Two young Bermudians who were inspired to take up careers in the maritime industry as sail trainees during the debut year of The Spirit of Bermuda in 2006 are now captain and first officer of the sail training vessel.

Mario Swainson and Tristan DeSilva took up their respective posts on the Spirit of Bermuda in February and have been hard at work preparing the sloop for a series of events and the resumption of student voyages.

Both have been working on yachts overseas and return to Bermuda at an exciting time as the vessel is restored to glory, following a period of financial instability that almost saw her sold off.

The Bermuda Sloop Foundation, the charity that supports Spirit, is readying for the return of its annual fundraiser, Pirates of Bermuda this month, followed by participation in the 2026 Newport to Bermuda Race starting on June 19, attend Sail Boston — an event celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary of independence.

Sail Boston, which will run from July 11 to 16 in Boston Harbour, which expected to attract about 1.2 million shoreline spectators.

It is hoped that in September, educational voyages for island schoolchildren ― just like Mr Swainson and Mr DeSilva ― will return.

Mr Swainson, the captain, has been based in Florida in recent years working on private yachts, but was persuaded to take Spirit’s helm by the foundation’s executive director John-Paul Doughty.

The 38-year-old, who started out on the vesselas a sail trainee, told The Royal Gazette: “When JP approached me, I was free. I had just finished up on the yacht I was working on and it was perfect timing for me to take on a new challenge.

“It feels good to be able to give back to the boat that got me started, to get it back up and get the programmes running smoothly again.

“It’s an exciting time around here. I hope to bring the experience I have gained to bring professionalism and a young energy to the boat, and to give us new life.”

Mr Swainson recalled that while he was studying at CedarBridge Academy, he worked on a mock-up of the Spirit of Bermuda’s navigation room and it was there he met Malcolm Kirkland, a cofounder of the Bermuda Sloop Foundation.

“He got me into it and I went from trainee to watch leader,” Mr Swainson recalled. “From 2010 to 2012, I took up the role of chief officer on the Spirit, then in 2012 I left to join the yachting industry.

“I’ve been doing that up until now and I went from chief officer to captain. I have run a couple of big motor yachts, but this is my first time captaining a tall ship.

“I have been the charter captain on the Spirit in the past but now I’m the senior captain.”

Mr Swainson, a recipient of the ship’s Spirit Award and scholarship, said that he brought the necessary professionalism, patience and organisational skills to the operation, and pledged to “go the extra mile” for success.

“Leadership is definitely the big skill needed,” he said. “The reward is the pride of seeing the flagship of Bermuda still sailing around Bermuda. It’s definitely good to see the old girl back up again.”

Mr DeSilva, 36, explained that his role as first officer is the same to that of a first mate.

“The captain runs the paperwork and more of the logistics side of things, and I act as his right hand,” he said.

“I execute everything up on deck. For Spirit, that looks like interaction with the student trainees and teaching the deck hands, showing them the ropes and exacting what the captain asks me to.

“There’s lots going on now. We are rebuilding, giving decks an overhaul, doing the varnish work and I have been the point man for the extensive rig checks.”

Mr DeSilva also started on the Spirit, but as a watch leader, having gained some experience training with former captain Chris Blake.

Mr Kirkland saw his potential and invited him to get involved.

Mr DeSilva recalled seeing the Spirit sail into Bermuda waters for the first time on her maiden voyage.

“I was at Albuoy’s Point, she had flags up. I got on the boat and brought it to Dockyard,” he said. “I remember it was the prettiest sail boat I had ever seen and I was excited to get involved.”

Mr DeSilva gained additional qualifications and spent time working on private yachts as well as delivering vessels in the Caribbean, Canada and the US East Coast.

However, he said he was drawn back to the Spirit and found training students to be more “meaningful” work. “It speaks to me,” he said.

He encouraged anyone to try out an experience aboard the vessel, adding: “Come out on the Spirit, she is a head turner everywhere she goes. It is a beautiful boat and can give you exposure in the industry.

“Take it with both hands, come on board with a can-do attitude.

“The camaraderie is the strongest you can get. Mario and me have been friends for ever. We have not seen each other in ten years but it’s like nothing changed.

“A big part of that is the environment that Spirit cultivates. If you want inspiration, Spirit is right here.

“You can be taught how to sail and the most important skill to have is an eagerness to learn. With ships in general, you have to show up for yourself, you have to want to be here.”

• For more information about the Spirit of Bermuda and its programmes, visit bermudasloop.org.