It's been smooth-sailing so far for the 26 young Bermudian crew members racing from Spain to Bermuda in Tall Ships 2000.

More than 50 tall ships left Cadiz, Spain on May 7 and are expected to arrive in Bermuda during the week of May 29.

The ships will be brought into Hamilton on June 8 for the beginning of the Tall Ships Festival.

The tall ships are currently under the Azores high pressure system with winds of 14 knots from the northwest.

Corey Masters, a Bermudian trainee aboard the tall ship Europa , sent word that her group won a prize in a ship parade in Cadiz for most spirited and original crew prior to their departure.

Miss Masters said the first few days at sea were calm as they headed along the coast of Portugal, a blessing for the trainees trying to gain their "sea legs''.

"The crew was patient with us as stumbling landlubbers, although they put us to work right away,'' said Miss Masters in an e-mail message to Tall Ships 2000 Bermuda.

Tall Ships 2000 Bermuda spokeswoman Cindy Young said the ships "are still not going terribly fast at the moment -- most are between three and five knots'', a normal speed considering the size of the vessels.

Jolie Brise is first in class and first in fleet, with A Class Gorch Fock in second position. Esprit leads Class CII and Rona II leads Class CIII.

Winds are expected from the northeast at 15 to 20 knots next week.