YOUNG sailors from the Bermuda Sloop Foundation (BSF) are preparing to set sail for home on a new training ship from Rockport, Maine next week.

The crew of 11 will set out on Spirit of Bermuda from the New England coast on Monday and are hoping to arrive in Bermuda by September 30.

Chris Blake will captain the ship, with Chief Officer Jon Chittock as his second in command.

The sailors have been out on training voyages to ready themselves for bringing home the sailboat that cost $5 million to build over the past two years and will help to build the characters of scores of Bermuda youngsters in the years to come.

The boat will be used for a programme targeting teens from the age of 14 who will operate Spirit of Bermuda in teams on a rotational basis, during weekends and vacations. Week-long expeditions, youth races and ambassadorial missions are also planned.

Students will have to specialise in a skill, be it in electronics, computer network servicing or galley supervision, and keep a personal log book of their development. The curriculum will also look at Bermuda's geography, geology, oceanography, meteorology, history and culture.

The focus is on students learning skills and making personal development as well as team building.

BSF courses are open to students, regardless of financial status and will start in October.