr Doughty said: “We have committed to another event in July which is Sail Boston celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary.

“It’s a large tall ships event in Boston Harbour and they are anticipating that 1.2 million people will on the shoreline for that.

“The reasons this is important is that it positions the Spirit of Bermuda as a national icon and as an ambassador for the island. We would be representing Bermuda at this very important event in the US.”

The Bermuda Sloop Foundation was founded in 1996 by Malcolm Kirkland, Alan Burland and Jay Kempe.

Martha Kirkland, board chairwoman for the foundation, said: “Spirit of Bermuda represents Bermuda’s rich maritime heritage and is a rite of passage for our young people.

“As a charity, we rely on community support to advance our mission. All donations will ensure more young people can benefit from these life-changing programmes.”

Mr Doughty added: “Since 2006, over 8,500 students have sailed with us, developing life skills, resilience and confidence.

“We’ve seen many young Bermudians discover new pathways — including maritime careers — through this experience.”

Members of the public are encouraged to watch the spectacle of Pirates of Bermuda and support participating hostages from Number 1 Car Park on Front Street.

For more information about the Bermuda Sloop Foundation, visit the website bermudasloop.org.